The Sunset Limited

It's very open. It's like You can add many things to it, especially yourself. Liked the ending.

I don't care what they were talking about for 90 minutes, this is just not what I know as Cinema. I probably would have liked this more on paper!

The over-intellectualized character of Tommy Lee and his southern savior and ex-jailbird Samuel L. partake in a coffee-shop like battle over the existence of God and the meaning of life. The overall result? The movie drags, lots of complaining, and a largely weak theological debate. However the twist in the last 30 mins is both humorously surreal and devastatingly truthful. Acting-wise, nothing shines aside from Samuel L.'s jailhouse story and Tommy Lee's megalomaniac diatribe in the finale.

A play that does not go well on the screen... TLJ is though, the saddest looking man in the world at times...

In a small and sparse apartment, two men (one a suicidal atheist and the other a Christian ex-con) debate the existence of God, the meaning of life, and death. While it doesn't have anything particularly new or insightful to say from a philosophical standpoint, the richness of Cormac McCarthy's language and the brilliant, subtle performances from both actors made this an absolute joy to watch. Typically for McCarthy's work, the ending is dark and ambiguous, but delicious at the same time.

this is how I'm worried every one of my conversations will end

A powerfully simple moral conversation about life and death between an ex-con turned preacher and a suicidal atheist. Set in a single room, the language is the driving force in this one.

Jones and Jackson both give great performances. In a film that is all about delivery and screen presence they are masters feeding off each other. The writing is the kind where you can sense the writer guiding the two sides of the dispute and manipulating the ultimate flow, but that's not a criticism when it works as well as it does here. I love this kind of thing and the execution is great. The balance of the script is a bit off, and the ending abrupt, but it's not a big deal.

As a depressed and isolated atheist, I found it frustrating how little I could identify with White. Every eloquent expression of life's inevitable death and despair merely sounded like shallow musings of a man who couldn't properly express his own true feelings. Despite this false depth of dialogue, the acting and pace of these two men's interactions kept me interested throughout.

Cormac McCarthy's dramatic debate explores the clash of faith and nihilism in the form of two old men--one suicidal, the other his attempted savior. There are stilted moments, especially when it tries to be colloquial, but it's a fascinating work nonetheless. Tommy Lee Jones and Samuel L. Jackson are simply brilliant in their roles, Jones worn out past the point of return, Jackson bursting with life and hope. They're a joy to watch. Jones directs smoothly; haunting score by Marco Beltrami.

It's triteness is made all the more insufferable thanks to Samuel L. Jackson irritating performance.

Fantastic acting and a fantastic script. It's a simple concept of two people in a room, talking, and really it couldn't be done any better. Jones and Jackson give some of their best performances, ever. I can't stress that enough: watching them was a treat. It's smart but emotional, even funny a few times. A movie about -- among other things -- belief, though I'd have to rewatch it to catch every single thought and view expressed, but really, they're both right in some ways.

I'm already sure this is the best cinematic conversation of 2011. Awesome acting too.

Very well acted, but the story requires a rerun. Unfortunately I have no forces to do it. This is very, very heavy thing. I liked especially Samuel L. Jackson's part though.

Towards end was getting a bit on my nerves. Still it's quite amazing output from (only) two actors, mostly known for action roles.

allah yok, dinler yalan. yıl olmuş 2011 zorlamayın artık gerizekalılar

The ending might be a bit off, but an otherwise excellent script and the equally terrific performances from Jones (who also directs) and Jackson make this play adaptation which consists of only one conversation in a single room a very remarkable feat.

Much greater minds and writers than Cormac McCarthy have grappled with this very question far more compellingly, so the only reason to see this is the actors. SLJ's performance seems to annoy many, but he was the only one of the two I actually believed. Much as I love Tommy Lee Jones, I don't think he is the best director for himself...I quickly found myself mentally trying to improve his line readings (it wasn't difficult). The rapid-fire delivery often reminded me of Mamet-light (VERY light).

Excellent acting and for the most part interesting dialogue could quite save this from dragging after the hour mark. I also felt that the ending needed a twist of some kind to give it some power but alas the movie just pretty much limped to its credits.

I love dialogue, and was especially driven to this as a dialogue-heavy film, but the conversations felt disconnected, at times overacted, and I didn't quite understand where the movie ended up. But it definitely provides some food for thought and room for discussion *about* the discussion.

