Nessieldwi Very interesting film. Was caught on the premise when seeing the trailer but unsure as to what the outcome would be for the showing. As it turns out, it was a very good film.

Gurlyndrobb While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

Mathilde the Guild Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

Brenda The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one

jessy zaki When I came to watch this movie, I didn't know what to expect, actually not expecting much as I wasn't sure about Foster's direction, and it didn't well at the box office. Then I decided to watch it as I am a biggg fan of movies dealing with psycho/mental illness. To be honest, the movie is categorised under the comedy genre, but I found no comedy, maybe light scenes but didnt amount to be so funny. Also, it isn't very dark or serious drama. It is in between; a good story with fine performances. The original plot is really appreciable; a man seeking help out of his depression by adopting a beaver as his soul. It is a bit weird, but it is totally new and original idea, which I liked. About the acting, it is really good, no one could deny this fact. Mel Gibson in my opinion delivers one of his best performances, and the teens too. Jodi Foster is convincing as the caring wife who tries her best to keep her family. The pace of the movie flows well that it didn't bore me, and nearly the last 30 or 40 minutes form the best part of the movie. There is more than a scene worth watching -in my opinion- such as the one in which the protagonist fights with the puppet. Actually, through the whole movie you'll never doubt that the two are two different characters that the beaver has a real soul, thanks to Gibson's performance and the camera cuts. One last thing, don't watch it with high expectations to enjoy it. It is just a good movie with really fine wise performances.

zkonedog If you boil "The Beaver" down to its essence, it is a movie about depression. Had the film focused on that singular issue, I think it would have been a much clearer overall experience. Instead, things never quite seemed to come together in support of that goal.For a basic plot summary, "The Beaver" tells the story of Walter Black (Mel Gibson), a man suffering from crippling depression. When wife Meredith (Jodie Foster) finally cuts ties with him, Walter is on the verge of suicide...until a beaver puppet plucked from a trash heap begins talking to him. Walter adopts the "Beaver" persona and seems to be turning his life around. But, is it real change or just a sham? Concurrent to this main plot, Walter's son Porter (Anton Yelchin) is struggling with similar issues of his own, both inflamed and helped by a new relationship with fellow HS student Norah (Jennifer Lawrence).The problem with "The Beaver" is quite easy to identify (some spoilers here): the stuffed beaver component that makes up the core of the film is never really explained. Why does Walter pick up the puppet to begin with? Why does it start talking? How does that alternate personality help Walter cope with his depression? None of those questions are answered over the course of the movie. There is a great speech around the midpoint of the movie where Walter/Beaver talks about "breaking out of the box" and "getting a fresh start". That was the only scene in the entire film where I started to get a sense of what director Jodie Foster was trying to convey. Other than that, however, everything else is so vague in how things are supposed to fit together.The subplot featuring Yelchin & Lawrence is plagued by a similar disconnect. Both young actors have great chemistry with each other, but I just never understood how that angle was supposed to sync up to set up the ending (which I won't disclose here).Thus, despite the fact that I think movies about depression (still very much a taboo topic in many circles) can be very powerful, "The Beaver" just never gets near that point. A concept this odd needs to be explained, and the filmmakers chose not to do it. As such, it was difficult to connect the dots in how the narrative is supposed to create emotion and make viewers care.

slightlymad22 The Beaver (2011)Possibly the most interesting movie in Gibson's Filmography. Certainly the hardest to review. No doubt, you have heard a lot about this movie!! This movie was a casualty of Gibson's scandals. Following Apocalypto and Edge Of Darkness, It looked like he would survive the DUI, but when tapes of Gibson's serious personal rage surfaced, things were very different. If you have listened to the Gibson tapes from the summer of 2010, odds are he said something that offended you.  He said something that offended absolutely everyone!! There were allegations of domestic violence and even more racism in there too. At the time Gibson was cast, it looked like Jodie Foster was throwing a lifeline (just like he did to Downey Jr.) to her friend when no one else would, Filming was completed in 2009 and it looked like it might survive the storm of Gibson's DUI.  But when the tapes broke, despite Foster defending Gibson, it got put on a shelf. Now all that is out of the way, do you know any one who has actually seen it?  I had not seen it!! And I had to buy it (50p from CEX) to watch it for myself now. Could it really be THAT bad??Plot In A Paragraph: A troubled husband (Gibson) adopts a beaver hand-puppet as his sole means of communicating.The Beaver is a very brave movie!! And I'm not just talking about the casting of Gibson!! When you hear the premise of this movie, you have certain expectations. It sounds like a comedy.  The kind that might star Jim Carrey or Will Ferrell. As I found out, it is nothing like those movies. It is deadly serious about how it deals with depression and the darkness that comes with it. This movie goes into some serious places that I never expected it to!! Sometimes I couldn't believe what I was seeing and I was hooked.Truthfully, I still don't think the movie works 100% and I don't know why, as it is competently directed and superbly acted Gibson gives it his all and Foster is OK, but for me it's Anton Yelchin (as Gibson's son) and Jennifer Lawrence (head cheerleader) in a subplot that stand out!! They are both superb!! But it's Gibson's movie and he is superb as the broken man who is struggling with his demons (art imitating life??) and It's a shame this performance hasn't been seen more. The Beaver is actually a fascinating watch, that I think people should at least check out once. I probably won't rewatch it, unless I'm showing someone it. But when it was finally released in 2011, it was a bomb (Not making the Top 100 highest grossers of the year) Even without the second scandal, I don't think it would have been a huge hit.  But because of the tapes, we never got a chance to find out!!

ajlearmonth Quite a tour-de-force……not necessarily enjoyably, but dark, compelling and insightful. Gibson delivers a fantastic performance, in a role which could very easily have taken a left turn and ended up in a total mess. Ironically, Gibson's role is to play a total mess….Walter Black, whose life has spiraled downwards into chaos. In some ways the film is perhaps a bit labored – such as the need for it to so clearly draw parallels between the lives of the main protagonists. However, the gripping duel at the center of the movie - what's going on in Walter's addled head - is more than sufficient to carry the movie. It's a small cast, but all the actors (Foster, Yelchin and Lawrence) do a fine job. One's heart also goes out to Walter's young son, Henry (Riley Thomas Stuart) who is too young to truly grasp the magnitude of the "silent storm" that is ripping this family apart. And that is what this is all about – how one decent person's unresolved crisis can drive a relentless silent storm that destroys hope and creates carnage that may last generations. Count your blessings if you can detach, and watch this movie as a just a movie. My partner was deeply effected by this movie, as she could much more closely relate to some of the experiences it portrayed. At one point Walter gives a compelling insight into what's driving his need to assume his new persona, even if ultimately it's going to destroy the very family he loves. At this point my partner was literally floored, as it clarified some things that she'd experienced, but never been able to understand. VERY powerful stuff. It's not that often that a movie can tap so directly into what a person has experienced….and that's why this is, truly, such a great movie.