Leaves of Grass (2010)

Very very predictable, including the post credit scene !!!

One of my all time favorites.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

Leaves of Grass explores both the brotherly relationship and the indifference of two twins, one of which is a school professor and the other a marijuana grower. Whilst the premise of this film is good and the start of the film is somewhat well done, it is all down hill from there. Unfortunately nothing happens for the next hour; it is slow paced, unfunny and just plain boring. Whilst Edward Norton pulls off a great double act, nothing else in this film is eye popping nor enjoyable.Leaves of Grass fails in the most obvious way, and that is to tell a story. Whilst the story itself is obvious, nothing seems to happen quick enough for you to get involved in the story. Just another drug dealer film with absolutely no substance.

Bill Kincaid (Edward Norton) is a classics professor at Brown University. Bill's identical twin Brady is growing weed in Oklahoma. Local drug lord Pug Rothbaum (Richard Dreyfuss) is pressuring him to sell his business. Colleen is Brady's pregnant girlfriend (Melanie Lynskey). Daisy (Susan Sarandon) is their mother. Bill returns home after being told that Brady is killed. Brady isn't actually dead and he want Bill to be his decoy. Bill is unwilling until Brady's friend Janet (Keri Russell) shows up.Edward Norton does a relatively good job at the duo role acting. However the movie is not nearly good enough. It wants to be funny wacky caper but it never gets truly funny. There is a dark unlikeable edge to both characters. I actually dislike the professor character more the weed growing brother. Keri Russell has limited chemistry and the darker turns are done too carelessly by director/writer/actor Tim Blake Nelson.

Watching "Leaves of Grass" first off it gave me a few worries. I didn't know if it was possible for a modern film to pull this off. First and foremost the obvious question, could Edward Norton actually play two character's and the carry the front man role. uh? Yeah he did. For me I was skeptical knowing what I think I know about films. Sometimes it may seem kinda hokey or cheap to do this for an entire picture. Yet I believe that if you didn't know Norton's body of work you wouldn't even notice he did both parts(he's good), he played well. To me "Leaves Of Grass" was a strain of a lifetime original movie.. actually done right! It carried the themes of family and tragedy as Lifetime usually does, and in a beat which appeared to be similar.Once again Done Right! Think of the competition of films in which several characters are played simultaneously with the same Actor and Leading Character. Usually fun to watch? I think so.. All the same Oscar worthy? I thought it was as close as I think anyone will get in the next 10 years. With this type of Direction and use of characters. (Double action from same Actor)Although if one isn't comfortable with drug use and crude language in a movie, then I can see the "air being let out" of my appreciation of this film. Otherwise I think this movie covered a lot of different genres quite well. I laughed through many parts, felt awkward through some and tried to "hold back the waves in my eyeballs" in the end.Closing to the point. I thought it was fun to watch, although not recommended to anyone under 15, definitely not a kids movie, thus the R rating. Kudos to Tim Blake Nelson for writing and directing job. The supporting Cast was as important as the front. Keri Russel was short and sweet, also was Lucy DeVito, and come to think of it Nelson was solid also. (Generally I liked it)Lastly if your looking for a pretty Dark comedy that hits home pretty hard, well at least if you are pretty loyal movie watcher, "Leaves Of Grass" brings the goods. "Picture the Nutty Professor (good film) mixed with American History X (good tough film) and you clip out the N words. You get the Picture" *7/10 as good as "Dark Comedies" get

A film about an Oklahoma pot dealer, and the old "twin-brother" trick did not seem very appealing. However, this is Ed Norton, and you know you are not going to get second rate with him. At first, the film is light-hearted and somewhat comic, but through entirely natural displays of familial emotion becomes more serious. It then gets really serious. Norton is superb throughout; ivory tower professor, troubled son, loyal brother and more. Never having been to Oklahoma I cannot say if the setting and acting was authentic, only that I was captivated by several of the characters, tough as they might be. The script is natural, makes you think and provides the vehicle for Norton to shine. This is really worth watching, but it is not an easy ride that leaves you feeling good.