Ceticultsot
Beautiful, moving film.
Helllins
It is both painfully honest and laugh-out-loud funny at the same time.
Roy Hart
If you're interested in the topic at hand, you should just watch it and judge yourself because the reviews have gone very biased by people that didn't even watch it and just hate (or love) the creator. I liked it, it was well written, narrated, and directed and it was about a topic that interests me.
Staci Frederick
Blistering performances.
punishmentpark
Great actors, interesting (though it could go anywhere, but it took plenty of intriguing turns) premise, okay cinematography, yes, yes, yes... bút: 'Blood' failed quite miserably all in all.The main problem is that there is so much crammed into only ninety minutes that it is simply impossible to take. All of the ideas have potential, but hardly any of them come out right.After seeing this one, I found out there was a 360 minutes miniseries years before on which this was based ('Conviction'), I hope I'll be able to find it somewhere, hoping it will turn out to be just the appropriate form - and that the acting will be (at least) just as good.3 out of 10, mostly for the acting.P.s. I was really taken with the small, small supporting role by Adrian Edmonson - when's he going to get a lead in something significant?!
eddie_baggins
For a film with such quality actors and a name brand director in the form of Sam Mendes as producer it's hard to gage just why Blood was released with such little fanfare but then again upon watching of the film it's hard to promote it as a must see when in reality it's a film that whilst having good central performances is just too generic to fully buy into.Adapted from the British mini series titled Conviction, Blood has a plot that is all too familiar for anyone who has but a passing interest in the family/crime genre of movies. In the role of brothers and cops the film has its strongest points with Paul Bettany in a rare leading role and Stephan Graham in another top supporting turn doing well with their respective characters Joe and Chrissie. It's always good to see Bettany on screen and for an actor that chooses a wide range of shoddy roles it's a welcome return here to see him display a range of emotions. Stephan Graham in my opinion one of the most talented and watchable actors working today with his work on HBO's Boardwalk Empire and roles in feature films such as This is England showcasing his startling talents and again here comes away with the films best moments in a film that needed more of them.One of Blood's major problems is in its setting up of the story and subsequent lack of feelings after it due to a rushed and frankly over the top scenario that would of worked better if the film spent more time establishing the bond between the brothers, there iffy relationship with fellow cop Robert (thank goodness Strong is not a bad guy!) and the trials they are experiencing with their ex-cop dad Lenny (Cox). It all plays along nicely enough but you never get the sense your witnessing anything feature film worthy thanks to Murphy's bland direction and dull set ups.If you're a fan of Bettany and Graham Blood is a film worthy of your time to see the fine actors ply their trade side by side but for anyone else Blood is nothing more than a sadly predictable and safe movie that really should have been a lot more memorable.2 and a half bacon sandwiches out of 5 For more movie reviews and opinions check out - www.jordanandeddie.wordpress.com
alan-taylor77
Blood deserves better than other reviewers have suggested. It is a small movie yes but it is intense and filled with first-rate performances from an excellent cast. Bettany especially is on great form, but then he usually is, as a man falling apart. You believe these characters, understand their motivations and emotions, even as you watch them get closer to the edge. We may have seen many of the cast in bigger productions but there is no sense that they are slumming it and even the smaller roles are played in an incredibly realistic way. It reminded me of some of the best noir movies in the way the plot is driven by the characters' reactions to one fateful action and the way the claustrophobia mounts as they struggle to come to terms with what has happened. Recommended.
Lt. Vincent Hanna
Great cast, promising story - but ultimately disappointing.It did not surprise me to learn that this film was based on a TV series. Over much of the running time I found myself distracted by just how busy the story was. It was one plot point after another, after another, with no space in-between to let the characters (or audience) absorb each of the many developments before proceeding - or to establish a strong sense of mood or location. It seemed as though the makers had condensed into a feature film length a story that was intended to be told over a much longer duration - as though an emotionally balanced story had been harshly edited, leaving just a collection of 'flashpoints.' With a cast and story this good, Blood could have achieved something as atmospheric and dramatic as Mystic River. Unfortunately though, it felt like one of those British TV crime dramas in which they have to introduce characters, portray a crime, investigate the crime (uncovering a series of disturbing family secrets and dispensing with a couple of red herrings in the process) and arrive at a harrowing (but ultimately just) conclusion, all within the span of a single episode.An enjoyable, but not especially memorable, film.