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Movies / On DVD / Down in the Valley
Down in the Valley

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Down in the Valley (2006)

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Reviews Counted:99

Fresh:51

Rotten:48

Average Rating:6/10

Consensus: The premise of Old West clashing with modern suburbia is fresh and initially intriguing, but the second act degenerates into a clumsy jumble of events which strain credibility.

Rated: R [See Full Rating] for violence, sexual content, language and drug use.

Runtime: 2 hrs 5 mins

Genre: Dramas

Theatrical Release:May 5, 2006 Limited

Box Office: $444,655

Synopsis: Director David Jacobsen's DOWN IN THE VALLEY plays like a romantic, operatic lament for the disappearing cinematic and real-life icon: the American cowboy. Many of the elements that would fuse,... Director David Jacobsen's DOWN IN THE VALLEY plays like a romantic, operatic lament for the disappearing cinematic and real-life icon: the American cowboy. Many of the elements that would fuse, say, a classic John Wayne character are present in Edward Norton's (PRIMAL FEAR, 25TH HOUR) character, Harlan Fairfax Caruthers: he's polite, soft-spoken, yet stubbornly brave and handy with Colt steel and lead. While at home in Death Valley in the mid 1800s, these characteristics are positively anachronistic in modern-day San Fernando Valley. How else to explain the reaction of a gaggle of giggling teenagers to Harlan as he pumps their gas? One of the teens, Tope (Evan Rachel Wood), is immediately attracted to these charms and invites Harlan along to the beach. A whirlwind romance follows, much to the chagrin of Tope's (short for October) father, Wade (David Morse), who senses there is more to Harlan than meets the eye. Indeed, things begin to unravel when Harlan lies about "borrowing" a horse from a local rancher that leads to a threat at gunpoint. To make matters worse, Harlan ingratiates himself more by spending time with Tope's attention-starved younger brother, Lonnie (Rory Culkin). Eventually, as more of the dangerous demons beneath Harlan's charming veneer reveal themselves, action must be taken and justice meted out, Old West-style. At times tense and, alternatively, quiet, DOWN IN THE VALLEY features some creative camera work from cinematographer Enrique Chediak that fits both moods. Also, be on the look-out for a scene-long quotation from TAXI DRIVER. [More]

Starring: Edward Norton, Evan Rachel Wood, Bruce Dern, Ellen Burstyn

Starring: Edward Norton, Evan Rachel Wood, Bruce Dern, Ellen Burstyn, David Morse, Rory Culkin, Muse Watson

Director: David Jacobson

Director: David Jacobson
Screenwriter: David Jacobson
Producer: Edward Norton, David Jacobson
Studio: ThinkFilm

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Release:

Sep 26, 2006

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Reviews for Down in the Valley

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N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Boston Phoenix | comment Comment
04/23/09
Peg Aloi
Peg Aloi
Boston Phoenix

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Sacramento News & Review | comment Comment
08/07/08
Jonathan Kiefer
Jonathan Kiefer
Sacramento News & Review

Jacobson examines the life and death of the western and its incompatibility with the youth of today ... a fascinating, yet slightly off-balance, mix of tribute and scrutiny.

Full Review Source: Cinematical | comment Comment
09/18/07
Christopher Campbell
Christopher Campbell
Cinematical

The values of past and present collide in this beautifully shot, finely acted reexamination of the American Dream.

Full Review Source: Channel 4 Film | comment Comment
06/13/07
Anton Bitel
Anton Bitel
Channel 4 Film

A tale which, apart from its basic conceptual kinship to classic western films, is wholly original and deeply prescient about the darker shoals of human nature.

Full Review Source: Film Journal International | comment Comment
03/01/07
David Noh
David Noh
Film Journal International

Nerve-less.

Full Review Source: Film Freak Central | comment Comment
02/21/07
Walter Chaw
Walter Chaw
Film Freak Central
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Guardian [UK] | comment Comment
01/27/07
Steve Rose
Steve Rose
Guardian [UK]

When the story disintegrates into the gunfight at the 'I'm-not-okay-corral', it totally loses anything it had going for it.

Full Review Source: TheMovieChicks.com | comment Comment
01/21/07
Cherryl Dawson and Leigh Ann Palone
Cherryl Dawson and Leigh Ann Palone
TheMovieChicks.com

A cautionary tale about the dangers of casual sex, or even casual friendships with strangers.

Full Review Source: Laramie Movie Scope | comment Comment
01/19/07
Robert Roten
Robert Roten
Laramie Movie Scope

Both actors work hard to give this disturbing crime story some flavor and substance, but the narrative is overextended and poorly organized.

Full Review Source: Chicago Reader | comment Comment
12/18/06
Jonathan Rosenbaum
Jonathan Rosenbaum
Chicago Reader
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

The more you know about it the less likable it becomes.

Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews | comment Comment
12/06/06
Dennis Schwartz
Dennis Schwartz
Ozus' World Movie Reviews

The movie does not waste the performances, but the screenplay could have served them better.

Full Review Source: DVDTown.com | comment Comment
09/25/06
John J. Puccio
John J. Puccio
DVDTown.com

Edward Norton and Evan Rachel Wood turn in strong lead performances, but their talent alone isn't enough to set David Jacobson's sun-bleached, modern-day Western on fire.

Full Review Source: Hollywood.com | comment Comment
08/31/06
Betsy Bozdech
Betsy Bozdech
Hollywood.com

A ludicrous, would-be Western hybrid.

Full Review Source: Deseret News, Salt Lake City | comment Comment
07/14/06
Jeff Vice
Jeff Vice
Deseret News, Salt Lake City

It spins out of control despite the best efforts of Norton.

Full Review Source: Atlantic City Weekly | comment Comment
07/13/06
Lori Hoffman
Lori Hoffman
Atlantic City Weekly

...if you don't require moral instruction with your popcorn, it's probably as close as you're going to get to a John Ford Western this year.

Full Review Source: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette | comment Comment
07/07/06
Philip Martin
Philip Martin
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

The unpredictable, jarring "Down in the Valley" is another worthy addition to Norton's résumé.

Full Review Source: Arizona Daily Star | comment Comment
07/06/06
Phil Villarreal
Phil Villarreal
Arizona Daily Star

... part homage to the Western genre and part eulogy to a disappearing American West, and the intentions of which are as cryptic and enigmatic as the look on Norton's face.

Full Review Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | comment Comment
07/01/06
Duane Dudek
Duane Dudek
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Norton earns sympathy, but even he can't sell some of Harlan's poetry-of-the-people eloquence, as when the cowboy comments: 'Most days I just want to step outside my own heart and go walk under a sky full of stars.'

Full Review Source: Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN) | comment Comment
06/30/06
John Beifuss
John Beifuss
Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN)

Norton's brilliant performance walks the tightrope effortlessly, playing for our sympathies while arousing our suspicions.

Full Review Source: Capital Times (Madison, WI) | comment Comment
06/30/06
Rob Thomas
Rob Thomas
Capital Times (Madison, WI)
 
 
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