Why 'The Unforgivable' is a definite suspense movie to watch?

Sandra Bullock's performance was very powerful in her movie 'The Net' which got me into exploring her other movies. That's how I came across 'The Unforgivable', which from its 2 liner is a story about a woman finding her sister after coming out of jail after 20 years.

On the onset, it created a curiosity why the sister has to be found? Won't she be in home? And if Sandra Bullock plays role of a character who comes out of prison then am I supposed to like a not so good person? Is the main character a bad guy?

The movie carries answer to these questions.

It follows a non-linear storytelling (which is my favourite) and delivers it so very well. The story reveals back story slowly and gradually in pieces giving the information that's most required to know right then while still leaving suspense for rest of the backstory. This keeps the whole watch very engaging throughout.

The movie touches on how a person continues to suffer and repent for their actions even after going through their punishment of jail time. The movie shows how the person remains unforgivable.

This creates a sad element given Ruth (Sandra's character) had already spent 20 years of their life locked up but still isn't allowed to start a normal life. Nobody is willing to give her a chance except when she hides her past. And back flashes seem to justify the treatment because of the crime that Ruth committed.

During her search, she visits her house, where she used to live with her sister and finds that it's now owned by a lawyer (played by Vincent D'Onofrio) and his family.

Up until watching this movie, I had only seen D'Onofrio as Wilson Fisk (Kingpin) in the Daredevil series where he played the role of an evil mastermind who has people in his tight grip. He had such a tight grip through his plans and dark traps that it created a real fright in me for that character.

But now seeing him play a lawyer, that too a good one was a 180 degree flip for me. It was unbelievable.

For the first 5 minutes, I kept on thinking maybe it's Kingpin playing a trick. But I knew it's a different movie and here D'Onofrio isn't Kingpin but rather John, a corporate lawyer. And he plays the role so very well with such a range that he overcame his strong image of Wilson Fisk within 5 minutes and showed that he's a different person here, which actually felt believable.

After meeting Ruth, he tries to help her and the movie progresses with suspense elements because of a new threat wandering over Ruth in the present where her past comes haunting for her.

Any further details into the story from here will spoil the suspense and the build-up that the story writers and directors create wonderfully.

Towards the end, the movie delivers a shocking revelation on how unconditional love makes someone sacrifice everything.

This movie is a solid 9.5/10 and worth watching if you want to immerse yourself in a story that keeps you up with suspense and 'what happens next?' feeling.

This is not a movie that will make you feel good and light and joyous, but it will make you feel on the edge, unsettled, shocked and finally relieved.

And this movie does excellent work in teaching us to be more empathetic towards people around us, how we should give second chances, how we should think that maybe things aren't what they actually seem like and how we shouldn't let our anger take control over us.

It's as if the movie goes by delivering a message on important virtues of life, to help us be more forgiving and more helpful because we never know what other person has been through.

Sandra Bullock as hoped, delivered a strong and powerful performance, nailing down the character of Ruth. Her way of being like a person out of prison and struggling to reunite with her sister comes through as natural and one that makes the audience understand what she's going through.

Vincent D'Onofrio also played his role quite well showing how a little goodness and openness of heart can help someone when they are all alone in the world.

And the director did very well in weaving the story in a non-linear format that makes the whole watch engaging and wholesome. Shoutout to the entire crew involved in making of this art piece.

This movie is definitely in my recommendation list of awesome movies.

Until next time,
Pratyush Goel