The Sunset Limited

It's very open. It's like You can add many things to it, especially yourself. Liked the ending.

I don't care what they were talking about for 90 minutes, this is just not what I know as Cinema. I probably would have liked this more on paper!

The over-intellectualized character of Tommy Lee and his southern savior and ex-jailbird Samuel L. partake in a coffee-shop like battle over the existence of God and the meaning of life. The overall result? The movie drags, lots of complaining, and a largely weak theological debate. However the twist in the last 30 mins is both humorously surreal and devastatingly truthful. Acting-wise, nothing shines aside from Samuel L.'s jailhouse story and Tommy Lee's megalomaniac diatribe in the finale.

A play that does not go well on the screen... TLJ is though, the saddest looking man in the world at times...

In a small and sparse apartment, two men (one a suicidal atheist and the other a Christian ex-con) debate the existence of God, the meaning of life, and death. While it doesn't have anything particularly new or insightful to say from a philosophical standpoint, the richness of Cormac McCarthy's language and the brilliant, subtle performances from both actors made this an absolute joy to watch. Typically for McCarthy's work, the ending is dark and ambiguous, but delicious at the same time.

this is how I'm worried every one of my conversations will end

A powerfully simple moral conversation about life and death between an ex-con turned preacher and a suicidal atheist. Set in a single room, the language is the driving force in this one.

Jones and Jackson both give great performances. In a film that is all about delivery and screen presence they are masters feeding off each other. The writing is the kind where you can sense the writer guiding the two sides of the dispute and manipulating the ultimate flow, but that's not a criticism when it works as well as it does here. I love this kind of thing and the execution is great. The balance of the script is a bit off, and the ending abrupt, but it's not a big deal.

As a depressed and isolated atheist, I found it frustrating how little I could identify with White. Every eloquent expression of life's inevitable death and despair merely sounded like shallow musings of a man who couldn't properly express his own true feelings. Despite this false depth of dialogue, the acting and pace of these two men's interactions kept me interested throughout.

Cormac McCarthy's dramatic debate explores the clash of faith and nihilism in the form of two old men--one suicidal, the other his attempted savior. There are stilted moments, especially when it tries to be colloquial, but it's a fascinating work nonetheless. Tommy Lee Jones and Samuel L. Jackson are simply brilliant in their roles, Jones worn out past the point of return, Jackson bursting with life and hope. They're a joy to watch. Jones directs smoothly; haunting score by Marco Beltrami.