Engaging performances by Penn and Walken can't quite turn this brutal curio into something more substantial.

General audiences will respond to the very strong performances of the two leads, especially Walken in one of his best roles.

Less than intoxicating.

While atmospheric and engaging, the film is so laser-focused on adapting events as they happened that what should be the symphonic motif — a fortissimo clash between Sean Penn and Christopher Walken — instead becomes grace notes.