(rated R, 102 mins.)
If the story’s ongoing slow and quiet opening of two men cruising in a car through the middle of a dessert during our watch-glancing minutes-on-end, is any indication of how the movie will play out, then they’ve done a good job. Two close friends both go by the nickname “Gerry” (Matt Damon and Casey Affleck) drive through a wilderness trail for an afternoon hike that turns into a lost nightmare of dessert mirages, Mother Nature nightmares and buddy bonding desperation. But don’t get too excited, it’s a lame, slow, almost speechless version of this premise that kills it. Director Gus Van Sant re-teams with Matt Damon post “Good Will Hunting” to his independent directing roots. This movie is so bad, J Lo finally did something right by keeping Ben home. But did Ben Affleck phone baby brother Casey and say “hey, wanna ruin your career?”
