What makes it different from others?

Don't listen to the Hype. It's awful

It is not only a funny movie, but it allows a great amount of joy for anyone who watches it.

It is interesting even when nothing much happens, which is for most of its 3-hour running time. Read full review

What a surprise, what a surprise !I thought this was going to be a financial thriller and ended up watching one of the best films in my lifetime.Anyone who has lived in a developing country will experience a rollercoaster of emotions on seeing this film as the story could apply to absolutely any developing country. And what a story. Ten minutes into the film and I started saying "What a fantastic film - who made this film ?", and I carried on saying that at regular intervals throughout the film. This film has so many layers that if you understand everything it is trying to portray you simply want to meet the Writer/Director. For the Writer/Director to hail from New York and yet understand all the subtelties, consequences, and tragedies of life for the common person in a developing country demonstrates a unique capacity for observation and, critically, empathy.This is a cinematically beautiful, sad, brutally accurate, tense, but also uplifting film, all at the same time. This film should have been taken to Cannes and it would have won the top prize - someone missed a marketing trick there.Still - easily one of the best films I have ever seen. Watch it - you won't regret it.

The Debt is a financial drama that I recommend watching at least once. Novice director Barney Elliott teams up with executive producer Christine Vachon and a talented, star studded cast to deliver his first feature film. Set partly in New York and Peru, The Debt tracks three distinct narratives on the path to meeting each other. Throughout each of their stories, the characters face financial and moral issues that force them to make tough, life- changing decisions. The complexity of the film is the best part about it. It allows the actors to immerse themselves into their roles and challenges the audience to think more deeply. In one narrative, Stephen Dorff's character Oliver must make challenging decisions to either secure a large international business deal or help Peruvian natives keep their land. On the flip side in Lima, the talented Elsa Olivero plays Maria Ruiz, a poor nurse who is desperately struggling to care for her sickly mother. The struggles of life and business are exposed to show that even decent people will make bad choices when pushed to the brink. If you like emotionally charged films, I recommend adding this one to your summer watch list.

The Debt features riveting talent all across the board. Blade's Stephen Dorff and The Bourne Ultimatum's David Strathairn shine as the bankers who attempt to acquire land from a Peruvian family. Barney Elliott has managed to put together a moving cast that portrays the suspenseful story; with a special mention for Elsa Olivero who gives a heartbreaking performance as a nurse who tries desperately to care for her sick mother. The narrative is topical as it involves three separate stories that intertwine because of a deal to buy some land in Peru by New York financiers. In my opinion, newcomer Barney Elliott showcases great direction and writing as presented by a surprising turn the film makes, which caught me off guard. Furthermore, the film is shot beautifully as Peru is such a vibrant setting. It's great to see an independent movie that utilizes every frame from start to finish and kept me on edge. I recommend that any film lover see this feature.

So besides the fact that Stephen Dorff is one of my favorite actors (saw him in Blade too!), I watched The Debt because it looked different from any other movie out now, and it completely is. I love the idea of juxtaposing the logical American business-type with the family-oriented, hardworking Peruvian farmer. The diversity of this cast is enough to make it stand out alone. But the script is also something to consider. Surprisingly, the drama starts out innocently enough with Dorff's character, Oliver, traveling to Peru with his partner to try and buy back land and settle semi-ancient debt from 1968. But then the film twists completely, leaving you rooting for both Oliver and the landowning farmers, although they each want two different things. This is truly one of those movies that absorbs you into another place, another culture. You can relate to Oliver obviously but also find yourself empathizing with the plight of these local Peruvians as their society crumbles under financial pressure. Highly recommend seeing this one if you want to change your perspective about other countries.