Stone

Robert De Niro is surely one of the greatest actors of his generation (think Taxi Driver and Raging Bull and forgive him the paycheck for Little Fockers.) Edward Norton may be one of the most gifted actors of his generation (think Primal Fear and American History X and forgive him the paycheck of The Incredible Hulk.) So why hadn't I heard of a film with them both? My guess is that this indie film was royally screwed on distribution, because if you want to watch two great actors do what they do best - you're going to love Stone.

"Stone" Creeson (Norton) is a fast talking low life doing time for arson to cover up the murder of his grandparents and when he comes up for parole he has to convince hard-case parole officer Jack Mabry (De Niro) that he's a changed man. He enlists the considerable talents of his wife Lucetta (Milla Jovovich) to the cause of breaking Jack down. But Jack and Stone have more in common than a lust for Lucetta, and as events unfold, the true nature of each man comes into question. In the end, redemption is in the eye of the beholder....

Norton creates a stunning portrait in Stone - and how his character emerges is brilliant and heart wrenching. De Niro is in top form (just when I thought he was destined to follow Nicholson and Pacino down the comedic road to the seventh level of acting hell.) But the real surprise was Milla Jovovich who held her own here and then some. Who knew that thirteen years after the band aid costume and orange hair of The Fifth Element, she'd become an actress? Sad that this film got lost in the process... see the website here. Interesting footnote here.