Review of Crime & Punishment

*Possible Spoilers* (though nothing you don't see in the first 15 minutes) As cinema, this movie is wonderful. It's chockful of interesting camera angles, cinematography, and extreme closeups. As an adaptation of a novel though its not so good - purists beware. The character playing Raskolnikov is too short and not handsome, though dirty enough (refer to the novel, Raskolnikov is above average or at least perceives himself to be above average) in all categories. The murder scene is far too tame and wholly different than the novel. The murder of alyona is glossed, when it should have been focused upon as the death of lizaveta is "collateral damage". The pacing of the film is also off. The first several minutes encompass several chapters crucial to understanding the utilitarian philosophy underlying Raskolnikov's decision to kill Alyona. The closeups begin to grow tiresome however. Recommended for cinema buffs and the illiterate.