There’s a good movie here. It’s probably about seventy-five minutes long. Unfortunately, this cut is two hours long and moves a pace that would have a snail beeping its horn and trying to overtake in frustration.

Shots go on for centuries, scenes seem endless. It’s well-shot and it’s about an important subject, but it just goes on and on and on and…

There are good things – there’s a nice little wrinkle near the end and Alan Arkin’s good value – but everything just takes so long.

I’m not sure what the reason is for the languid pace. Maybe the filmamkers involved thought that slow equals atmospheric, which it really doesn’t. Maybe it’s meant to reflect the fact that this isn’t a one-off urgent special event, but a matter of daily routine. Maybe the studio just demanded a two hour film. Whatever the reason, it breaks the movie. It’s a real shame, because there’s a decent film about an important subject in there somewhere.

I’m glad I went to a free preview screening, though, because at least I can now use my knowledge wisely and warn as many people as possible off the film.