Reason vs. faith is a debate (false dilemma?) as old as rocks, but this is definately a well-written, well-acted and, for its theatrical limitations, compelling rehash of familiar territory. L. Jackson and Jones succesfuly embrace their familiar styles and it's fun to see them go back and forth.

I was stunned by this film and it's going to stay with me for a very long time. Nihilism, the human condition, religion, and many other less obvious themes are powerfully explored. If I could compare it to another teleplay/telefilm it might be Oleanna by David Mamet. In fact the dialogue driven content is reminiscent of Mamet, but the message is much more intense and significant than Mamet's work. It is brilliantly written, acted, directed, and the cadence of the film were all on point.

This film is about wrestling with questions, rather than beating people over the head with answers. As a religious person, this state of ever-present questioning is increasingly my experience, thus the film rings true in a very deep sense. The performances are great, and the writing is predictably good, even as it's less mannered than much of McCarthy's fiction.

"The one thing I won't give up is giving up." "You give up the world line by line. You become an accomplice to your own annihilation." "Who would want this nightmare but for fear of the next?"

It might be spare to a fault but it's moving and I did tear up at the end.

feels like a wisely chosen stage adaptation, but unlike most movies that offer little in way of plot or multiple sets, this one has one of the most entertaining hour and a half long conversations i've ever heard.

"The shadow of the axe hangs over every joy. Every road ends in death. Or worse. Every friendship. Every love. Torment, betrayal, loss, suffering, pain, age, indignity, and hideous lingering illness. All with a single conclusion. For you and for every one and everything that you have chosen to care for. There's the true brotherhood. The true fellowship. And everyone is a member for life."

The strength of this unique production is in how well TLJ and SLJ convey strong emotions within one of the more minimal sets you'll see in a film.

A battle of wits between a man of reason and a man of faith. I can hardly imagine better actors going at it. Good script, however, at the times I wasn't sure at what exactly they are trying to say. Probably I'm just too stupid. It was very captivating anyway.

Superb acting from Jones and Jackson, and writing by Cormac McCarthy that sinks its teeth into the big questions of life, death, faith and reason.

I wasn't immediately blown away with this film, but the more I bounced around some of the dialogue in my head, the more I appreciated it. Some seriously great exchanges about the burden of knowledge! This was more than a religious struggle, and way more than the technicalities of the setting. I was also impressed with how engaging the film was for literally being a 90 minute discussion.

i could watch them for hours just talking about reason and belief, good stuff...

A one room movie that had some interesting conversation going on, weird ending... Sort of wish they went somewhere else rather than religion/atheism.

I love me some dialogue/room films. The best of'em can make me participate on a level that I can't possibly get from good ol' identification vehicle. Unfortunately this is not one of them, it's simply loopy dialogue that most of us have already experienced.

Huh, o neydi oyle? İki insanın boylesine derin tartismasini izlemek normalde bayildigim bir durumdur fakat bu filmde diyaloglarin alt metinleri guclu oldugundan takibi yorucu oluyor. Temiz bir kafayla ve tarafsizca izlemeli. Sozun ozu: Tek mekanda gecen ve tamamen diyalog uzerine kurulu bir film. Babalardan oyunculuk dersi.

script-awesomeness

These are some compelling questions.

I've hated everything else I've seen of this Cormac McCarthy, but this one worked for me. It may be because these are nearly the same reasons that I want to kill myself. It may be because the acting was good and believable. Or both.

I was expecting a good drama, but i got a few cliches and some nice acting. I wish God wasn't discussed here.

I'm living in a world of darkness.

Stick with this one even though the slow pacing and aggravation may have you trying to do otherwise. Sometimes stellar perfomances and simple effective directing make this entertaining.

Cormac McCarthy's two-man play pits a suicidal cynic against a religious evangelist trying to save his soul. It's engaging, and quite elegantly directed by TLJ. Conjures up every conversation I've ever had with a religious dogmatist, ensuring my unequivocal support of the guy (TLJ) desperate to die. I don't think SLJ's character was intended to annoy me so much; TLJ was certainly patient with him. The ending avoids gimmickry and the film wins my recommendation, but it's no My Dinner With Andre.

The script and acting are exceptional. It's surprisingly fully engaging.

Excellent.