“The Unforgivable,” a drama based around a grim plot, released in Dec. 2021 on Netflix, and is packed with conflict and violence.
The plot revolves around the main character, Ruth Slater (Sandra Bullock) who has just been released from prison after serving 20 years for murder. Getting out and coming back to the real world proves incredibly difficult for Slater, since the community that she left is unforgiving of her mistakes. As she desperately searches for her sister, Slater has constant flashbacks of the day she went to prison and the trauma that came along with it. She will go to extreme measures to find her sister, Katie, even if it hurts those close to them and herself in the process.
The realism of the setting, a poor part of Seattle, causes viewers to connect with Bullock’s character. One point in the movie finds Slater screaming, “I exist, I exist!” over and over, emphasizing that although charged with a violent crime, she’s still a human being that demands respect. Watching Slater begin to try to pull her life together as well as juggle romance and personal relationships, the viewer experiences how true to life this all is for released prisoners living in the United States.
Although the movie moves slowly at times, after the storyline picks up, it’s entertaining and thrilling. With the help of actors such as Viola Davis, this movie definitely doesn’t lack acting talent. Bullock’s own performance made the plot raw and real, and the way she went about the complicated situation and storyline was quite beautiful.
All in all, the unexpected plot twist will have the audience questioning the characters and their intentions. While some minor parts of the film were emphasized too much, other information was blown over, leaving the film coming in at good, not great. Still, Bullock’s performance alone makes it worth a watch.