Pluskylang Great Film overall

Listonixio Fresh and Exciting

FuzzyTagz If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

Humaira Grant It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

halon8 This is a long film, but it uses the time well. It's a film about complex emotions and it does well to avoid clichés or oversimplify.Paul is a war journalist returning to his home after his father's death. The home he fled as a teenager. He forms a relationship with Celine, the daughter of his ex-girlfriend. When she disappears, he becomes a suspect.The reasons for his flight, his relationship with Celine and hidden family secrets are revealed slowly, with the timeline jumping around. But it's not difficult to follow if you give this film the attention it deserves.The acting is excellent and it was well cast. It's refreshing to see a film in which the female lead was a normal teenager not a supermodel.Unfortunately there were some scenes cut in the version I saw, which left me a little confused.It's difficult to understand why Paul doesn't tell the police the truth about his 'relationship' with Celine.

lhhung_himself This was a terrible waste of time. For those looking for a mystery, thriller - look somewhere else. The plot is full of holes and the actions of the characters, especially the protagonist don't make sense. I mean, when a man is suspected of sleeping with, and perhaps murdering an underage girl, why wouldn't he 'fess up at some point that he believes he is her father to explain why he is spending time with her!? This of course, is to maintain tension (of the Snuffalupagus variety IMHO) and to preserver the "twist" at the end which doesn't actually make much sense if you think about it.As for the slowly developing plot and characters. There's nothing wrong with that - if there had been a plot and characters to develop. The characters seem to have been skimmed from some Dr. Phil pamphlet. Other than the scars that derive from their mysterious past, they apparently have no other personality traits and thus spend their time staring silently (but purposefully) in thought. This is the type of stuff that gives art-house films such a bad rep. It's not enough to have a beginning, and an interesting ending - and an outline of the characters. You have to fill everything in, in a way that makes sense and feels real and convincing. I give this mess a 2 only because the Bailero song featured in the film is one of my favorites.

byatt_lover A flawless film about family dynamics: how one's childhood shapes the person he becomes. Paul Prior, played brilliantly by Matthew Macfadyen, returns home for his father's funeral after Paul had been away for years. Paul had left to escape a memory he could not handle, and attempts to leave it all in the past. Yet certain events unfold and he must relive the past, which is displayed in flashbacks that break up the narration of the present: an effect that only reminds the viewer that no one can ever escape the past, we all carry it with us. The setting of a small New Zealand home sets the atmosphere of isolation. There is also the imagery of the birds, the ostrich being a bird that cannot fly away, and the free birds that only fly when someone has died. Death seems to be the only way someone can escape.A wonderful film that needs more attention. The action is at times slow, but it builds and builds, and leaves you in shock. Paul's last line at the end are utterly tragic.

ChasingTheDragon I watched this movie 5 days ago and I still can't get it out my mind. I have recommended it to everyone I think would appreciate it. That being said, it is not for people who only appreciate Hollywood action blockbusters.It is a family drama about betrayals and secrets but nothing is over done or overly dramatized. The story isn't told in chronological order but that adds to the mystery and allows for really effective character development. I felt like I was reading a book, the way you got little pieces of insight into the characters in each scene. Because you had to work to understand the characters it felt like who they are and what happened to them really mattered. Do not fear however, everything makes sense by the end.The events develop slowly and believably in a small New Zealand town. The setting really contributes to the film's beauty and the photography is amazing. I believe it is done by the same man who did the photography for "once were warriors" "The Piano" and "Whale Rider". The soundtrack was also perfect, with a mix of haunting original scores and rock classics from the likes of Patti Smith.The acting was wonderful, not just from Matthew Macfadyen and Emily Barclay but also the supporting cast. The interactions between characters were truly genuine. I don't know what else to say except I really really loved this movie and hope that it will be made available in more places so that more people can see it. It stands out from everything that is popular in this day and age, all the sequels and remakes that are completely devoid of originality.