The Slaughter Rule (2002)

I wanted to like it more than I actually did... But much of the humor totally escaped me and I walked out only mildly impressed.

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

The movie's not perfect, but it sticks the landing of its message. It was engaging - thrilling at times - and I personally thought it was a great time.

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

This movie has recently been playing on Showtime in my area and I was interested in watching it because I am a fan of both Ryan Gosling and David Morse. I first became a Ryan Gosling fan after seeing him in The Notebook. I have to say his performance in this film did not disappoint. David Morse's performance was one of his best. After reading all the comments and replies here I just wanted to add some of my thoughts about the film and what I felt the filmmakers were going for.First of all, I am not a fan of movies that are neatly bundled into a happy ending by the end of the film. I like those films that portray life as it really is and that make you THINK. The most memorable aspect of this film, indeed the most heartbreaking, is Gid's torment and loneliness in life. I don't think he was gay, just a lost soul looking for acceptance, friendship, indeed reciprocal love if you will, and a sense of purpose in life. Roy's character seemed to be looking for most of the same things. He had a father who wasn't there for him in life and a mother so bitter over the divorce that she was too busy trying to find love of her own to take the time to nurture her own son.I found the comments regarding the relationship between Gid and Studebaker very interesting re: were they homosexuals? Just because two men form a friendship in life doesn't mean they are gay. To me, Studebaker's jealousy over Gid's interest in Roy is just a natural human emotion. Haven't you at times been jealous when a friend of the same sex showed interest in someone new? Does that make you gay? Also, it doesn't seem there was anyone else in the town who gave a damn about him (Studebaker) so any threat to that bond frightened him. Their friendship was most likely just that of two lost souls trying to get by in life. It made me think so much more of Gid that he did not pass judgement on Studebaker -- he cared enough about his well being to try to stop his drinking, to give him his insulin injections, to try to get a room for him at the shelter on that last bitterly cold night.The scene in which Gid is hugging Roy and won't let go was very powerful. Roy, who had been told by others that Gid was gay, must have had that thought foremost in his mind and misinterpreted Gid's demonstration of affection. Perhaps Gid, remembering that Roy had just lost his father, wanted to show him that he is not alone, that there are people in the world who really care. Perhaps Roy reminded Gid of the boy who drowned and he was transferring his feelings of guilt over that tragedy into that embrace. For whatever the reason, Roy's embarrassment which quickly progressed to rage that Gid might be demonstrating some sort of homosexual intent, are a damning indictment of our society. Homophobia at it's worse.The scene in the hospital at the end of the movie when Gid takes Roy's hand and places it on his forehead was very moving. Roy did not pull his hand away; instead, in this simple, gentle gesture, the filmmakers were showing us that Roy had overcome his fear of demonstrating affection toward another as well as overcoming any homophobic thoughts he might have had about Gid.The acting was first rate all around. Compelling story line. Beautiful Montana scenery. Sound quality not the best but I would definitely recommend this film to others.

sadly this film is a diamond lost in a coal mine. No one I know has heard about it. But it is SOOOO AMAZING THAT after 2 minutes of it airing at 3am (despite the fact I have to sleep and work in a couple hours!!!)I could not stop watching. By far David Morse GREATEST performance ever as well as quite possibly one of Ryan Goslings best as well. Both leave any actor watching, with the utmost inspiration for developing ones own craft. Definitely performances to aspire to in any actors career. If this film is a testament to the Smith Brothers ability to direct actors, it certainly leaves no reservations in my mind! Hopefully one day I will be fortunate enough to work with such talents.

Spoilers herein.Dramatic tragedy is a precarious thing as it is balanced between capricious mechanics of fate and conscious decisions by the character. Only a few scenarios, and fewer approaches can manage the delicate balance of making this engaging.Artists who don't have the skill or understanding to effect the balance, instead substitute an environment which governs all the behavior. No character makes decisions. No control of any kind is given to anyone. All the characters tumble towards a bleakness not of their doing.That makes for pretty weak drama, no matter how earnest the actors. That's because you lose all the drama. The story has nothing to do with what happens. The characters are mere snowflakes in a blizzard. They merely indicate rather than drive, an actor's nightmare.This is further limited here by the unrisky approach. It is as if cruel fate came in portion controlled packages. An example is the clumsy love scene, perfectly unclumsy in its staging, partly to allow engineered modesty and partly to facilitate borrowed camera angles.The actors themselves cannot risk because the filmmakers never define the area of risk. So each actor has to make up his or her own movie. Clea Duvall has the plum role here and she comes close to hitting home. Its her own invention, but that tone of `you're not okay' is a pretty good moment.Ted's Evaluation -- 1 of 3: You can find something better to do with this part of your life.

Having this movie shot in my hometown (Great Falls, Montana), I answered a local casting call for extras. Blink and you'll miss me in the bonfire/party scene. My high school (Great Falls High) was the school used in the beginning of the film, and the locker room the team is in happens to be the girl's locker room. David Morse's character lives above a vacuum place downtown. The hospital in the movie used to actually be the old Colombus hospital, but is now a office building.The twins in the movie (Matt and Paul Pippinich), I went to school with for 7 years, and that old orange truck is theirs. Matt played clarinet in a dixieland jazz band.When I saw this movie at the Wilma theater in Missoula, MT, one of the directors was there to answer questions. He said that they chose Great Falls (pop. approx. 60,000) for shooting "because it was sort of the town that time forgot." In some ways, this is true, but the city is not as run down and rural as it appears in the movie.Overall, I found myself enjoying this movie more for the "hey, I know him!" or "I lived 2 miles from there" situations. While this wasn't a movie that I would want to watch repeatedly, I still highly suggest it for rental. It's more than just a "sports" movie.Also, a stellar soundtrack that makes the movie that much better.