A deeply religious black ex-con thwarts the suicide attempt of an asocial white college professor who tries to throw himself in front of an oncoming subway train, 'The Sunset Limited.' As the one attempts to connect on a rational, spiritual and emotional level, the other remains steadfast in his hard-earned despair. Locked in a philosophical debate, both passionately defend their personal credos and try to convert the other.
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It is a long talk between Black (Samuel L. Jackson) and White (Tommy Lee Jones) in an apartment.. the viewer is just a listener to that long dialogue between the main characters. The dialogue started after Black, who seems to believe of higher power, saves White, who seems to believe of no higher power, from a suicide attempt.. Black brings White to his apartment to make sure he won't repeat the act again by arguing with him about the philosophy and meaning of life which really started so simple and direct but then things took a turn when Black looked like forcing White to "see" his point of views and White looked like he is completely unable to "see" anything else than his point of views.. The viewer watch two opposites argue about hope and despair.. existence and non-existence.. It is not about the actual argument between the two characters and who will win the argument.
This for me best movie of all times... This for me best movie of all times.. This for me best movie of all times.... This for me best movie of all times......
I'm not a movie critic. I know nothing about making movies. I'm familiar with both of these actors. Nothing more. All I know is that for about one and a half hours, I watched two men in a room, captivate me with their discussion. I have to say that I'm almost 50 years old and this movie goes down in my life as one of the best I have ever seen. (I've seen a lot of movies). The movie ended and I wanted to watch it again to learn the lines!
This is one of movies greatest team up films based on a play. And while I don't agree with all of how it was done, it was still a powerful performance between Tommy Lee Jones, a suicidal atheist professor, and Samuel L. Jackson, an ex-con who is a bible believer (but not a fundie) who saved Tommy from jumping in front of a train, The Sunset Limited. What follows is a two man dialogue taking a philosophical look at life, based upon God. Thankfully Tommy's character is not "mad" at god, but they do tread close to that rail. And while HIS character is nihilistic, there is no attempt to paint all atheists as such. The acting is superb, the dialogue is interesting and thoughtful. The bias to god is unbalanced, Samuel L spends 2/3rds of the movie with the weight on his side, even with Tommy's responses. Tommy's final nihilistic speech is given the last 15 minutes but boy does he deliver, and if as an atheist you accept this is HIS view as a personal position for his character, it does leave you thinking. This film is a great jumping off point for how a theistic discussion (not so much a debate) should be handled. Sam makes very pointed and thoughtful points and admits his areas of weakness without losing his position. I can NOT recommend this enough to theists, atheists, philosophy buffs and those who enjoy great acting.
