Broken (2007)

This film starts off OK. It has heather graham in it, so I wasn't expecting much besides nasty sex scenes and bulging eyes (of which you get both in this film). The fact that she is supposed to be some folksy singer-songwriter is laughable because I've met this character time and time again in the downtown art scene.All of the dialogue, starting with Jeremy Sisto's entrance is laughable and obviously written by a man. If written by a woman, Hope (heather graham) would've reached for her pepper spray after Will's (Jeremy Sisto) initial pick up line.The movie goes no where fast, has a small up lift with the black box theatre style of the dinner, then continues on a downward spiral. The cast is amazing, and I'm surprised that so many somewhat respectable actors would sign to such boring banal work.The special features are a laugh and a half as more praise over Graham's beauty and perfection for the part is expressed. The producer says producer-like things like "many other actresses wanted this part but Heather was just perfect". Way to make it sound like Angelina, Charlize, and Drew all wanted to be part of this ishfest.I'm glad I bought this for 3 dollars on Thanksgiving. I'll be thanks-giving this away on Ebay tomorrow.There are so many other problems with this film including editing, music, and character development but the other REAL comments speak for themselves.Jeremy Sisto...what happened?

I haven't seen anyone else comment on this point, so here goes. Will (Jeremy Sisto), who plays Hope's (Heather Graham) "boyfriend" in the film, IS THE HEROIN. His character is a metaphor for the heroin addiction. He doesn't actually exist. It's the heroin that makes Hope do all the terrible things she does -- Will is like an embodied spirit of heroin, if you will -- and the heroin that almost kills her (like Will with the gun -- the gun is the needle...). She almost kills herself OD'ing at the end, but it's really her "shooting Will with the gun" that in the end, saves her -- because she is killing the addiction by almost killing herself (and the short-order cook helps her out.) Great film. Watch it for the clever metaphor, not as a literal tale.

So I'm perusing the video store looking for an older movie since I wasn't interested in any of the new releases. As I pick up random DVD's to check their genre and read their tag line I picked up this movie. I see thriller and Heather Graham's name and think, "she's cool, let me read on." Then I read something that seals the deal: "this movie is like Identity..." OK, now that's the ticket, I loved the movie Identity with John Cusack.Umm.... I'm still trying to link the two movies together. This was nothing like "Identity" besides the ONE scene in which she saw different versions of herself. The movie was alright, a bit gritty, raw, and depressing, but not all that appealing. All I really got from the movie is: if you land a boyfriend that is addicted to drugs, LEAVE HIM!!!

BROKEN is a great film in the old school of 1970's film-making, Dark, good acting, wonderful cinematography, amazing soundtrack by The Brian Jonestown Experience.Due for release on DVD November 20th (I think), so if you missed it in the theaters or at the many film festivals it screened at, then pick up the DVD. Heather Graham gives a great performance and the scene with her and Jessica Stroup are HOT! The nonlinear narrative is very cool, handled with mystery and atmosphere. Lots of questions are raised that if definitely gets you thinking about the film but also about your own decisions in life and the path these decisions have taken you on. There is Hope but there is also a Will. Nice work all around.