Rating of
3/4
Subtle and intriguing, a work of art
filmfan09 - wrote on 01/13/09
"I've never done anything violent to anybody, just the minimum that was necessary. No fear, no pain, they just go to sleep. But after it's done there's no going back, no second chance, if I made a mistake I'll pay for it."
Owen Wilson stars in this almost surreal thriller-drama about a different kind of serial killer who travels along the country to pick up innocent victims and poison them for their soul defects and obvious unhappiness. The storyline is very deep, but it never manages to top his impressive performance.
Owen Wilson, deserves kudos for this role, i didn't think that he'd be able to pull of a serious role, but he really suprised me in this movie.
The Minus Man is a very special film. It shows how subtlety can be more deeply disturbing and effective in telling a story about a serial killer that enters a small town and changes the lives of those who are drawn to him.
Owen Wilson handles his role with such ease, he's likeable, quiet, and seems to be what people want or perceive him to be: their friend, tenant, and co-worker. Including eating his Clark bars and having discussions with imaginary detectives played by Dwight Yoakam and Dennis Haysbert. These scenes show an extension of Vann's psyche, and actually keeps him in check, maintaining his sanity. Janeane Garofalo is surprisingly affecting and quite serious as the co-worker with a crush on Vann. A major surprise is the wonderful performance of Laurie played by singer Sheryl Crow.
The Minus Man is a subtle and brilliant film from Hampton Fancher. A very human story that doesn't need buckets of blood and people chasing everyone around. It leaves many things throughout to help you gather your own clues and interpretations and is guaranteed to have you discussing it long after it's over.
