Tenderness (2009)

People are voting emotionally.

In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

TENDERNESS is a brilliantly done movie, and I would certainly watch it again.But be warned, it is not the kind of film for which you would pop a bowl of popcorn and sit down to enjoy with the family, expecting to laugh, smile, and be entertained.Rather it is a film that chooses to march very seriously and solemnly down a twisted dark path while holding a candle of insight, allowing the viewer to experience a very real and empathetic tour of the tragedies unrelenting abuse, ignored cries for help, and the severely poor state of mental health that can grow, slowly and steadily, over time.You must pay attention to what you are watching in this film. The script will not come right out and tell you everything, but if you pay attention, it will reveal everything you need to know. Watching TENDERNESS is like putting together the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle without seeing beforehand what the actual finished picture should look like. But by the time you are done, you can sit back and look at the picture, and realize what is actually is.One point of brilliance is that the plot is so perfectly paced and developed, that you cannot possible fully understand the full impact of the story until final scene of the movie. It is only the twist of this final scene that will bring every preceding detail of the entire film into crystal clear focus, and fully reveal the meanings and purposes behind everything you have watched and heard up to that point. After the final credits have rolled, you will still be sitting there, stunned by the reality of what you just witnessed. It will leave you feeling helpless, wishing you had known in the beginning what you now know at the end, and that somehow you could have done something about it. I recommend you watch this movie. Not with popcorn, candy, and soda. Not with the hopes of laughter or silliness to enjoy. Not with the intent of using it to decompress of escape from the everyday hustle and bustle of life. It is not that kind of movie.It is a very serious film, that makes you a fly on the wall, witnessing a very serious tragedy unfolding right before your very eyes, and it leaves you feeling empathetic and helpless because in retrospect you could probably think of 100 ways to intervene, but by the time to fully understood what was happening, it was too late, and you were powerless to change anything you just witnessed.

A guy gets out of prison when he's 18 after just a few short years... for killing both his parents. Apparently, it was due to the medication he was on at the time... and this held up in court. Yeah, right. Not in America. For some reason, he also has his criminal record expunged. Lucky him. A sort-of retired detective, who suspects him of murdering more, tails him on his release... and so does a teenage girl, who has a scrapbook full of his news articles and a turbulent home life. What's gonna happen? Well quite a bit, as you'll see.Despite what the blurb on the box may say, this is NOT an 'edge of your seat thriller'. It's more of a quiet reflection of three damaged people who get caught up in each other lives... some possibly have hope, but others are beyond saving. We KNOW Jon Foster's character is a merciless killer... but we don't see much evidence of that in his calm demeanor. It's always the quiet ones, eh? And Russell Crowe cuts a sympathetic figure as the lawman with a comatose wife, and a dogged determination to keep this dude in jail, even resorting to...As for the strange young lady who turns up in the back of Foster's car one day, now THERE'S an interesting case. Portrayed by Sophie Traub, she's been abused by her stepfather, ignored by her birth mother and forced to expose herself at work to a perverted boss. So, in perspective, her infatuation with this criminal may not be so odd after all. Of course, she has other reasons to follow him, which I wouldn't dream of revealing. Do you want me to be one of those jerks who loads his reviews with SPOILERS? On the basis as to whether it's actually any good, there are a few gaps in logic... such as the policeman who stops the car of a guy who's just been imprisoned for murder when it U-turns off the road... sees a schoolgirl in the front seat with him... and lets them both leave with barely a word. Not to mention the ending, which I'm sure will be a divisive one for the majority of the audience. But it's well acted, holds the attention and cannot be accused of being predictable. In fact, that's the last thing it is... 6/10

Dreary and slow. What passes for thoughtful in indie land,its lesson seems to be this: some people are literally dying to get killed by really boring and charmless sociopaths.Everything fails, from the embarrassingly quanky music (two artsy-folksy songs under action made me blush and cringe) to the pedestrian camera work and editing to the WTF year-is-this?-costumes-and-hair to the casting of good actors in tiny parts,(better no Laura Dern than shooting with her for one day), to poor Crowe, looking puffy and depressed in sweater vest, 70s polyester, given absolutely nothing to do. Aside from moping and delivering a teen diaryish VO, this physical and vibrant actor is given nothing for his character. Sophie Traub is valiant in her efforts to give this heartless rust belt film some spark--but Jon Foster is a dead space on the screen and drowns everything around him in a kind of insidious averageness.

To his credit Russell Crowe has made a living portraying many different characters. Regardless, it's interesting to watch this Thespian ply his trade. This movie is called " Tenderness " written by Robert Cormier and directed by John Polson. It tells the story of Eric Poole (Jon Foster) a deranged killer who murdered his family and was sent to prison. Time has passed and on his 18th birthday, Poole has been set free. Suspecting, Poole is still a danger to society, police Lt. Cristofuoro (Russell Crowe), now retired decides to follow him to his next victim. Among the several groupies who wrote to the killer, is Lori (Sophie Traub) an unsuspecting girl who is fascinated with the killer. Maria (Alexis Dziena) is another potential victim. The movie is marked with tension, dark drama and skilled excitement, enough to make it worthwhile entertainment. Crowe is in good character as a grieving policeman who's wife lays in near catatonic coma, while he trails his quarry. ***