Strangers on a train...err vegas bender

Smart, well-written, deftly paced thriller that keeps you guessing as to the motives of the villain right up until the end. It has been awhile since Hollywood gave us an enjoyable cat-and-mouse thriller like this one. I went in knowing nothing about this movie or even seeing a trailer, based only on the fact that the 2nd greatest actress alive was in this film. So the Hitchcockian inspiration is clear, but the smart writing and the plot elevates this one above its 1951 progenitor. Michael Ealy has his meatiest role yet and shows real acting range in this one. Hilary Swank delights in playing the most manipulative psychopathic female killer since that one mensa girl from 1992. The tension and uneasiness is kept up throughout the movie, and much credit has to be given to David Loughery who has perfected the "home-invasion-thriller" genre in his previous four movies. This one is his best writing yet. While the secondary characters are superfluous, thats fine since most of the intrigue is focused on the film's two leads. The more screentime they have, the better. Swank shines especially in the cold ruthlessness with which she claws and kills to reach her ultimate goal. Ealy emotes so well that he turns from a likeable character to an extremely sympathetic one towards the end. The best part of the movie is that the viewer is never quite sure whether the villain's motives are self-serving, destructive, altruistic, manipulative or brutally pragmatic. This is accomplished and enhanced by Swank playing a detective who is at the same time presented as both possibly corrupt and at the same time well-decorated with a distinguished service record. This duality is what keeps this film's suspense edge throughout the whole journey of the two leads' interwined relationship. Even up until the very last climax action scene of the movie, you are not quite sure if the two are going to part ways having done each other's dirty work, or are going to stand behind their principles, defend their interests and eliminate each other out of pure hatred while despising each other's sheer existence! Another must-see Swank performance!
Directing: A-, Acting: B+, Plot: A-, Suspense: A, Dialogue: B, Cinematography: B+, Internal Consistency: A
Overall: A-