Micitype Pretty Good

GurlyIamBeach Instant Favorite.

Huievest Instead, you get a movie that's enjoyable enough, but leaves you feeling like it could have been much, much more.

Portia Hilton Blistering performances.

Mia Lee I think to appreciate this film you have to also consider the time frame of which the film was released and the unique qualities it brought to attention at that time. For one thing there are not a lot of films out there that star African-American lead actor/actress between the year of 2000-13. In 2007, 19 (big-box office) films came out, that I can recall. *3 out the 19 films starred an African-American main character (besides Descent). They where Bucket List (with Morgan Freeman), I Am Legend (Will Smith), & 1408 (Samuel Jackson). Descent featured a female African American lead; Rosario Dawnson. While most films focused on male driven story-lines, Descent focused on a women's perspective, focusing on her unfolding after trauma.Descent focuses on Maya's day to day life, never explaining or commenting on the events, rather instead, letting the viewer feel it's passing scene for what it is. You find out that Maya is a shy college girl. A telling moment is given right off the bat in the first scene. Maya is shopping for some groceries and you hear girls chit-chatting about 'boy drama'. One of the girls ask her what she thinks and her subtle response says so much about herself. (Note: Rosario is a terrific actress, she knows how to emote and express herself without words. Through her body language you can really sense who her character is.) Unlike the the leader of the girl pack openly express herself verbally with attitude about her drama, whilst Maya is wordless and reserved. Fast forward to Maya interactions with Jared. Maya holds her own on their date together, whilst Jared is doing his best to be charming to win her over. You can totally sense the momentum of both actors playing off of each other. For me, I could already sense the mismatch and chaotic rhythm coming from (Chad Faud character) Jared. Because its been a long time since Maya has been on a date and her mother wants her to date again, for her part she wants to see this date through & go smoothly, asking engaging questions. If having not seen the previews you'd think this was a typical self-reflective Rom-drama, you'd see in the 90's. But as the date moves forward to Jared's apartment, that's when things turn sour. Maya is lured into Jared's apartment basement and is forced to the ground by Jared. As he rapes her, he whispers racial and sexist slurs into her ear. The aftermath leaves Maya quietly shaken, spiraling into depression. As the healing process begins, Maya through her actions shows us how she re-identifies with who she is as a human being, a woman, and a person of color who survived rape. In the process, she doesn't become her prior shy self, instead in reclaiming her womanhood, sexuality, confidence, you get the sense that she embodies her presence of self more strongly. She starts a relationship with a DJ name Adrian and through their romance/friendship, Maya learns the thrills of social dominance/assertiveness. Becoming this alter self as a means of strength, like the rape/revenge classics of the 70's, you get the same mechanics in Descent. It's builds into Maya seeking revenge on Jared for what he has done to her in an unexpected, bone-chilling, finale that involves Maya luring Jared to her apartment, with a surprised guest (Adrian). As the moral goes, "An eye for an eye...", a rape for a rape, Maya succeeds on her revenge. This is suppose to absolve her of her pain, shame, guilt, losing her sense of self... but you can see through Rosario's performance, Maya will never fully undo the harm caused by Jared. And by Maya exacting the same act unto Jared, unlike him, the action doesn't make her feel more powerful or necessarily more in control, instead there is remorse.It was refreshing for me as a viewer to see this story told by dark skin toned woman. The media is saturated with one type of woman, Caucasian woman, to be the portrayal of all woman kind and we need more diverse representations for all of us. Having this story told in the perspective of African-American woman, brought topics of race on top of sexism. Having your attacker dominate and degrade you for not just your sex, but also the color of your skin, is an added layer of assault. The scenes following the rape, you can really feel for Maya and see yourself in her position. "Who am I?" "What about me, made him seek me out?" You can see yourself painstakingly examining every aspect of yourself, your skin, body, mind, and spirit. You feel sick and doubt your self worth/power. The lost of identity/self value and the steps one takes to reclaim it, is what this film is about. Talia Lugacy, the director, executes it superbly. The unfolding of the film is realistic, plausible, and disheartening. In reference to the time the film was released: This was before Scandal and Deception was on ABC. There wasn't many opportunities to see a strong female lead character performed by an ethnic woman television or in films that wasn't stereotyped or a parodied.In conclusion, I like how this film brings a wide range of topics up for discussion between friends, family, academic/work colleagues, anyone really, about rape. Who does it happen to? We are given the opportunity to not JUST theoretically understand rape can happen to anyone, BUT also SEE, that there ARE many different faces of a rape victims... What is the morally right thing to do after being rape? Can we judge what it is and impose that decision to others?*Films were: No Country for Old Men, There Will Be Blood,Bucket List, Knocked Up, The Assassination of Jesse James, 28 Weeks, Transformers, The Bourne Ultimatum, Eastern Promises, Lars and the Real Girl, Ratatouille, Super Bad, Gone Baby Gone, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End...

