The Fields [HD]

Fresh, skillful...and not very compelling.
The list of great things in this movie is substantial. Everything from the locations and music to camera angles and lighting is superb for a modest-budget film (or genre film, really). And the acting is top-notch. Cloris Leachman is amazing and it's no exaggeration to say that in a different kind of movie, an Oscar nomination for supporting actress would not be out of the question. The viewpoint of the film is largely that of 8-year-old Steven, played magnificently by Joshua Ormond.

So why did "The Fields" leave me feeling so disappointed?

It comes down to the story, which is a memoir of actual events in the life of scriptwriter Harrison Smith. And it just doesn't add up to that much. Don't get me wrong--I don't demand that every movie I see be "The Avengers." I like smaller, quieter movies that focus on relationships and character. But in a story that amounts to a modified version of the "home invasion" horror sub-genre, more must go on than an old...

Refreshing - Original
In this age of Superheroes, glittery vampires and recycled, re-purposed story lines where acting and writing take a back seat to "who can come up with the coolest CGI," occasionally a real film sneaks in. The Fields is a throwback to when movies actually had substance, superb acting, writing, directing, cinematography, the whole magilla. I don't recall a suspense film being made in the past 5 years that drew mystery up from the screen like a smoking tendril from the end of a cigarette. This film does that and more. From the stunning visuals, to the use of imagery though positioning, The Fields is unique. The field, obviously a character in the film is in the present with a crossroads at the opening with a secret. To the east and west of that secret are two possibilities personified by those who occupy those locations. Surrounding it are the players - all who have beaten their own paths outside of the stalks that encase a young boy's imagination and curiosity about all of the...

Scary without being gory
Saw this film on the big screen and loved it because it was scary without being gory, and Cloris Leachman and the rest of the cast are outstanding. It is well done for a film with a small budget and the fact that it is based on true events is freaky and makes it that much better. A perfect summer thriller!

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