I was very lucky to be invited to a private screening last night. Just a few of us. I saw the french movie "Pour Elle" last year and knew Russell was made for this role. But he did more than i expected : He's terrific! This man, John, is an ordinary guy like you and me who suddenly has to cope with things he never thought of and deal with people living in another world than him. Underworld. He's lost but at the same time his want for saving his wife, his family is so strong than he becomes somebody else.

Paul Haggis goes deeper in his heroe feelings and actings than Fred Cavaye.You can feel the emergency of the situation in the way the movie is built and you're caught. Russell-John doesn't talk a lot but, as usual in his movies, his eyes are doing it. Russell eyes, gaze, are so deep they might hold worlds inside them. Amazing.
His relationship with the little boy is touching and true, i mean he behaves like the dad he is in real life as well. You feel for this family, your heart is beating faster when first John then the whole of them are in turbulences and danger.

Elisabeth Banks is good in this quite different role (usually more dissolute)  as the other actors.
You won't go out of the theater unscathed. Russell deserves an oscar for his performance.

Nicole