- Sensibility: the character developments are very strange in context, particularly Mr. Getty's and Mr. Chase's. Given it's based on a true story, Cinquanta's character and Mr. Chase's characters feel far too fabricated.
- Cinematography: Production design is excellent, particularly the buildings and props. Lighting choices are quite good, and costuming is interesting but perhaps a bit too flashy.
- Energy: The film is propped up by interesting family dynamics, but these get old fast. Narrative issues make for a lot of repetition and meandering. The most exciting moment in the film happens a little over halfway through, and it's honestly not worth the wait or the epilogue.
- Narrative: Conceptually very strong, with interesting characters and a great premise based on a true story. However, the film suffers from a long, pointless stretch in the middle where the boy is being sold and transferred to another buyer. The scenes showing the behavior of this criminal enterprise are not only pointless but unrealistic.
The dialogue is overly dramatic, particularly in some exchanges between Mr. Chase and Mr. Getty, to the point that it damages the realism.
- T-Points: The film received one bonus point for a horrific scene cutting off an ear.
This film is the perfect example of why a movie should show not tell. The dialogue for Mr. Getty is so face value that there's no mystery to him at all. They have him go on these long monologues about his values when his behaviors already demonstrate these values. Overall, disappointing, but Michelle Williams shines as always.
Number of Watches: 2
