The Slaughter Rule (2002)

Short of captivating, TSR is truly intriguing. The acting, script and scenery are all excellent. What really keeps you watching, though, is the story that you hope (against hope) will go somewhere dramatically. It doesn't so you watch the end credits looking for another meaning. Such led me to read a lot of the other comments for TSR listed here.One viewer (Paul-8) says, "Not finding true love with women, Gid searches and grasps for intimacy the only way he has known: football". That is an interesting idea and supported by Gid's admission that he'd been with only prostitutes, never having been kissed by a woman. Also backing up this idea is Sky's belief that football types in the American West culture will never be intimate enough for a true relationship. Gid and Sky might disagree on which gender is at fault, though the result is the same.On reflection, I've a tough time buying the above idea, though truly such may be what the makers intended. The heavy dose of brutal climate seems clearly intended to serve as a key element. And its this Nature that shapes things. Gid is a closet homosexual, that's HIS nature. Floyd warns Gid early on that "it's gonna happen again". What's leading Gid's charge, the football or his sexual urges? I'm going with a more realistic approach, though it doesn't prevent this movie from being a very good one.Some notes. Check the deleted scenes? It shows Gid watching Roy's early HS football practices. Also factor in the jock "circle jerk". Finally, I share a viewer's feelings that mom crying naked on the bed lacks adequate treatment. However, I matched it along side Sky's loneliness and longing for intimacy.

It must have been a bad night to try and watch this movie.Very different than I expected to say the least. My question doesn't have to go along with the main story but what was up with the mom? What was going on when Roy walked in her room and she was crying on the bed naked? Just ended with no endings for me which I find disturbing. Did I miss something with Skyla and Roy, were they to keep in touch or did she just leave. What happened with the Christmas trees and the step dad? Did two dogs end up leaving home for good? I have really enjoyed watching Ryan Goslin in movies thats why I chose this one tonight. I expected an action football movie and although not disappointed in the movie inself, just ended up confused. Any one else confused too?

This movie's tone captures the atmosphere that fuels the main characters' angst and ennui. There are characters that seem purposely written vague as a story devise. Things revealed about them make this devise effective. One teen's survival seems to be the salvation for so many. But the main character is not a Christ figure. Gosling has played this type of character before -- Trapped between doing the right thing and rebelling against himself ("The Believer"). A gripping character study. David Morse continues to demonstrate his versatility. And the cinematography paints the bleak surroundings that inform the consciousness of Gosling's character. Clea Duvall gives good misunderstood-tortured-soul, and the secondary characters were all appropriately shallow and callous. There was no effort to break ground with this film. But the filmmakers did manage to capture ordinary moments, pause over them and offer some insights. No one will mistake this for the Coen brothers, but they, too, started with basic ideas and developed a unique style of film-making that was shaped by their early experiences and the story arc of their own maturation. Small films like this are a luxury for young actors, most of who are pushed to become silver screen icons as a heartthrobs, action muscle or totally irreverent rakes. Gosling -- for one -- is getting an opportunity to hone his skills as a character actor and cane likely find work no matter what the genre. Morese also will not hurt for work and Duvall has shown that she rises above the roles she's asked to play. I think there is more good work to come for all of them. There is should be more good work from these filmmakers as well. How they handle more complex material will be the next thing to watch for.

Sometimes technical flaws can get in the way of what otherwise could have been a good story. These movie's flaws prevented me from enjoying it much.First, two key deleted scenes from the start of the film leave the entire premise feeling hollow. The scenes are offered as a special feature on the DVD. If I were to watch this movie again, I'd play these two deleted scenes where they should have been. First, the scene deleted after the conversation about the teen's father that opens the movie. Second, just minutes later the continuation of a scene talking with the coach in his office.This has been a growing trend, for directors to cut key scenes that explain things at the start of the movie. In at least commentary tracks directors have said they 'just wanted to get on with the movie'. Well of course they might, since they know the story intimately. The viewer won't, and could use the background to make an emotional connection to the movie. Unless the movie is past the two hour mark, why consider cutting valuable scenes?Gosling and some of the other performances were great. Of course Gosling does great even in rotten movies like Murder By Numbers. The wide screen was an overly wide aspect, I guess meant to highlight those beautiful outdoor scenes over the actors. It leaves barely enough room for actors' heads in places, and it made the brief shower scene no fun at all. To echo another comment, the sound was very poor in places. More than accents, it was bad mixing where sound jumped from soft whisphers to loud music then back. My finger ended up fiddling with the volume throughout.In hindsight, I might watch The Slaughter Rule once, but it won't be worth watching even a second time.