The Guilty Is It Worth Watching?
To the average viewer, I can safely say that The Guilty is clearly not worth watching. A quick look at the ratings for this movie on Rotten Tomatoes (RT) says it all. Clearly, viewers expected more than what was on offer. I think using a different style of storytelling in this movie makes it appealing and boring at the same time.
The story itself is not bad. Jake Gyllenhaal once again delivers a powerful performance that reinforces his caliber as a very good actor. The only thing that glaringly feels like a miscalculation is the storytelling approach. Due to this, The Guilty clearly feels like a very one-dimensional movie.
As a viewer, you feel as if the story is being told from a single perspective. In a way, it feels like a claustrophobic experience. Maybe the writers intend to portray this feeling, if that’s the case then this adaptation clearly delivers that remarkably.
For those who don’t know, The Guilty is a remake of a 2018 Danish film titled Den Skyldige that translates into, guess what, “The Guilty”.
What’s so Different About The Guilty?
The most prominent highlight of this movie is clearly the lead performance. Jack Gyllenhaal delivers another great performance. The entire story revolves around the lead character, and some good acting by Jack Gyllenhaal successfully keeps the viewers engaged.
Almost all the other characters in this movie are on the phone. Sometimes it does get a bit hard as a viewer to imagine the story in your head while you’re watching the movie. The feeling might be a bit strange for some. Still, the movie does a great job of keeping the audience interested.
If the storytelling in this movie was a bit traditional with classic filmmaking, there is no doubt that many people would’ve liked it. But considering this movie was made for a film festival, one can understand the odd style.
Is The Guilty Worth Watching?
This is clearly the kind of movie you’ll see at film festivals. It is an art film with some great performances. So if you like movies from film festivals, then this is the movie for you. But, if you’re expecting something regular then you might end up feeling bored. In that case, it’s better if you stream something else.
The Guilty is not for everyone, so I guess it’s not worth watching as far as the average Joe is concerned.
