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'Down In The Valley' is an old fashioned western with
a new age twist and shows off the intense acting talents
of two of the riskiest actors working today in Edward Norton
and Evan Rachel Wood. Director and writer David Jacobson
has written a story of love, isolation, and tragedy set
to the gorgeous background of the western. It is a moody,
dark, and extreme look at the measures people go to hold
onto someone, anyone. Think of the film as 'Taxi Driver'
set in a western. ***
Evan Rachel Wood stars as Tobe, a rebellious teen who
does as she pleases and has no real interest in listening
to anything her sheriff father has to say. Her father is
played by David Morse in a very inward performance of not
knowing how to really communicate with his daughter or get
through to her. He also has moments of being anything but
inward when he snaps at her with physical and verbal violence.
This only fuels her anger and hatred for her father. ***
Their relationship gets even worse when she meets a
handsome, charismatic cowboy named Harlan played by one
of the best actors of this generation in Edward Norton.
Their relationship turns passionate and only grows from
their chance encounter. This enrages her father due to the
obvious age difference and the cowboy not seeming as sweet
as he appears. There is more to him than meets the eye.
He even starts a friendship with her younger and naive brother
played by Rory Culkin. ***
Harlan starts to lose his grip on reality when her
father forbids them from seeing each other. He also gets
kicked out of his apartment due to his bizarre cowboy rituals
in his apartment. His loneliness and alienation cause him
to attempt to get back the girl and everything that goes
with her. His mental breakdown leads to violence, manipulation,
and more questions about this cowboy. Just who is this guy?
***
The film is acting 101 as everyone gives some of the
best performances of the year. Evan Rachel Wood, who has
made a living playing rebellious, hard-nosed, out of control,
yet very sexy teens (Pretty Persuasion, Thirteen, and the
Upside of Anger) is right at home with this role. She hits
emotional notes that gave me goosebumps. She has the acting
talents and range of someone twice her age. ***
Edward Norton is terrific in this role as you never
truly know what is going on with him. His character is not
made crystal clear or spelled out for you. He is in a sense
bi-polar. He plays both roles very well. One as a charming,
caring, and sweet cowboy shades of Jon Voight in 'Midnight
Cowboy.' He also plays an over the top, gone from reality,
and lonely man in the same vein of Robert De Niro in 'Taxi
Driver.' Norton has a great eye for films that work for
him. He's picky, but for a reason. ***
Writer/Director David Jacobson shoots scenes that rival
that of Ang Lee's 'Brokeback Mountain' in the beauty, and
simplicity of shots. Long and hanging shots over the gorgeous
scenery. This is visually stunning for the eyes. The film
was shot on an 8 million dollar budget and proves you don't
need 100 million dollars to make a film like authentic and
beautiful. Just look around you. ***
--- Image & Sound: The film looks amazing as it shows
all the great shots of this Western. ---
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