Spidersecu Don't Believe the Hype

HeadlinesExotic Boring

Fairaher The film makes a home in your brain and the only cure is to see it again.

Derrick Gibbons An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

Randy Barkley There is no story development. It's about neurotic narcisistic people in a remote place on the planet earth. That alone would drive anyone crazy. This was a terrible contribution to the movie industry. Categorized as a Mystery, but, there is absolutely no Mystery at all. The story was cliche and predictable. Acting was incredibly terrible.

tanyax99 Le me start here: No one should review this film. Ignore the ratings. The best thing would be you sit down with the expectations you cultivated all your life, and take the trip. For my part, it was maybe 20 minutes after the closing credits I realized what had happened to me. And if you're lucky, you'll find out too.The superb craftsmanship is severely underrated. The acting, cinematography, music, art direction and wardrobe are exquisitely executed.The film's 'slowness' is not because of length, coming in at a lean 98 minutes with credits, but the story is about characters and their lives. Inevitably, that means there is a lot of talking. And for some, that might be 'slow'. But with such a fine cast, they find ways to take this quiet story to very interesting places. The complexity of the characters left us more than enough to discuss post-watching.The most interesting character is the director. Angad Aulakh will become required viewing for me. I wouldn't have guessed he was so young.

Jennifer Linden Angad Aulakh is a first time director who seems to defy most analysis. Now, I wouldn't recommend Autumn Lights unconditionally to my friends; not because it's a bad film (quite the opposite, it's a brilliant examination of the human condition) but because it's the kind of movie that would inevitably lead some of them to think "she told me to watch it and said it was great!" This is a film that will resonate very deeply with some and not as much with others.For starters, Autumn Lights is an art-house film under the guise of a mystery-drama. So the pacing will inevitably be slower. But if you can see past that, put your iPhone down, and forget your Facebook & Twitter, this film may enlighten you more than you would've ever expected. And, it may teach you something about cinema as Angad Aulakh appears to be a master regurgitator of old films, akin to Nicholas Winding Refn, Quentin Tarantino, etc.The narrative is straightforward. Man gets stroke of bad luck, meets intriguing woman, discovers woman is more than meets the eye, man gets entangled with woman and her puppets (and their strings). While the plot points are familiar, the writing and the revelation of this cast (led by young actors Guy Kent and Marta Gastini) is what takes this film to heights not foreseen.To begin, the writing is rather strong. At times, the dialogue feels like a play adapted for film. It feels punctuated, heightened, full of emotions and talk of events of the past. That is not easy to do and Aulakh's script is skillfully crafted. The characters dance across conversations of old loves, confusion and their misery, all but to discover that the answer will not lie in those around us, but rather, it can only be found within ourselves.Punctuated by a great score by two Icelandic composers Hugi Gudmundsson and Hjortur Ingvi Johannsson, Autumn Lights is a visual feast of an indie cinema. This is a gorgeous-looking film of washed-out, epic landscapes, muted tones, and set in beautiful Icelandic and Parisian locations, with a cast to match.Guy Kent is full of gravitas perfection in the lead role of David. As a young actor in an ensemble of a more veteran cast, he wisely underplays the drama of his character, which otherwise would easily fall into cantankerous melodrama. It is that smart choice which enhances the film tremendously. At moments charming, at moments cold, and at moments as mercurial as the character of Marie, he shows colors in particular shades that make this film what it is.Marta Gastini is also exceptional in the role of Marie. While her character doesn't undergo a transformation, she's a highly conflicted human being who makes choices to alleviate her own personal suffering. And her performance shows all the layers to Marie's pain, suffering, and sorrow. It's exquisite work.Autumn Lights is the product of a talented director's feature debut with a clearly personal and distinctive visual and narrative style. I look forward to see what is next to come from him. If you are at all interested in cinema beyond regular multiplex fare, it's definitely worth investing 2 hours of your time.

Barbarax68 As a first review and as a fan of small, foreign films, I happened to stumble upon this title when it was being advertised as playing in Los Angeles & New York. But to my surprise, the title was available on VOD and after watching the intriguing trailer, I gave it a whirl with my husband. I was very moved by this movie. It was unexpected. And I unexpectedly am now writing a review.To start, the craftsmanship is superb. The music, the cinematography, the strong performances and the direction were not formulaic and expected. It's a film of bold choices and it felt very original. I applaud the director and writer of the film Angad Aulakh for creating something so different... Massive superhero fatigue in this household.Now the story... it's a small story. It's conversation-driven. It's not about A to B to C, it's about learning who these intricate characters are and it's a dance between them and how their interactions with one another reward (or the opposite) their lives. My husband and I were engrossed by the heart and soul of these characters. They were wise, astute, interesting people who carry immense pain with them. This is not some hot-button, socially-relevant film but why does every film need to be that nowadays? It was lovely to watch a movie about characters who feel very real and lived in and didn't have to be politically or socially charged.Now Iceland, if you've ever been like I have, you'll know the spectacular beauty. The cinematography just enhances it. But I love that it's not a travelogue film that uses Iceland as a tourist film would. It's just a setting. And it's cold and barren and is an interesting location to set these characters in.Ms. Gastini, who was beautiful in Borgia, is splendid as Marie. She's complex and highly-watchable. I was very moved by her character's storyline and emotional dilemmas, as she delves in with the film's David, played by the handsome young actor Guy Kent. He, too, is beautiful and touching in the role. There's subtly to his emotions, his melancholy, his lust, and he feels like a real man from a different generation. As they say in the film, "there's more to him than he lets on, and I find that attractive." Well, so do I. The character of David is interesting and unexpected and was filled by an actor who I enjoyed watching and entering into this world with.My husband and I discussed the film at length afterward. If you like films that provoke conversation, make you look at your own life and your choices, and inspires you by the artistry, this is a film for you. It's a wonderful movie. I highly, highly recommend this title.