A compelling, curious film. Director John Curran reunites with star Edward Norton; their last film together was the beautiful, moving The Painted Veil. Norton is the title character, a menacing, mysterious arsonist who has spent close to a decade in prison. As the conflicted man whose opinion will decide whether Stone is paroled, Robert De Niro has his best, most complicated role in years. De Niro and Norton deliver award-caliber, top-notch performances, and Milla Jovovich, as Stone's wife, is also solid.

Angus MacLachlan's (Junebug) script is not as consistent as the actors, however. The characters are interesting, but other elements--such as the constant presence of Christian radio and other staples of faux-"moral" conservative America--feel heavy-handed and the ending is, in my opinion, a shade too ambiguous and unsatisfying.

Also worth noting (and praising) is the film's unique score and sound design; I read Radiohead's Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood, friends of Norton's, contributed ambient, experimental recordings for use in the film. It seems they were included in the final product; the unnerving music and assorted noises heard throughout reminded me of Greenwood's celebrated There Will Be Blood score.

Overall, I felt strange leaving Stone. I wasn't 100 percent satisfied, but Curran's film does have a quirky, lingering impact. And the quality of the performances is undeniable. It's well worth seeing, of this I'm sure.

B

I sat there watching Stone tonight and could clearly see that it's just a bunch of nonsense strung together - - but it's such a compellingly melodramatic bunch of nonsense that you dare not look away even for a second - - Stone's a barnburner!!!

It's filmed in a total graphic novel style that contributes greatly to the compulsion the viewer experiences. It is filmed in very tight planes of focus, emphasizing the characters face against grey blur domestic backgrounds. You might even say it's a "graphic movie". And the stark settings, oversaturated makeup, undersaturated lighting, and amped out intensity sends this picture reeling off into echoing hallways of doom. Portents abound.

The top-of-their-game actors are working at a fever pitch off a script that's as taut as a tightwire sweatily cranking up the tension. Milla - - what can anyone say anymore? She's awesome. A mere 34 years old, she seems to have been in the business forever, a surprisingly reliable actress of the second rank, and last but not least still nude for all to see. For Christ's sake... De Niro even does a nude scene! And boy does he act his ass off in this movie, he takes it from the sublime to the ridiculous and then some. Edward Norton is doing his schtick of course - - that's what he's paid to do on most movies he's in these days - - and here the money was clearly well spent.

Yep, I'd even go as far as to say that this movie is the most enthralling piece of absurdity that's passed our way since Bug crawled past three years back.

Go see it with someone you're uncomfortable with.


8 out of 5.