Interesting and almost a great film. Just saw it and the audience clapped at the end, btw. It's almost superb, but I felt that the pivotal "meaning" scenes, except in the end, are almost lost in the rest of the dialogue and action. They needed more time where all the action stops and you can see the significance sinking in for the characters. I was surprised as it was these "moments" that so obviously made Mangold's "Walk the Line". Although there is one where you can watching Bale's character, you can just hear the thoughts in his head. I also wanted Crowe to be "darker" and more complex. It was as if they couldn't leave the "charm" that Crowe has go to waste and sacrificed the deeper character. Additionally, I found it also surprising that the movie lacked a really decent and powerful musical score that would match if not enhance the powerfulness of the story. While I didn't want the "Magnificent Seven" theme, I think a stirring score, even it were a more subtle would have added to bringing out the emotional depth in scenes.

And Ben Foster, in my opinion, literally steals many scenes. His steps into his character with chilling and deadly accuracy with minimal effort and doesn't waste movement. His character seeps from his pores. He is truly scary. Just an incredible actor in an incredible role. This is an actor to watch. Given the right roles he could go a long way. He is top notch.

Christian Bale is as always, fabulous but the role as it was written didn't give him enough width and depth. I felt he was locked into the weakness and despair of the character in the beginning. The moral value he was expressing didn't hold me into believing it and the valor he wanted to gain was worth dying for in this particular instance. He had a family that needed him, for crying out loud. So, he's going to die just to put Crowe's character in prison... Hmmm...didn't quite buy that. As a matter of fact, the plot seemed rather unbelievably suicidal for him and while I could appreciate the theatrics for entertainment value, I just couldn't believe the motives. The point is, I could have believed if it had been better written.

Most of the actors were excellent and the characters superbly played but the screenplay needed a little more serious consideration.

Having said all this, the movie was wonderful and worth the price of admission...but with a little more effort could have been truly great film.

Oh yeah, Mr. Anonymous, you just keep writing here, attacking each email, in hopes that you'll somehow make the truth in the article go away and someone will really listen to your idiotic rantings. Go ahead, keep pulling the wool over your eyes (obviously Bush doesn't have to do that for you anymore, your so brainwashed you'll gladly do it yourself now) and being so PROUD of him as your president. You keep doing that. You go ahead and repeat and repeat that Saddam WMD lie and this was was so worth it "saving Iraq" while Bush & Co destroys whatever's left of it and BTW stands by and let millions die in Dafur and turns their heads away (if not help) so many other vicious dictators that serve their purposes. Just keep repeating this ludicrous shit to yourself again and again in hopes that your right while you hide your head in the sand. Just like Bush. All the while America begins to burn in financial and constitutional ruin and more men and women continue to die and be maimed in a war built on lies, and the Middle East falls apart in war.

And I'm quite sure you call yourself a patriot. That America should have to suffer such "patriotism". That America and Iraq should suffer so because of your delusions, and all those of idiots like you, and be destroyed at Bush's hand is beyond conception.

Bush is a TRAITOR and a MURDERER. He lied and sold us out for his vainglory and Haliburton's greed. Impeachment would hardly be enough. He, Cheney and Rove should be tried.....for treason and murder. Because that's exactly what their lies amounted to. TREASON and MURDER. Those lies have put our country and the world at great risk. And no amount of trotting out Saddam's atrocities is going to rationalize those lies or the illegality of this war away or the serious degree of that risk away. Those lies have killed and ruined the lives of thousands upon thousands of innocent people (no more or less than Saddam!!) and put America, it citizens, and all that it stands for in great jeopardy. And Bush & Co should pay for that. Just like any other criminals. Just like any other traitors.

But anyway, yeah you go ahead and write your crap. If you have any conscience, I imagine your rantings are all that's left that get you to sleep at night. Sweet dreams.