The Raven
We thought it would be enjoyable for a few reasons. A)It takes place in his home town which we happen to live in as well. B) It was described as a mysterious tale of intrigue and dark plot devices, and C) It's Edgar Allen Poe, for Christ's sake!!
So what went so horribly wrong?! I have seen episodes of CSI and Law & Order with more twists and clever plot devices. We knew everything before it happened. It wasn't worthy of Poe. Hell, that script wasn't worthy of John Cusack!
The place, mood, and time were "right", but the rest, all wrong. If you expect details of Poe's real life to be historically accurate, look elsewhere. Other than a few known eccentricities that most Middle School children know of Poe, this film doesn't stick to the script of Edgar Allen's life. Sad, since in his case, truth is much more interesting than fiction.
Mr. Cusack was okay and believable I suppose as Poe. Yet this whole concept was done before and much better I might add in the BBC show 'Whitechapel'. I don't think I am ruining anything when I say that in both cases, you have a brilliant serial killer using Poe's work (or in the case of Whitechapel, another killer's crimes) as not just the blueprint but the INSTRUCTIONS to his vile deeds. I.E. A psychopath that is Poe's 'biggest fan' is reliving his favourite tales by preforming the killings to spec. Just as in "Whitechapel", fiends duplicated their "favourite" crimes in the exact same manner as was originally done. See, I knew I had seen this concept before.
I don't know. It's like Chocolate, Peanut Butter, Graham Crackers and Green Tea. All great on their own or when paired but all together?!!? Becomes a muddled and soggy mess of too many bad ideas when you really just needed two or three truly good ones.
I might watch this film again if it came on TV one day in the future and I was bumming around the house, bored, or got sucked in like one does when rewatching a film they didn't like the first go around but feel compelled to try again anyway. Other than that, I shalt waste my time. Right actors, right time, okay subject, great, moody cinematography, shitty script.
Just one person's opinion,
brought to you by the letter Z.
