Destroyer

While I understand the difficulties some people may have had following the flashbacks, part of the reason they might have done so is due to the expertly adroit way in which the editor integrated them with the present story. Nicole Kidman, whom I have long regarded as over-rated as an actress, is excellent in this role. You can see the pain, guilt, despair and regret that are eating her alive right there on her face and in her body language in every frame. The wardrobe, makeup and cinematography were beautifully in tune with her performance to bring Erin Bell to life. (I did notice that in dark scenes where there is little ambient light, the makeup effects are no longer visible and you can see clearly Nicole Kidman's own face.) The story is told in a tidy loop structure that begins at the end, so to speak, with Bell a burned-out wreck barely functioning well enough to hold on to her job. The remainder of the film shows us how she got that way, and how she arrived at the point in time where the movie begins. Yes, much of the story is gratingly derivative, but you won't notice because you'll be too busy watching Bell's determination to rise up against her inner demons and make one final Herculean effort to atone for some small part of her past actions. Sure, we've seen WAY too many bad cops, but here the motivation that impels Bell's decision is exposed in a way that makes the rest of the story not only more understandable but almost tragic. Speaking of performances, the young actress who portrays Bell's daughter is wonderful in yet another tooth-grindingly stereotypical element in these movies, The Estranged and Embittered Teen Who Is In Danger of Destroying His/Her Life. She, like Kidman, takes this shopworn cliche of a role and injects new life into it. She will probably be a name we'll all know before long.I've seen other reviews here that ask: Why would Bell continue to work as a police officer after what happened? To me, it's quite obvious: She is imposing a penance on herself for her disastrous wrong turn and can't think of a better way to hunt down Silas than to stay in law enforcement, where she can use the formidable resources available to her as such to find him. One of the factors in her long deterioration is her continuing failure to find him, in spite of the advantages her position affords her.I consider five stars to be for movies like Casablanca, flawless masterpieces of cinematic art that people will be watching 50 years from now, so four stars it is.

Sounded good. Nicole Kidman without makeup in a gritty cop/crime drama. But it just was sad, dark, and the ending made no sense. So it was pointless - neither story of punishment for evil nor redemption. With how hard the vast majority of the police TRY to do their best every day, it is a regrettable black mark for them too to have anyone think this is how cops act, ever. A waste of time and money unfortunately.

Great acting and a great story with an unexpected ending. I didn't think I was going to like it but it has a really gritty feel that made it unique and entertaining. Recommend.

All I heard about this movie was that Nicole Kidman gave the best performance of her life and was going to get an Oscar for this role. After watching it, clearly I was tricked by Hollywood sensationalism. Just because a Hollywood actress transforms herself into a hideous looking person does not make one qualified to win an Oscar. It worked for Charlize Theron that ONE time. This movie focuses on a police officer (Kidman) who works for the Los Angles Police Department and is hell bent on redeeming herself and taking down a gang leader, Silas. It takes place over several time periods so there are many flashbacks and you really need to pay attention. I personally found it be boring and predictable. I couldn't connect with Kidman's character and found myself not having empathy with her. Just seems like every LA. noir movie ever made. People were upset that Kidman wasn't nominated. I'm sorry but I didn't think her performance was Oscar worthy. Just a lot of hype.

Nicole is good, but the story didn't add up. The flashbacks, odd unfolding of events and lack of character build made it fall short. My ending thoughts where how a cop that has the mentality to do what she did in the past keep going as a cop after the out come?

Such a great movie !

so much heart and talent here to be wrecked by shoddy editing. the story of dishonest cops, a bank robbery, a love interest, betrayal, and more. all lost to a slow death of a dragging edit that left you confused and disappointed and wanting a do-over. a shame for all of us who just want a damn good movie.

