This movie should be the terror for parents. Edward norton really got into his role of a crazy cowboy

Review: This movie takes a while to get going and I did find it a bit of a drag in parts. The director wasted an hour at the beginning, on a weak love story and then it switches to a man on the run. From the beginning, the main character seemed a bit strange but the director doesn't really touch on his past. He just drifts along and struggles to live day to life for some unknown reason. Anyway, the acting was average and after the big build up, the showdown at the end was short-lived. Average!Round-Up: Edward Norton is another one of those actors that looked like he was going to have a promising career, but after some bad choices, his career hasn't been that great. From the disappointing Hulk to the average performance in the Bourne Legacy, he hasn't really touched the great performances in the Fight Club and American History X. I've always liked David Morse, but he always seems to act the same in all of his films. On the whole, this is one of those movies that won't really stick out in my head, but there are a couple of shocking moments that keep the movie slightly interesting.Budget: N/A Worldwide Gross: $1millionI recommend this movie to people who are into there deep dramas about a drifter who falls in love with a girl against the fathers wishes. 4/10

Last week, I walked past a toy store to find out they were having a fire sale of their DVD collection. When I entered the store, I came across some large crates with hundreds of dvds in them. Logically, many of them had an average IMDb score of between 1.0 and 3.0, but some had promising covers. I decided to take a leap of faith and bought everything that didn't seem less attractive than homework. Down in the Valley was one of the films I purchased. The first thing I noticed while watching it, was that from minute one, it has a grip on you. Norton is excellent as a hillbilly who looks innocent and charming, but whom you know hides a dark soul beneath that innocence. Later in the film, he meets up with the sexy Tobe, played by Evan Rachel Wood. They have a definite spark and the flirting feels very real. Norton also befriends her little brother, Lonnie, which invokes the torment of their father, a cop named Wade.At first, the friction between Wade and Norton seems to be about a father-daughter thing, but soon you are treated to Norton's deceptive and manipulative tricks. This lead me to believe that Norton's character was a classic sadist, but it turns out he is delusional and lies all the time because he really believes he's a cowboy.The acting is outstanding and it is nice to see Norton portraying a character once more who undergoes a grave psychological change and ends up doing something horrific (remember Primal Fear).Just 3 things I can't figure out: Why was Norton forced to run from his hometown? Did he shoot someone there? Maybe his father, Joe? And why was the 2nd ending on the DVD not included in the movie? It was far better and more logical than committing suicide. And, why does the cover of the DVD looks like a dark horror/thriller, when this movie centers more on the feelings of a confused and delusional young man? Even though some plot points are a bit confusing, it is a wonderful movie with yet another commendable performance by actor David Morse.

Down in the Valley is no easy movie: it doesn't tell you what to think, how to judge and what to get from it, it requires the audience to think, confronts his own dilemmas and leaves you with infinite sadness in the end.Harlan remains a mystery the whole time, and the girl asking "are you for real" is not wrong when she asks it. At first, Harlan looks like a harmless lunatic, lost in this south California, a little behind times, and almost childish. then, little by little, this facade cracks and we can see that he actually is not just a loony bin, but bat-sh*t crazy. However, it's difficult to have harsh feelings towards Harlan, particularly considering the affection he provides to Lonnie, in who, one can assume, he sees a little reflection of himself.Wade is also a gray character: he is that kind of father who just can't communicate with his kids. He loves them, he wants to shield them from what he feels (righlty) is a menace to them, but is simply incapable of saying it with the right words and tends to resort to violence too much because he doesn't know how to proceed differently. He is a difficult character to like, due to his treatment of Lonnie in particular, but you can't completely hate him either.Evan Rachel Wood is splendid as the almost-woman Tobe, her acting is so natural and fluid you don't even question her character one second. She perfectly captures all emotions required to show how Tobe's is drawn into the peculiar guy Harlan is, but also exudes intelligence and maturity when her character slightly realizes Harlan is lost way too far in his fantasies.Rory is yet an other Culkin, but yet an other talented one, as his brother Kieran is. His portrayal of Lonnie is sincere and moving, despite having little dialog. His admiration for Harlan is both warming and sad, since Harlan, as nice as he is with him, can't provide him any other life than a one full of lies.Edward Norton once again proves what a wonderful actor he is. This movie might not be the most recognized and famous he has done, but his work here ranks among his best. Of course, we are now used to his ability to play with two sides of a role, but he is just so good as the lost cow-boy, and then scary as hell when he finally loses it.Though very good, some parts of the movie drag a bit, and some will not find the interest of it, but it's definitely worth a watch., if only for the picture and the acting.