Down in the Valley (2005)

Excellent but underrated film

It really made me laugh, but for some moments I was tearing up because I could relate so much.

This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

The thing I enjoyed most about the film is the fact that it doesn't shy away from being a super-sized-cliche;

(No spoilers) Pretty simple and somewhat predictable story, could be summed up in a couple sentences. Ed Norton is fantastic as always, Evan Rachel Wood is always good too. Supporting cast are great actors, but minimally featured, with the focus mostly on the main actors, especially Ed Norton's character. The scenery is beautifully filmed, and the camera work is top notch. For such a simple movie with a small cast, it just works. Definitely worth a watch. One of Ed Norton's lesser known features.

I really enjoy this movie, the acting and cinematography. All of the characters are interesting and believable. The film is slow in the beginning. I enjoy the sound track and the sunny hills and valley. Boy meets girl. Girl have over protected father. It's very simple. That's why I like it so much. It has a twisted feel throughout the entire movie. I noticed that this movie bombed at the box office. I do not understand why? This movie also does not make sense until you get further in. ERW is so off the charts beautiful. So is the main character. There is a shot in the movie that uncovers Norton's shoulder tattoo, if your a music fan from the early 80's its a dead giveaway that the main character is not who he seems to be. I like the ending and the sadness they both feel towards questions unanswered.

I see so many people having a problem with the fact that the film is unrealistic. Maybe it is. It fascinated me though to see such a noble icon as the American cowboy co-opted by a man who we will later learn possesses none of these heroic qualities. That the denouement quite conveniently plays out on a film set again is probably stretching it a bit, but it reminded me of "Southern Comfort", where an outsider or outsiders wander into a self-contained community and try to blend in, without sticking out as people who don't belong there...There may be a message about how easily people can slip into routine and cliché when they're trying to make something of themselves, so perhaps it's appropriate that it turns out more like a legend or an exaggerated retelling than a sensible chain of events? Edward Norton makes a fine antihero anyway, so even if you do find the story a touch improbable, it's still worth watching it unfold, just for him.

What starts out as a gentle country yarn, inoffensive and mildly enjoyable romantic tale changes pace as Edward Norton's initially charming Harlan gradually reveals more about himself and things take a turn for the sinister, as the film gradually changes from a southern romance to a modern wild western.An amiable rancher (Norton) wanders into town and charms a young girl (Evan Rachel Wood), seemingly rescuing her from a dead-end existence with her bad-tempered father with a whirlwind romance, but it gradually becomes apparent that there is more to this cowboy than meets the eye.Edward Norton – a real chameleon actor (with changing facial hair to match) playing a country hick, accent slightly dodgy but maybe because he's merely trying to act the part without worrying about the accent. He certainly makes it appear effortless to make all the nuanced little adjustments as we learn more about Harlan. However, with too many small changes it means we are never sure exactly where Harlan is coming from, and what seemed like a good performance from Norton gradually becomes confused. Evan Rachel Wood is likable without ever really having a great deal to do other than bat her eyelids at Norton.Down in the Valley strikes as a slightly uneven tale due to its change of pace, and by never really making the protagonist's motives clear the audience's sympathies for the characters remain uncertain. Should we like this drifter or not? Even after a dramatic turn of events it remains unclear. This ambiguity is to the film's detriment, as if the writer could not make up their mind what kind of story they wanted to tell and settled for somewhat of a hotch-potch. Had the film remained one or the other it might have been a solid film, but as it is what we are left with is something of a mess. Fans of old-fashioned romance will enjoy a portion of the film but will be put off by the darkening tone. Completist fans of Norton aside (or fans of the lush scenery of the San Fernando valley), give this a miss.