L B This movie is incredibly realistic and I feel does a great justice to the crime that many people do not understand because of a lack of experience. The many people who think they could fathom what goes through a victim's mind are arrogant. As a victim, I feel that Dawson did a fantastic job in her role of Maya. I agree that this is an incredibly brave film. This looks at rape from a different, more realistic standpoint than any other movie I've ever seen on the subject. The end did drag on a bit long, but I know that many victims imagine this kind of justice, since the chances of an attacker being sent to jail for their crime is around 1%. It's good to see a movie that sticks closer to reality than most would dare to.

kingnostromo I rented this movie simply because Rosario Dawson was in it. I sat down to watch it with my buddy and 6 minutes in we were glued to our seats. Not because of any intensity in those 6 minutes, but because it was a real film. No Hollywood BS, no explosions, no corny one liners; film. It drew you in slowly, reeling you toward a tragically human fate. Some people think they enjoy film but they are sadly mistaken. They like movies; mindless entertainment for entertainment's sake alone. Michael Bay's Transformers and the like were produced for just this audience. No need to think people, just watch and allow ever stereotype we can muster to slowly dissolve your brain. We'll even place advertisements throughout the movie, to keep you buying our products. And don't forget the explosions, we all love explosions. Here we make the distinction, art can be entertaining, but it's also thought provoking and moves you in hidden ways. Entertainment is rarely artful and even then only arbitrarily. Movie are entertainment. Descent is a film. Film is art.If you still house a soul within your walking meat-sack apparatus, this rape scene is every bit as powerful as "Irreversable". The distinction here is that "Irreversable" was a violent rape scene involving two people whose paths have unfortunately crossed at the wrong time and hell ensued. "Descent" is about date rape. No less disgusting. No less depraved. Just different. This is about trust violation, soul desecration and the scars that run deep. Had the character "Maya" been consenting it would have been a hot sex scene. But seeing as she was desperate to escape, the scene is sickening. "Jared" is a sick and manipulative serial rapist, and it's wholly unsettling because it so closely resembles a passionate love affair. How could "Maya" ever be close to anyone again when even in the midst of raping her "Jared's" slick lover boy facade only ever hints at slipping? She is ruined.The film as a whole is beautiful. The camera work and lighting at times removes the surroundings and focuses everything on "Maya" and the silent inner workings of her mind. All this accomplished by Rosario with facial expression and gesture. The soundtrack was excellent, a blend of everything. My particularly favorite scene being a synchronism of all these film aspects working together; "Maya" dancing in a sea of writhing bodies, something inside her awakening, becoming aware, all set to a beautifully sad Jeff Buckley tune.I don't think I've really spoiled anything here but I'm stopping before I do. Bottom line, I think this was the best film of 2007, hands down. Unfortunately it seems that everyone is so jaded these days that if you don't hack and slash, gang rape, or nuke anything then people just can't be bothered. Death isn't the worst thing that can happen to you. It's only the last thing that will happen in this existence. The worst things that happen never leave you. They are always in your thoughts. When you shower; when you brush your teeth; when you buy a Christmas present, when you tie your shoe; they haunt you. They haunt you until that last thing releases you.Treat yourself. Challenge yourself. Watch this film.

guilfisher-1 First of all, the leading lady, Rosario Dawson, is just about the coldest thing to see in a movie. Blank expressions all the way through. Absolutely no compassion for her. The scenes were so dark and the dialog so inaudible it became gruesome to watch. Brian Priest (interesting last name)and director Talia Lugacy (lunacy) wrote this boring trite. If this is Tribeca stuff, I'm glad I stayed away. Chad Faust, in full frontal nudity, ain't bad looking. His final scene with another dull actor, Marcus Patrik, was hard to take. First time I felt sorry for the villain. Was hoping Patrik got A.I.D.S. from his dirty deal. I think both Lugacy and Priest must be on some kinky trip with this trite. I found the subject matter done too often and encouraging others to take the law in their own hands. I also thought it too long in telling and really a boring movie to sit through. I had the DVD and fast through many scenes. I give it a 1 rating due to the looks of Chad Faust.