Sun., November 5, 2023...
Just stop what you're doing, and order this film's DVD. Do it NOW...
Hal Hartley has created a labor of love here with "No Such Thing" (2001)...Writing/Directing...even did the music score, and a poetic, non-invasive score it was too.
And Robert John Burke, who played "the Monster", did his finest performance ever. Shakespearean level, IMHO. You don't believe me ?...What can I say ? Go back and read your Shakespeare ! (You may recall John Burke's performance in Stephen King's "Thinner"...a very good film; one of the better of King's novellas, translated to film)...
Sarah Polly also gives an exemplary performance as "the Beauty", as a naïve but very smart journalist who's cutting her journalistic teeth on one of New York's tabloid TV "news" formats. She receives a tape recording from "the Monster" about her colleague/journalist fiancé, who was assigned to Iceland to "investigate the monster"...
You really don't have to read Shakespeare to become thoroughly absorbed, and convinced, that this film will become a great cult film, perhaps in all cinema history...that is, if it hasn't already...
(And by the by, Roger Ebert trashed this film. So did Leonard Maltin...All the more reason for you to place a RUSH order for the DVD...
...I have respected most of Roger Ebert's opinions since his days on PBS, but he bombed-out on this one. As for Maltin I have no respect whatsoever...He trashed Easy Rider once, until he realized his mistake, and changed his mind some years later !)
A good policy is to ignore all "professional" critics; very few know anything about making a film...You'll find yourself enjoying many more films that way.
I only mention the two critics above because so many folks are unduly influenced by established critics, and it's not at all fair to the creators, who rarely have an opportunity to confront these self-appointed movie pundits.
"No Such Thing" confronts us on many levels. You can clearly see Hartley's intentions, before you reach the ending...And no, there will be no spoilers here.
The ending is profound. That's all I will say about it.
Also bear in mind that you have some really great supporting actors/actresses here : Dame Helen Mirren gives us an absolutely hilarious performance as a jaded tabloid executive...She plays "the Boss"...an unforgettable performance...
And there's none other than Julie Christie as well who plays a compassionate Icelandic doctor who helps guide "the Beauty" from a nearly fatal accident.
And there's the wiley "Dr. Artaud", brilliantly performed by the Icelandic writer/director/producer Baltasar Kormákur.
I really can't say more about this film without giving too much away.
Just see the film. Make up your own mind. Don't listen to "the critics"...
James Ballard/ Huntsville, Alabama.
Just stop what you're doing, and order this film's DVD. Do it NOW...
Hal Hartley has created a labor of love here with "No Such Thing" (2001)...Writing/Directing...even did the music score, and a poetic, non-invasive score it was too.
And Robert John Burke, who played "the Monster", did his finest performance ever. Shakespearean level, IMHO. You don't believe me ?...What can I say ? Go back and read your Shakespeare ! (You may recall John Burke's performance in Stephen King's "Thinner"...a very good film; one of the better of King's novellas, translated to film)...
Sarah Polly also gives an exemplary performance as "the Beauty", as a naïve but very smart journalist who's cutting her journalistic teeth on one of New York's tabloid TV "news" formats. She receives a tape recording from "the Monster" about her colleague/journalist fiancé, who was assigned to Iceland to "investigate the monster"...
You really don't have to read Shakespeare to become thoroughly absorbed, and convinced, that this film will become a great cult film, perhaps in all cinema history...that is, if it hasn't already...
(And by the by, Roger Ebert trashed this film. So did Leonard Maltin...All the more reason for you to place a RUSH order for the DVD...
...I have respected most of Roger Ebert's opinions since his days on PBS, but he bombed-out on this one. As for Maltin I have no respect whatsoever...He trashed Easy Rider once, until he realized his mistake, and changed his mind some years later !)
A good policy is to ignore all "professional" critics; very few know anything about making a film...You'll find yourself enjoying many more films that way.
I only mention the two critics above because so many folks are unduly influenced by established critics, and it's not at all fair to the creators, who rarely have an opportunity to confront these self-appointed movie pundits.
"No Such Thing" confronts us on many levels. You can clearly see Hartley's intentions, before you reach the ending...And no, there will be no spoilers here.
The ending is profound. That's all I will say about it.
Also bear in mind that you have some really great supporting actors/actresses here : Dame Helen Mirren gives us an absolutely hilarious performance as a jaded tabloid executive...She plays "the Boss"...an unforgettable performance...
And there's none other than Julie Christie as well who plays a compassionate Icelandic doctor who helps guide "the Beauty" from a nearly fatal accident.
And there's the wiley "Dr. Artaud", brilliantly performed by the Icelandic writer/director/producer Baltasar Kormákur.
I really can't say more about this film without giving too much away.
Just see the film. Make up your own mind. Don't listen to "the critics"...
James Ballard/ Huntsville, Alabama.
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