Comments on: TIFF Review: Atom Egoyan’s West Memphis Three Drama ‘Devil’s Knot’ Starring Reese Witherspoon & Colin Firth

By: Justin

Justin — Fri, 13 May 2016 09:06:06 +0000

Way harsh Tai. I was also at the screening of Devil's Knot as well and while I agree with your general ideas about the quality of the film, I thought the quality of the actors (Dane dehaan,Kevin Durand, Reese Witherspoon and Alessandro Nivolo in particular) helped carry it to a higher level than how your reviewing it. My biggest point of contention with Devil's Knot was probably the cinematography. It felt cheap and almost as an afterthought. What do you think Kevin?

By: D. Richardson

D. Richardson — Fri, 13 May 2016 09:06:06 +0000

I was at the premiere, and Devil's Knot was boring. There was no character development and it plodded along. It was a disappointment. Colin is one of my favourite actors and he just stood there looking at a distance at Pam (Witherspoon). I thought when they discovered the bodies, Ms. Witherspoon's portrayal of a distraught mother was brilliant.

By: Peter

Peter — Fri, 13 May 2016 09:06:06 +0000

No mention of Witherspoon. She must be that bad.

By: Chaws

Chaws — Fri, 13 May 2016 09:06:06 +0000

That's Kevin Durand as John Mark Byers NOT Dwight Yoakam! Kevin Durand is 20 years younger, 8 inches taller and generally looks nothing like Dwight Yoakam, so I can see how you would get them confused.

By: joshua

joshua — Fri, 13 May 2016 09:06:05 +0000

I am an avid movie-goer and generally tend to like critically lauded films, so I'm very surprised by the poor reviews this film has received. I was completely unaware that this tragedy occurred prior to seeing the film and just went because of Egoyan. I saw this at the San Sebastian Film Fest in Spain this past September and this is the best film I've seen so far this year! It's not got the acting of The Dallas Buyers Club or Prisoners or 12 Years a Slave, but it's a story that really needs to be heard by everyone!! If I had seen or read other treatments covering this story perhaps I would feel differently, but I would still feel positive about its existence because of the prospects of this story possibly reaching a wider audience. It may not deserve any Oscars for acting or anything else (the acting is pretty good, just not amazing), but it definitely deserves positive mentions from critics for what it is and not because the subject has already been extensively covered.

By: smitty

smitty — Fri, 13 May 2016 09:06:05 +0000

This review is amazingly inaccurate. First -there is ALOT of new information in this film that was not brought out in any of the docs. Including a huge new piece of information that will cause the state of Arkansas -a lot of explaining to do. For such an expert -you actually don't know much about the case at all -do you? Additionally -to your question about "why make this movie at all?" ~ for the rest of the world who have never seen any of the docs or haven't heard a peep about the case –this film is actually for them.

By: Smitty

Smitty — Fri, 13 May 2016 09:06:05 +0000

Devilâs Knot is a good film, one of the best I have seen in a long time. Atom Egoyanâs version is sensitive and well done with respect to the real life people and so wonderfully played by the fantastic cast. It was not overdone. This is a film everyone should see, it is intriguing throughout as it puts together the whole story of the West Memphis 3! And the part in the classroom is true, you need to read the book by Mara Leveritt if you want to know the facts.

By: Matt

Matt — Fri, 13 May 2016 09:06:05 +0000

Rich Sommer was not in the film, it was another Mad Man star Michael Gladis.