Stone

Stone casts Robert De Niro as Jack Mabry, a rigid parole officer who’s just a few months away from retirement – with the film primarily detailing the relationship that ensues between Jack and a quirky inmate (Edward Norton’s Gerald “Stone” Creeson) angling for an early release. It’s a compelling setup that’s initially utilized to promising effect by director John Curran, with the engrossing subject matter undoubtedly heightened by Norton’s expectedly electrifying performance. Sporting cornrows and an almost comically exaggerated “street” accent, Norton is clearly the most engaging aspect of Stone and it does go without saying that he proves to be a far more compelling and flat-out charismatic presence than his Oscar-winning costar. It’s consequently not surprising to note that the movie does become a progressively tedious piece of work as it unfolds, as Norton’s character disappears for long stretches of time and the emphasis is placed on Jack’s efforts at grappling with issues of identity and religion. The less-than-engrossing nature of Jack’s personal struggles are exacerbated by De Niro’s disappointingly by-the-numbers performance, as the actor offers up a closed-off and downright bland turn that ensures that the viewer has exceedingly little invested in his character’s plight. It’s a shame, really, as Stone boasts a conclusion that’s clearly been designed to evoke an emotional reaction from the viewer, yet the pervasively tedious atmosphere effectively prevents one from feeling anything more than relief once the end credits start to roll.

** out of ****