I love everything that Nicole Kidman does, except this one.I found the whole movie pointless.And Nicole barely looked like herself. Her character was a wretched thing, completely out of Kidman's character. I'm baffled why she even signed up to be in this movie.Give this one a pass

When LAPD detective Erin Bell (Nicole Kidman) receives a package containing a $100 dollar bill stained with purple dye she realises that a ghost from the past bank-robber and killer Silas (Toby Kebbell) was again active.Memories Erin had been trying to forget partly by overindulging in alcohol consumption come flooding back.16 years ago she had been involved in an undercover operation along with colleague Chris (Sebastian Stan) to bring down Silas's gang.Since that time haunted by memories, she'd tried to forget Erin has not paid enough attention to her teenage daughter Shelby (Jade Pettyjohn) who was now seemingly out of control.Now, at great personal risk, she single-handedly sets out to track down Silas by visiting old gang members to try and locate his whereabouts.To explain her present state of mind and her reasons for her lone quest the film alongside present time tells of her time undercover all those years ago.Erin's search will not be without it's consequences and cost to the Detective, however the need for closureis of paramount importance to her.A gritty no-nonsense and absorbing crime-drama that will hold your attention throughout in my opinion.The film harbouring an outstanding performance from Nicole Kidman (this one of her best I feel).

Great performance by Nicole Kidman in a grim film. There are some good, some bad and some ugly things to emphasize about it.The Good:-Nicole Kidman's skillful acting in the central role. Her gloomy, middle-aged detective character, Erin, is a World away from other roles she has played, showing her versatility as an actress.-The skilled way that make-up, prosthetics and costume, as well as her acting, make Nicole look so different in this role it is hard to be sure it is her. Astonishing to think that this is the same person who once starred in the colourful, elegant fantasy of 19th Century Paris 'Moulin Rouge' or who more recently played the real life news presenter Gretchen Carlson in 'Bombshell'.The Bad:-Grim, bleak tone and story, not really enjoyable to watch. The kind of thing that critics tell us we ought to like but audiences mostly don't.-The Director Karyn Kusama and scriptwriters Phil Hay and Matt Manfredi are the same team who created the disappointing 'Aeon Flux' that wasted Charlize Theron's considerable talent and energy some years ago.The Ugly:-Violent and also crude, not just in the language but occasionally sexually explicit without being at all sexy. As another reviewer said, although rated '15', an '18' Certificate seems more suitable. I can't see too many 15 year olds enjoying this depressing 'art' film pretending to be a thriller.

I loved every single second of Destroyer. If you like hard boiled detective movies (technically it's neo-noir) then you'll love this.Its gritty L.A. setting & damaged female cop reminded me of True Detective season 2 but it also made me think of the underrated Out of Blue, though that veered more towards Lynchian nightcrawling rather than the scorched daylight that features so heavily in Destroyer.Nicole Kidman is almost unrecognisable as the gaunt, shuffling Erin who will stop at nothing to get revenge. Think Mel Gibson in Payback but without the gags and, well, a woman. There's a dash of Point Break here (masked bank robbers), a pinch of Heat there (a sudden shootout) but director Karyn Kusama makes it all seem fresh.It was warmly received by critics but not the public. I cynically wonder if it would have performed better at the box office with a male lead, but then it wouldn't have had the edge that Kidman brings.I'm late to the party but I'd say Destroyer is one of the best films of 2019. The acting, cinematography, score, locations, plot are all terrific. But a note on the blu-ray: it has NONE of the extras featured on the US release. I would have loved to hear the director's commentary. This really annoys me.

A tedious contrived cop melodrama that Kidman (looking a little out of place) fails to pull off.Usual story of a failed cop with a chequered past and annoying family tensions.You'll be bored after the first 30 minutes and surfing the web until the very predictable end (with an unpredictable twist).Good for an afternoon of viewing when you can't be bothered to pay attention.

A bit of a disappointment with this film. I was not expecting John Wick, but this movie is like watching paint dry. The main character played by Nicole I found impossible to identify or sympathise with, and although the acting is truly superb the film left me feeling like I had just wasted 2 hours of my like :-(