A slow moving, entirely predictable drama about a would-be cowboy (Edward Norton) and a teenage girl who picks him up at a gas station on her way to the beach, leading to an affair and ultimately to violence. From the first half-hour it was clear where this story was going, and the only question remaining was who would get shot on the way there. Edward Norton's surprisingly one-note performance, the same old father-daughter conflict, and the loving close-ups of guns in the protagonist's hands makes it obvious who's going to do the shooting as the film progresses. As Norton's character becomes increasingly unhinged, he spends more time in his cowboy fantasy, No one seems to notice until he starts shooting, probably because his character appears to stay the same . The high point is a great performance by Bruce Dern as a grumpy horse owner. The supporting cast is adequate to the job, but the lack of surprises in the script, and the flatness of the direction make this a very minor addition to the resumes of the people involved.
Review of Down in the Valley
