I sat through this film with my girlfriend who'd been talking about it for weeks. I'd heard wonderful things about the acting and little else. Now I know why.
Let me say the actors were all wonderful. As opposed to most movies, I actually felt I was watching real people. The performances were very believable. And for me, that alone was the salvation of the film.
I don't know the actual length of the film but I can tell you it was long and it felt it.
Part of this is due to the subject matter. If your idea of a good film is watching people suffer for 2 hours, THIS IS YOUR FILM. The movie is a well done character study of misery and grief. Even my girlfriend who loves a good cry found the movie to laborious and depressing. I'll say again; the film is a FANTASTIC, WELL ACTED exercise in the details of misery. For some, this may make it a great film. And in many respects this probably qualifies it as a fantastic film. But, perhaps as I'm getting older, I find less need or desire to focus on the hardships of life. And when I actually venture into a theater to watch a film; I want to escape. This movie makes you ponder grief. And frankly, who needs a movie to do that?
If you want to judge a film entirely on the merits of cinematography, acting, maturity and meeting its goals; this film deserves a much higher rating then I gave it. (I gave it a 6) Matter of fact, part of me feels guilty for the low score I gave it.
On the other hand, while technically it was a well made film, I was glad when it was over and don't feel better having seen it. (Other then appreciating that a film actually portrayed real characters) The subject matter was too depressing. The pacing was too slow. I released a sigh of relief when it ended.
Let me say the actors were all wonderful. As opposed to most movies, I actually felt I was watching real people. The performances were very believable. And for me, that alone was the salvation of the film.
I don't know the actual length of the film but I can tell you it was long and it felt it.
Part of this is due to the subject matter. If your idea of a good film is watching people suffer for 2 hours, THIS IS YOUR FILM. The movie is a well done character study of misery and grief. Even my girlfriend who loves a good cry found the movie to laborious and depressing. I'll say again; the film is a FANTASTIC, WELL ACTED exercise in the details of misery. For some, this may make it a great film. And in many respects this probably qualifies it as a fantastic film. But, perhaps as I'm getting older, I find less need or desire to focus on the hardships of life. And when I actually venture into a theater to watch a film; I want to escape. This movie makes you ponder grief. And frankly, who needs a movie to do that?
If you want to judge a film entirely on the merits of cinematography, acting, maturity and meeting its goals; this film deserves a much higher rating then I gave it. (I gave it a 6) Matter of fact, part of me feels guilty for the low score I gave it.
On the other hand, while technically it was a well made film, I was glad when it was over and don't feel better having seen it. (Other then appreciating that a film actually portrayed real characters) The subject matter was too depressing. The pacing was too slow. I released a sigh of relief when it ended.