I have to say that I was pleasently suprised by this film. Having doubted it's potential on it's initial thatrical release. I just finished viewing the unrated director's cut. And I must say although I found the sexual imagery and non chalant nudity shocking the overall film took me by suprise. The film is tautly directed by period piece filmmaker Jane Campion of Piano fame and stars Meg Ryan in the most honest and effective performance of her career and the super sexy Mark Ruffalo maintaining a noteworthy prescence and the appearence of his full frontal manhood which is to say quite impressive. But thats not what the film is about although all those things do power it to maintain a highly defining and poetic atmosphere laced thick with filth and realism. Meg Ryan stars as a middle aged woman whom accidentally sees a young woman whom will be victimized later in the day giving an unknown figure oral sex. The film has the makings of a brutal serial killer thriller like Seven but it never strays into formidable, predictable or cliched territory. Instead it handles it's subjects respectfully making it all the more investing as the film continues somewhat slowly but suspensefully to it's suprising and fulfilling conclusion. Let it be said that I stray dangerously away from Meg Ryan movies after Proof of life, Hanging up, etc. but she really makes her mark here I truly haven't seen her this good ever the closest coming would be Courage under Fire. Maybe the material she's constantly offered is beneath her beacause she does better with more emotionally rich and depthful charachters. Mark Ruffalo definatly entertains sex symbol status while also supplying his performance with spine of realism and Jane Campion should definatly be celebrated for a film that devours cinematic fakeness and turns it into a heartfelt realism. This film is brave, This film is original and this film features one of the best performances of the year by Meg Ryan. Although slightly pornographic In the cut remains a truly effective thriller and a mood setting masterpiece!
Review of In the Cut
