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The Sunset Limited

Film Rundown:

Genre:

Drama

Parental Rating:

None

Director:

Tommy Lee Jones

Starring:

Tommy Lee Jones, Samuel L. Jackson

Runtime:

Our rating:

C-

by The Ology Team .

On Feb 12, 2011

How does one compose a slightly negative review of an HBO film of a Cormac McCarthy play starring Samuel L. Jackson and Tommy Lee Jones? The collective pedigree of these individuals is mountainous. And yet, this is none of their best work, which isn't to say it's entirely worthless.

McCarthy has adapted his second play, originally produced by Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre in 2006, under the supervision of Jones, who also directs. This is Jones' third directorial attempt, following the well-received neo-Western The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada and a 1995 TV movie called The Good Old Boys, although considering this is a one room, two-man (one of whom is Jones) production, I can hardly imagine there was much directing to do.

This is the kind of play they told us not to write in school, an essentially plotless meditation on the nature of God, suicide, and human suffering. Jones is White, an atheist professor who has just attempted suicide. Jackson is Black, an evangelical Christian ex-convict who has prevented White from carrying out the deed. Additionally, Black has brought White back to his New York apartment in an effort to prevent further self-sabotage. It is here the men debate their opposing world-views.

On the whole, the production feels a little too easy. I kept imagining the men reversing roles. And having sex. But mostly reversing roles. Like many plays of this ilk, the scenario seems a bit forced, and the dialogue a bit unnatural. McCarthy's material is interesting, but not exactly compelling or emotionally involving. Perhaps it's not supposed to be.

Sum...ology: If watching two old men contemplate the existence of God in a shabby apartment for 90 minutes is your thing, by all means, dig in.