Engaging movie. Some plot flaws. (How could a forensic Psychologist who is heavily involved in a major murder case not know that one of his college students is a lawyer for the other side? How could so many time consuming events in a man's day, take place in several locations in a crowded city, transpire in such a short time?)Beware, this film contains many disturbing images.(More than a standard alotment of bloodied tortured women hanging from meat hooks for one film.)



Let's face it folks, Pacino could sit and read the phone book for 88 minutes and it would still be better than most movies playing in the theatres today. Pacino is the Paul McCartney of actors. In addition, he is also very athletic and believable in the role of a younger man. He still "has it" even at age 67. As in many other Pacino movies, Al delivered a couple of inspiring monologues from the script that he made his own. Like when he was talking to a condemned killer on the phone during a live radio broadcast and he said,"Identify the victims!" It almost feels that he writes these signature lines himself. It isn't just the words that are motivating, but it is the way they are delivered.



No matter how much you try to follow the storyline, you will never guess which character commits the violent murders or why. This movie will stay with you for a while as your conscious and subconcious mind strives to sort it out. I would even suggest that you repeat viewing so that you can take in all the plot twists.



There is a running theme of truth vs. justice and an underlying necessity for vigilantism. Can modifying the truth insure justice? Can telling the absolute truth threaten our security as a society and set murderers free? Can telling a few lies help restore truth and justice? Do lies spin us into a more tangled web and reak havok on ourselves and other inocent people. Dangerous concepts for a Saturday matinee. What do you think?