Movie #24 The Killer Inside Me

I managed to squeeze another film in this week.  2010's The Killer Inside Me.  The movie is directed by Michael Winterbottom and stars Casey Affleck, Kate Hudson, Jessica Alba, Elais Koteas and Simon Baker.  The film is based on a pulp novel by Jim Thompson.  I was really looking forward to seeing this film.  I was upset when the nearest  theater to show the film was 5 hours away.  Even after reading the lukewarm reviews I wasn't detoured.  Well, I should have listened to the critics.  The film is not a wash, and there are some really good elements and performances, but as a whole I was sadly disappointed.

Michael Winterbottom has made some great pictures in the past 15 years or so.  24 Hour Party People, Tristram Shandy and Welcome to Sarajevo are among them.  The Killer Inside Me is about a psychopathic Deputy Sheriff in Texas names Lou Ford.  The story takes place during the 50's.  He develops a mutual sadomasochistic relationship with a prostitute that lives on the edge of town.  He helps her come up with a plan to rob one of her John's out of some cash.  Then all hell breaks loose.  The killer is played with a graceful ease by Casey Affleck.  He is as good here as he was in The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford.  He is also involved in rough sex relationship with his fiance and small town "good girl" Amy Stanton (Hudson). 

Allow me to say that this film is some what graphic.  That was one of it's big criticisms.  I didn't find it to be repulsive.  A few times I thought Winterbottom accomplished exactly what he set out for to show the brutality of these murders.  Some of those scenes left a chill down my spine and queeze in my stomach.  But in a good way.  I love visceral emotion from a film.  Regardless if it is a good feeling or a bad one.  And this movie did move me.

Now for some of the down side.  Jessica Alba as the hooker.  Sexy?  Yes.  Good actor?  No.  I'm sorry, but putting Alba up against Affleck is like a boxing match with Ali vs Urkel.  Kate Hudson was dull and lifeless on screen as well.  Ned Beatty was channeling John Huston from Chinatown and a slew of other performances that were labored and heavy handed.  One role with little screen time but that was played with integrity was Liam Aiken as the troubled teen.  I think that kid has a future.

Winterbottom's camera which has been electric in some movies was stagnent here.  There are a few shots and scenes that showed a lot of promise, but not enough.  The score was ok with 50's pre-rockabilly and earily country music songs.  This film should have been drenched in atmosphere.  It is ripe for a full blown noir, or even a noir run up / homage.  I would love to see Winterbottom tackle such a movie.  With the Killer Inside Me he setteled for a very straight forward approach to material that we have seen 1,000 times before without bringing enough of his vision to the project.  As a protrait into the mind of a sicko killer this movie is a success.  As a movie in it's own right, it is not.  I would give The Killer Inside Me 2.5/5 stars.  Take a look for yourself.  Click the link below to view the trailer.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_U2LUsfeMwg