I normally have an interest in movies based on the trailer/storyline. This might be one of the only movies where I actually noticed the actors who were in it first. In this instance, Casey Affleck and Morgan Freeman – both of whom I’ve seen and enjoyed in other movies.
The premise of this movie was one that resonates very deeply. The disappearance of a little girl and a family desperate to find her. Well, the aunt was desperate to find her. The mother was a pretty awful person who didn’t seem to care about Amanda even when she was missing. Helene did have a bit of an emotional breakthrough later on in the film, but it just came across as too little too late.
I thought that Angie and Patrick were both pretty interesting characters who had motivations that were easy to understand all the way through. I think their relationship added a bit more of a human element, especially considering the fact that there was so much action going on in the movie at the time.
I did think there were a lot of things happening that didn’t necessarily feel that connected for a lot of the movie. Patrick had a lot of connections with the ‘shadier’ parts of the neighbourhood, but he was still threatened and honestly didn’t seem to get much further than the police. Then again, maybe that was the point. Two different pairs of people who could only get so far on their own.
It was a bit disappointing not to see as much of Morgan Freeman’s character, Doyle, as I would have expected. Still, I felt the movie was even better when he did appear. He was a character who it was easy to see what drove him. And the desperation to find Amanda felt really vivid and real.
Helene’s friend, I think, was one of the weakest points of the movie. During the interview with the press, she sounds so flat and emotionless. Later on in the movie, that makes a lot more sense, but for a scene right at the beginning…I assumed I was going to be seeing a lot of the same kind of wooden acting. I did think she was meant to be Amanda’s mother at first.
There was some upsetting content in this movie and a lot that really stuck with me by the end. This wasn’t such a cut and dried good guys trying to stop the bad guys movie and I liked that. The characters felt real and three-dimensional, like they were real people. Making mistakes and decisions that weren’t the right ones. Nothing fell nice and easy into their lap. And the consequences felt real.
All in all, I found this movie very engaging with some really good acting and a plot that really stuck with me after watching. But I’m interested to know what any of you think about it!
Ink of Blood 