MovieChat Forums > Down in the Valley (2005) Discussion > Fantastic. **Spoilers.

Fantastic. **Spoilers.

posted 17 years ago by owyn-davies
4 replies | jump to latest

I've had this sitting on my shelf for a while; i've been holding off watching it because i really didn't want it to be bad, even mediocre, but jesus is it good.

It is art.

All of the performances are stellar. Everyone sucked me in and Harlan is one of the most interesting characters i have seen on screen in the last five years. Great.

It is hard not to appreciate this if you are not in a relationship, but when he shot her - i couldn't believe it - i just wasn't expecting it, but i didn't think Harlan knew what was coming next either.

I loved he pure unconventional aspects of the film, too. Take the cowboy out of the Western, give him a mental disorder, and place him in a dark-romantised drama - with some great old school cowboy action. Loved it.

The end was such a tragedy, more-so for Lonnie; the one person in his life that he could call a true friend, someone that he looked up to, was taken away from him. And Tobe, when they were scattering his ashes - i don't care what anybody says - she still loved him.

Beautiful.

[–] rdn-2 17 years ago

i couldnt put it any better myself. Norton was amazing, but all others involved where absolutley spot on. I have to agree with the ending as well. While on the surface it should be a 'happy' one (familly reunite and dangerous pyscho dissposed) it leaves you feeling very mixed up. I think i actually liked Harlan more than wade,as stupid as that sounds, so when he was killed at the end i didnt know what to feel. As well, when they where scatering the ashes, it was like tobe and lonnie had forgiven him and wanted him back.Easily one of the best films of the last 10, maybe even 20 years.

[–] geotalker-1 17 years ago

a "true friend"????? what are you talking about? what kind of true friend would LIE and say the dad committed the crime, and made up a sob story about being lonnie being taken away from his home!?! do you honestly think harlan was acting in lonnies best interests? of course not, harlan wanting to take tobe and lonnie away from their stable home was an act of pure selfishness. harlan knew the boy could be manipulated, thats why he wanted him along, misery loves company. the few kindnesses he gets points for dont balance the harm he inflicted on this family. i hope eventually lonnie will understand that his dad is the true hero he can depend on. although a sad event, so it wasnt such a big tragedy for lonnie, at the end he was more confused about his feelings than anything else.

[–] 17 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Mercenary9 16 years ago

His dad is the true hero? I think you missed something. Did you see any of the abuse he inflicted on Lonnie and his daughter? Terrible, terrible father. Harlan was wrong to take him away but Harlan was trying to do good. The true hero in this movie is no one.