Out of most of the up-and-coming young actors in Hollywood today, Josh Lucas is certainly a standout talent, known less for starring roles and more for his supporting work in little-seen art-house fare such as "American Psycho" and "Session 9." In "Undertow," a coming-of-age fable blended with sibling rivalry and murder, we are reminded of his ability to strike a commanding, imposing figure who oozes as much debonair menace as Robert Mitchum did in "Night of the Hunter." Unfortunately, this comparison reveals "Undertow"'s weakness: in spite of being an all-around good production, with fine direction and convincing performances, it has far too much in common with that classic film for it to be considered anything more than an homage...or a belated, unofficial sequel. Deel (Lucas) is released from prison and pays a visit to his brother, John (Dermot Mulroney), who has been taking care of his two children since his wife died; this reunion inspires conflict that culminates in a shocking crime that puts the children on the run with a sack of valuable coins Deel desperately wants. Sound familiar? "Undertow"'s strengths outweigh its weaknesses, but the deja-vu plot and situations keeps it from achieving greatness.
Review of Undertow
