Yes, it's the old "same event told from various different perspectives" device, this time updated to an urban, excessively profane, and fairly low-budget version. It is quite ambitious and daring for a first-time writer-director (A.J. Kparr) to tackle this concept, however the film is spoiled by amateurish acting in some of the supporting parts (especially a bouncer-like guy who has pretty poor diction and is hard to understand at times), and by Kparr's own insistence to add twist upon twist upon twist to the point where nothing hangs together anymore. Still, I watched "The Box" twice without being bored, and I would be interested to see Kparr's next project. ** out of 4.P.S. They tried to downplay Gabrielle Union's beauty for this "serious" role, but it didn't quite work: she is still amazingly beautiful.

A friend of mine saw this at the San Diego Film Festival and told me about it and that Giancarlo Esposito was in it (a very underrated talent). For Esposito alone, I picked it up and I was quite pleased. I like what the first time helmer Kparr did with a relatively unknown cast, except for Esposito and Gabrielle Union (who I was extremely surprised, but I'll speak on her later). The story was a solid crime, thriller. I know hardcore film geeks, who live to pick stuff apart will try to find flaws, but hell American Gangster had flaws, with two Oscar winners in front the camera and another who scribed that "celluloid gold". But back to "The Box". Being that this flick was working with a handful of sets, I dug the look. And as far as performances, the guy playing Kamen and the guy playing Danny were standouts (I want to see more of them), Esposito (always on point) and Yul Vasquez was good, the guy playing Tommy kind of phoned it in, but the biggest surprise for me was Gabrielle Union. The director made a daring bit of casting with Gabrielle Union as a tough as nails policeman. I know her as the spunky cheerleader or the sexy siren that Morris Chestnut or Taye Diggs is running after in a flick, but this role I'd never see her playing, but she rocked it. Actors have defining roles in their careers and right now in her somewhat young career this is it. I give this director much credit for getting that performance and writing a solid story. I want to see has next in store.

only very slight spoiler (if you could even call it that) Many versions of the same robery from witness accounts or police summaries, many do not make any sense what so ever, the premise is good, but if you can apply rational to the storyline you are given, the holes become like a cartoon cheese. once they have done with the ridiculous possibilities then they start adding the twists, and you start asking yourself, well if they already knew that guy then how come yada yada yada... this goes on through the entire second half and the entire film gets ruined, why is it American films just cannot "do" twists, they either give that many clues you'd have to be blind deaf and dumb not to see it coming, or in the case of this film, make them so absured they stretch the boundaries of logic. by the end of the film its a surprise that everybody wasn't on first name terms and schooled together. ridiculous describes the story..

"The Box" begins with flashes of gunfire inside a house and a police unit moving into position. Inside the house, the cops discover a stack of bodies and two survivors amongst the carnage. The first is the quiet Finn Williams (Yul Vasquez) who had been enjoying an evening with his friends, one of whom was looking after the house for its owner. The second is Danny Schamus (A J Buckley) who had been one of three men who had invaded the house with loaded weapons in search of the titular box. The two survivors are then interrogated by Detectives Romano (Gabrielle Union) and Burkhalter (Giancarlo Esposito) as to what actually happened.Despite similarities to "The Usual Suspects" in both its structure and the way it plays with fact versus fiction, "The Box" is ultimately let down by its mediocre script (which relies on a LOT of annoying coincidences) and flat, boring direction. It has the spark of a good idea as the audience is given two depictions of events and invited to choose which - if either - is correct. However, the plot simply isn't strong enough to carry its running time (I started checking my watch around the hour mark) and is hindered by such awful scenes as a couple lying upon a bed as slushy romantic music plays around them. The resolution also decides to throw as many plot twists at the audience as possible and hopes that some of them stick. They don't.The actors, on the whole, are fine with Max Ryan giving the best performance of the movie as the unhinged Ray Kamen who leads the three home invaders (the scene where he begins hopping around a room like a bunny rabbit in front of a man he's torturing manages to be both funny and unnerving at the same time).Overall, "The Box" is annoying because it had the potential to be a lot better. I found it less entertaining than an episode of "C.S.I", and it was instantly forgettable afterwards. Instead of renting this movie, I'd recommend watching "The Usual Suspects" instead (even if you've already seen it) or perhaps "Lucky Number Sleven". This box isn't worth opening.