VividSimon Simply Perfect

Phonearl Good start, but then it gets ruined

RipDelight This is a tender, generous movie that likes its characters and presents them as real people, full of flaws and strengths.

Lela The tone of this movie is interesting -- the stakes are both dramatic and high, but it's balanced with a lot of fun, tongue and cheek dialogue.

LeonLouisRicci This is one of those interesting, but unsatisfying, Movies with a very short running time that seems pasted together and released without much faith or confidence. There just isn't enough time to develop the many characters and things unfold with a choppy and vague exposition.The performances are all fine and the drug addicted cop played by Claire Forlani is superb. Lauren Bacall is also quite believable as an elderly lady with wit and dignity. The film is let down only in it's inability to flesh out the story and deliver it with coherent and cognitive observations.What is here is pretty compelling but what is left out is baffling. It plays like an unfinished throw-away or a mangled manuscript that needs a fix. Too bad.

lewwarden This is a very interesting and entertaining picture. I, normally sceptical about such ventures, thought much more highly of this one than did the other well-thought out commentators. Claire Forlani's performance, all agree, was superb. But I, having practiced law for many years in the San Francisco Bay Area courts and having had some experience young heroin addicts, including addicted friends of clients, and having seen addicts on the nod in open court and in early withdrawal, was astonished by Forlani's performance. In one scene I watched closely as she seemingly involuntarily trembled the index finger of one hand while going through her apparently agonizing facial and body contortions. I tried to make my index finger tremble thusly, but no way. How did she "act" so on the edge? At the time I wondered what this actress was like in real life. Were her sly, even crafty yet fearful glances a natural characteristic? Hell of a performance!! But, without being a spoiler, did you all miss the scene where Forlani first became addicted? Other commentators tended to put down Lauren Bacall's performance by contrast, but it too was superb. Her seemingly ill-acted more or less stoic performance that drew some criticism in fact was fully in character as was revealed in the closing scenes. She too was playing a game for high stakes, although just how she came to be a player rather than an innocent bystander was obscure to me. I'll have to watch this one again.True, the flashbacks and flash forwards were disconcerting at first -- such devices usually are -- but these were introduced with a flash of light which happily -- at least to me -- announced their advent.Good job all around, actors, writers, directors. I could even hear what the actors were saying for a change -- no mumbling or sound track blasting away the dialogue -- although at my age I much prefer subtitles.Lew Warden Join The Howard Beale Memorial Society. Celebrate Network. (http://www.networkcentralca.net) And check out Loose Ends at http://www.aventuraproductions.net

jotix100 "The Limit", which is also known as "Gone Dark", has some interesting casting that made it attractive to watch. Alas, this story about an undercover agent that has develops an appetite for using drugs, doesn't go anywhere. The director, Lewin Webb relies in the use of flashbacks to clarify the plot, but unfortunately, that device doesn't seem to work well.In fact, the film doesn't make much sense in the way that an older lady, May, knowing something fishy is going on with her neighbor Denny, and not acting on her instincts. Or for that matter, the nosy neighbors, who should have been suspicious as to what was going on with Denny in the apartment next door, keep on turning at May's door, but don't go to the police soon enough to have the goings on investigated. When May hears the shot that turns out to have killed Denny, she doesn't even bat a false eyelash, which in a way, doesn't make sense. In fact, May is the victim of the undercover Monica, Denny's girlfriend, who knows the older woman is the key for getting back the incriminating evidence about his demise."The Limit" asks a lot from the viewer. The premise is not bad, but Mr. Webb, the director and the writer of the screen play, Matt Holland, once they set things in motion, they appear as though they don't know what to do with it.Basically, we watch the film on the strength of the cast. Lauren Bacall, as May, doesn't have much to do. Claire Forlani, who is the key figure has some good moments. Pete Postlethwaite, a magnificent English character actor and Henry Czerny, are equally bogged down by a story that doesn't let them shine, as they usually do.

jbarker71 An interesting story here, with some standout performances by Claire Forlani, Pete Postlewaite, and Henry Czerny. It's always fun to see Lauren Bacall, and she still has style and finesse. I rented this because I am a big fan of Forlani, and this was a great roll that was different than a supporting 'hot babe' type. She also pulls off a NY accent pretty well, for a brit.Ah, the ending... the ending didn't quite work for me. The flashbacks weren't confusing, just demanding to keep you on your toes. Monica should have shot her way out at the end, and her fate was unfortunate. This film had some elements (key word- some) of 'trainspotting' and 'donnie brasco' but doesn't pull those heroin addict and undercover cop elements off as well.Bottom line- great performances, but story could have been better. Direction was pretty good and the film 'looked' good, the DP was worth his salt.