Mislead by some comments here i expected a laugh-out comedy, Ben Stiler style. Many other people in the cinema expected the same and from the beginning of the film they laughed at the slightest hint that something might be funny. Little by little though, the laughs went to silence and people understood they were watching a drama, not a comedy. Indeed there were scenes that made you laugh, but the more important scenes were those that take you by the heart and make you feel and understand. Thanks to the great acting by Ryan Gosling, Emily Mortimer, Paul Schneider, Patricia Clarkson, all the supporting cast, you get a feel of a community of neighbors, friends, family, perhaps too idealized, but nevertheless, giving hope and warmth.
What totally surprised me was that this is an original American movie (correct me if i'm wrong). The names of the characters, people's features and clothes, the weather and location if you like, all made me think this is an authentic Scandinavian movie, up to the dialog and plot itself. I could literally see rural Scandinavian types and imagined the characters speak Norwegian or Swedish. The whole flow of the movie, the way it never went out of order, kept its steady, peaceful step, so typical for European movies - all my regards to director Craig Gillespie for achieving this. Anything else would've spoiled this sad movie, diminished its message, denied the sacrifices and human pain of its characters
The story in short is of a man, troubled by his past and afraid of closeness even with his loving family. He finds an seemingly undemanding friend in a human-sized doll he buys over the internet. Soon, with the help of his family and the whole town, who decide to play his game, he discovers the beauty of human touch, emotion and contact...
9/10
peace and love
What totally surprised me was that this is an original American movie (correct me if i'm wrong). The names of the characters, people's features and clothes, the weather and location if you like, all made me think this is an authentic Scandinavian movie, up to the dialog and plot itself. I could literally see rural Scandinavian types and imagined the characters speak Norwegian or Swedish. The whole flow of the movie, the way it never went out of order, kept its steady, peaceful step, so typical for European movies - all my regards to director Craig Gillespie for achieving this. Anything else would've spoiled this sad movie, diminished its message, denied the sacrifices and human pain of its characters
The story in short is of a man, troubled by his past and afraid of closeness even with his loving family. He finds an seemingly undemanding friend in a human-sized doll he buys over the internet. Soon, with the help of his family and the whole town, who decide to play his game, he discovers the beauty of human touch, emotion and contact...
9/10
peace and love