.Three hours later: I loved the moviefilm, found it interesting, complex, nuanced, and intellectually challenging. The hardest part wasn't the torture scenes, it was the opening scene (which I won't describe). I thought the torture difficult but no worse than what has been portrayed on network TV (setting aside the moral issues about torture itself, which I think the film requires us to consider). I also thought Jessica Chastain was wonderful, and that her determination and perserverence drove the film. As you can probably guess by now, he hated it, and practically fell asleep in the middle. He thought it was haughty, humorless, and ponderous, without many redeeming qualities. He also thought there was too much Chastain.
I'm not sure how the movie is being advertised and marketed. Most of the chatter I've heard about it has been related to the torture and the role of torture. I think there is definitely a sense that the movie is tougher, more violent, and less intellectual than it actually is. The Swede and I agree that in some ways, it is ultimately a chick flick -- albeit for pretty strong chicks!
What RayThom said.
