Down in the Valley (2005)

(No spoilers) Pretty simple and somewhat predictable story, could be summed up in a couple sentences. Ed Norton is fantastic as always, Evan Rachel Wood is always good too. Supporting cast are great actors, but minimally featured, with the focus mostly on the main actors, especially Ed Norton's character. The scenery is beautifully filmed, and the camera work is top notch. For such a simple movie with a small cast, it just works. Definitely worth a watch. One of Ed Norton's lesser known features.

*** This review contains spoilers***IMDb's database on this movie lists as "goofs", continuity relating to the Edward Norton's beard, which makes drastic changes during the film's final scenes. Ranging from a heavy five-a- clock shadow to a Village People-type cowboy goatee, the beard completely disappears by the finale. (This in a climactic pursuit that would present a problem for any shaver.) Rather like the uncertainty of the star's beard the whole movie's focus makes startling changes as you view. These changes stretch from the potential portrayal of a Cowboy Rom-Com plot, to a potentially "mad killer in your midst" horror scenario. This is all played alongside a vague portrayal to an end of the cowboy dream, as a result of the incursion of modern day technologies. The cowboy rides his horse along some high ridge and in the background looms up an electricity pylon. Additionally, gridlocked six lane freeways hint more heavily that Wild West ways are certainly obsolete. These scenes succeed in making the hero a huge anomaly in the contemporary milieu he is portrayed living in. Add a Father, of his misunderstood teenage girlfriend, who is a hard denigrating, foul-mouthed collector of guns and these themes succeed in creating an eclectic mix of attitudes. These characters, and more, have to be continually deciphered as the movie unfolds. Is it really clear what is intended? Should we side with Father as the paternal protector of his young susceptible nubile, daughter? Or, with the wonderful pastiche of the Marlboro Cowboy in all his glory; a portrayal, which is well and truly discarded when the cowboy expertly gun-slings a bullet into his lover's stomach. This continual change of direction during this movie creates a continuous rhythm of ambiguity and conflict. Do we plump for the young earnest male lover, or the concerned father, or even the rights of the beautiful female focus for their protection. As soon as we decide the story makes us change our mind. This style continues right to the end of the movie. Having proved to be a man who has serious problems coping with reality, the two members of the family who were affected most by the faded cowboy ideal, cast his gunslinger ashes into the romantic Wild West winds. When you leave the film theatre you have every right to question the sense of this last scene. And like the rest of the film you will have had trouble deciding on anyone's rightful position and where your loyalties lie. If this is intentional then the Director has succeeded admirably in taking the viewer on a roller-coaster of deceitful signals. If not, then the film lacked a cohesive plot and focus in favour of a less ambiguous theme. (This would have made the film far less interesting.) What type of beard should the film wear?

Edward Norton is fast becoming one of my favourite film actors. He has tremendous screen presence, as he demonstrated in "American History X" (which I saw for the first time recently). He is terrifically good in this film too. His co-star, Evan Rachel Wood, also gives a very good performance. Unfortunately, neither is able to rescue a film that is a stylistic mess and, ultimately, a rather dull watch. "Down in the Valley" is set in modern-day California, the valley of the title being San Fernando. It tells the story of Harlan Fairfax Carruthers (Norton), a young, likable drifter who is somewhat emotionally disturbed and who seems to think of himself as a sort of 21st century cowboy. While working at a petrol (gas) station, Harlan meets Tobe (Wood). Tobe - the name is short for October - is an attractive 18 year old student. She lives with her father Wade (David Morse) and her younger brother Lonnie (Rory Culkin). Wade is a single parent and, though strict, struggles to control his somewhat wayward adolescent daughter. Harlan gives up his job at the petrol station in order to go to the beach with Tobe and some of her high school friends. He and Tobe strike up an intimate relationship with each other, much to the disgust of Tobe's father who considers Harlan to be quite unsuitable boyfriend material for his daughter. Wade therefore tries to break up the relationship. Matters quickly spiral out of control from there.A major problem with "Down in the Valley" is that it just doesn't seem to know what sort of film it wants to be. It begins promisingly as an interesting character study under the guise of a modern cowboy story. It then seems to veer into psychological drama territory with elements of romance before finally mutating into a violent action movie replete with (in this instance, ludicrous) gun shoot-outs of the kind seen in many westerns. This weird and muddled amalgam of styles ruins the coherence of a film that is well-acted but poorly structured, scripted and directed. "Down in the Valley" is also a dull film. I didn't really care about any of the characters. What's more, little attempt is made to examine or explain the reasons for Harlan's seemingly eccentric and egotistical behaviour. A very disappointing movie. 4/10.

It bored me.A lot.No story,no climax,no anything.I think it's Norton's worst movie.I watched it with my friends,and,at the end,after approximately 2 hours of waiting for something interesting to happen,we looked at each other...and laughed.Why?Because this movie is not interesting at all.I could say it's idiotic and senseless.A lot of unfounded actions,a lot of exaggerated gestures.And the ending...just as disappointing as the rest of the film.It makes you wonder it the film even has a storyline.But it's not the actors' fault.It's the directors'.The actors are good,especially Edward Norton.He really does his job.And since he is my favorite actor,i'm going to give this...thing...6/10