The Prodigy (2005)
"The Prodigy" tells the story of small-time enforcer Truman Fisher's vicious conflict with a sadistic assassin who has chosen the unwilling Truman to be his successor. The assassin, who goes by the alias Rains and whose exploits have become the source of legend among Truman's underworld colleagues, drives Truman, through the pressure of constant violence and grief, to understand his own capacity for both bloodshed and compassion. Ultimately this reveals to Truman that he as with all of us, must find our place in this world or as Rains would say "our place in this grand design." This action begins quickly as Truman meets with a turncoat from a rival gang. This tense showdown erupts quickly into mayhem, when Rains makes his unexpected entrance. In the wake of the ensuing bloodbath, Truman is forced to reevaluate his own role in the small, violent world he inhabits, suddenly aware that there are larger powers at work which he does not understand...
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Tied for the best movie I have ever seen
The greatest movie ever made..!
just watch it!
if their story seems completely bonkers, almost like a feverish work of fiction, you ain't heard nothing yet.
There's a lot of interesting stuff going on here. Bad acting? OK yes but thats forgivable, you can see they are really trying. What isn't forgivable are the missteps that keep the movie from being really good, Who's decision was it to have the assassin spend 5 minutes beating up a drugged out woman and then drag her, wrapped up in a shower curtain to the main gun fight only to never see her again? This is our introduction to the ultimate killing machine? The theme of the movie is an interesting one and the resolution is even well done to a point until it gets all 'Angel Heart' on us... These guys are good at staging a fight but it needed better editing, and a better writer or script doctor.
Now, I understand that this is a low-budget flick....but it's underwhelming.. even with the understood curve. On the cover there were words like, 'Masterpiece', 'jaw-dropping', and 'Dynamic'. It's not terrible....but to call this a masterpiece is one serious stretch. After the rather exciting opening action sequence....this movie goes into super-slow motion. I look for good 'b'/low-budget/independent films.....I have a 'b' movie suggestion list over 1000 strong and this IS NOT going on it. I appreciate the success of making an average film on a shoe-string budget....but this movie is about as bland as an under-ripened avocado. I was led to believe by the critical reviews and the cover that this film had something special to offer....well.....it doesn't. Keep in mind that, if not for the fact that this WAS A low-budget independent film....I'd probably be in the 1or2 star range... If your not going to 'act' ...then give me the action baby....rented this at the same time as 'District B13'......they should have put those reviews on THAT cover. Also...the lead character makes zero sense whatsoever...he's too much of a 'smart good guy' to work with the slime gang....it just doesn't work for me...at all! The real question is....is there anyone NOT DIRECTLY CONNECTED WITH THIS FILM....that thinks it's a masterpiece.....I mean aside from these friends they have that are these 4 critics on the cover. Speaking of the DVD cover....that is easily the best thing about this. Note:I write many reviews... Sometimes these 'B' flicks can offer exceptional scenes that stick in your mind(like the Hallway scene in 'A Better Tomorrow')...but there wasn't a single moment here where I went 'WOW'..... I rented this with a 1.99 coupon and I still feel cheated. I believe some of those involved in this film are 'obsessed with this average piece of crap'....they're sitting here writing great reviews on it and sniping all the negative one's. Take it from an outsider....this movie stinks! There's a difference between a movie that takes nothing and makes it into a fairly cohesive low-budget success(stepping stone)....and a good movie.... 27/100
The 2006 Edinburgh International Film Festival has premiered an array of high quality feature films, imported from around the globe. However, there will always be a few bad eggs that manage to slip through the festival's cinematic net. 'The Prodigy' is not so much a bad egg, as a scavenging rat that has the ability to close down the most reputable of London restaurants. Previously well received in the United States, William Kaufman's gangster flic resembles a B-movie, as it follows tough-guy 'Truman' around the blood-stained streets of Dallas, Texas, attempting to track down a psychopathic assassin who has kidnapped a local mob-boss' nephew. Too often than not, the dialogue is mind-numbingly boring and the pitiful performances are enough to tip a suicidal man over the edge. A truly terrible film.
I was very impressed with this film as was the rest of the audience. It's hard to believe this was an independent film. It should easily be picked up by a major motion picture company. The story line and dialogue was excellent. The cast of the film could easily pass for any blockbuster cast seen today. The special effects and sound effects were beyond reproach. Having visited with much of the cast and crew on opening night, you can tell they put their heart and soul into this film.Ken Dundon made an excellent investment as executive producer of The Prodigy.