Limbo

Starring: David Strathairn, Vanessa Martinez and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio. 128 min., R

There are so many cliches in Hollywood productions that it is very disappointing to see a decent, "small" film like Limbo use so many, so often.

An ex-fisherman (Strathairn) meets with a saloon entertainer (Mastrantonio), with a bad history of choosing boyfriends and her teenage daughter (Martinez). What do we do to make characters closer? Why, strand them all together somewhere in the Alsakaian wildreness and see if they can learn survive and live together.

Why do films always want to try and fix the problems of society? Limbo turns into an extended therpy visit with old diaries and broken hearts. All this film needed was some cannibalism and you'd have Alive.

Limbo is a good film. But it could have been a great film, had director John Sayles had seen it through and not resorted to the cheap Hollywood finish. What happened to all the creativity in the world? Sayles is a man that used to possess some integrity, but seems to have seen one too many films and was influenced just a little too much. Limbo is not worth $10, wait until you can rent it, which from what I can tell won't be long. Rating: B

Don't agree with my review, e-mail me at [email protected].

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