The Spreading Ground

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Jul 8, 2018 Someone is abducting little girls when their guardians are nearby, and then killing them. The two main detectives working the case (played by Dennis Hopper and Frederic Forrest) struggle to make progress, despite being under pressure from the mayor and police-department brass, because the bodies turn up in water that cleanses them of forensic evidence. To make matters worse, a team of vigilante mobsters foils their early efforts at conventional detective work. In more ways than one, ultimate resolution of the case depends on the complicated relationship between Hopper's character and his daughter (Leslie Hope). It's an odd film. The scenes with Hopper, Forrest, and Hope feel almost improvised -- because they are loose and clumsy but sometimes charming -- whereas scenes with the supporting cast feel stiff and overacted. I have a soft spot for the film, even though it stretches to movie length a handful of ideas barely worthy of a Criminal Minds episode, because of the offbeat interactions among the characters. In particular, Hopper fans might appreciate this one because instead of character who talks to much, this time he plays someone who struggles to communicate. See more May 16, 2013 It was good. Just wouldn't want to own it. It reminds me of a Lifetime movie on TV. See more Dec 1, 2011 An incredibly boring, unimaginative, obscenely overlong and pointless film. I just watched it 2 days ago and I really can't even remember it. Has nothing memorable going for it whatsoever at all. I like Dennis Hopper, but he is god awful here. But thats ok, because so is everyone else. The writing is nearly as bad, but the thing that just destroys the movie is a complete lack of plot. It just offers nothing. In a really difficult turn of events however, it manages to cram too much into the story all while not having enough going on. The union mafia, state level politics corruption, an estranged father/daughter angle are all covered, as well as a midget pitpocket in a baby stroller (?) but none of which deliver anything of sustanance to the film. The ending is a dud too. I'd call it anti climactic, but that would imply that the previous 80 minutes were building towards something. Really the only reason I rate it 1 star is because it is handled fairly well from a technical standpoint. The lighting and cinematography are fine, and there's some interesting camera angles. Aside from these few very small positives, this is a bottom of the barrel flick. The only way I would tell anyone to check it out is if you are having severe sleeping problems, because this one will put you out for the night. See more Oct 17, 2011 An incredibly boring, unimaginative, obscenely overlong and pointless film. I just watched it 2 days ago and I really can't even remember it. Has nothing memorable going for it whatsoever at all. I like Dennis Hopper, but he is god awful here. But thats ok, because so is everyone else. The writing is nearly as bad, but the thing that just destroys the movie is a complete lack of plot. It just offers nothing. In a really difficult turn of events however, it manages to cram too much into the story all while not having enough going on. The union mafia, state level politics corruption, an estranged father/daughter angle are all covered, as well as a midget pitpocket in a baby stroller (?) but none of which deliver anything of sustanance to the film. The ending is a dud too. I'd call it anti climactic, but that would imply that the previous 80 minutes were building towards something. Really the only reason I rate it 1 star is because it is handled fairly well from a technical standpoint. The lighting and cinematography are fine, and there's some interesting camera angles. Aside from these few very small positives, this is a bottom of the barrel flick. The only way I would tell anyone to check it out is if you are having severe sleeping problems, because this one will put you out for the night. See more Oct 17, 2011 An incredibly boring, unimaginative, obscenely overlong and pointless film. I just watched it 2 days ago and I really can't even remember it. Has nothing memorable going for it whatsoever at all. I like Dennis Hopper, but he is god awful here. But thats ok, because so is everyone else. The writing is nearly as bad, but the thing that just destroys the movie is a complete lack of plot. It just offers nothing. In a really difficult turn of events however, it manages to cram too much into the story all while not having enough going on. The union mafia, state level politics corruption, an estranged father/daughter angle are all covered, as well as a midget pitpocket in a baby stroller (?) but none of which deliver anything of sustanance to the film. The ending is a dud too. I'd call it anti climactic, but that would imply that the previous 80 minutes were building towards something. Really the only reason I rate it 1.5 stars is because it is handled fairly well from a technical standpoint. The lighting and cinematography are fine, and there's some interesting camera angles. Aside from these few very small positives, this is a bottom of the barrel flick. The only way I would tell anyone to check it out is if you are having severe sleeping problems, because this one will put you out for the night. See more Nov 6, 2010 Entertaining, but very clichà (C). The script and certain elements of the plot were very tacky as well. If you're a Hopper fan, I'd give it a watch and not think much of it. See more Read all reviews

The Spreading Ground

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