Hammerman Ikon

Hammerman Ikon Film Guide

Down in the Valley
2005
***
Director: David Jacobson
Cast: Edward Norton, Evan Rachel Wood, David Morse, Rory Culkin, Aviva, Bruce Dern, John Diehl, Geoffrey Lewis

A teenage girl from San Fernando Valley falls for a suave cowboy wannabe whose calm demeanour and good manners work as an antidote to her gruff dad who is vehemently against the relationship. Edward Norton is wonderful and back to his best as the smooth-talking Southern gentleman whose volatile nature slowly reveals itself. This slow-burning drama is at its best in the first half when the ambiguous stranger charms the girl and her jittery baby brother but we're not sure where it's all going. However, when the dad's worst fears are confirmed, the story becomes somewhat predictable.