NekoHomey Purely Joyful Movie!

Rijndri Load of rubbish!!

RipDelight This is a tender, generous movie that likes its characters and presents them as real people, full of flaws and strengths.

Kien Navarro Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

HotToastyRag I knew before I started Anesthesia that I wouldn't like it, but even with the very low bar I'd set, it turned out far worse than I'd expected. Unless you have the opposite taste in movies from me, I can't recommend watching it. It's pretty terrible.The film starts out with one long shot. The camera is stationed across the street from a florist and convenience shop in New York City at night, and we watch as Sam Waterston walks to the shops, buys flowers, picks up some groceries, speaks to passersby, and then leaves the frame. I'm assuming director Tim Blake Nelson wanted the audience to feel helpless and only able to watch the situation, but his constant attempts to appear superior and humble the audience really got on my nerves.I rented this film, even though the synopsis gave me a pretty big clue I'd hate it, because I wanted to see some good acting. With Sam Waterston, Glenn Close, Gloria Reuben, and Kristen Stewart, I thought I'd be in for an upsetting story with fantastic performances. Unfortunately not. Glenn walks through her very small role, Gloria isn't given anything to do, and Kristen gives an understated performance that just doesn't work, given her character's troubles. Sam is always great. He's a college professor, and during most of his scenes, he gives existential lectures—on paper they're quite boring, but he's had ample experience putting passion into his speeches. There's something about him that just makes you want to cry and give him a hug, isn't there? If you feel that way about the warble in his impassioned voice and the way his entire face lights up when he smiles, you're going to want to stay far away from this movie. In the opening scene, Sam Waterston gets beaten to a bloody pulp and mugged.The rest of the movie goes back in time and shows several different characters' lives intersecting in the days leading up to the vicious attack. Pot-smoking teenagers plot to lose their virginities, a suburban mom suspects her husband is having an affair, a man tries to put his drug-addicted brother in rehab, and a self-mutilating student turns to her teacher for help. Yes, all these stories sound deep, interesting, and raw, but when you watch them, they fail on all three counts. The entire film thinks too highly of itself, and it's not at all entertaining to watch.Kiddy warning: Obviously, you have control over your own children. However, due to drug use and gritty violence, I wouldn't let my kids watch it.

DG Hadn't heard of the film and was scrolling through the HBO/Netflix/Showtime monotony when I stumbled upon it. Kept my interest from start to finish, nothing spectacular but a solid NYC character study of some seemingly random story lines divinely intertwined. Feels a bit forced at times but overall quite enjoyable. I am probably a bit biased living in NYC to be honest but the setting probably elevated my rating a half point or so. Overall casting was solid with a few recognizable faces scattered through an otherwise random cast. 90 minutes was the right amount of time. Would have rated it an 8 but a couple of the story lines just didn't work for me. Definitely better than a lot of the other films being pushed out. 7/10.

Reno Rangan It is not great, but still a good film. Starred in an important role and directed by Tim Blake Nelson. I think he also wrote it decently that remind us similar classics. A multi-layered narrative, where everyone has connections or meets at one stage of the story. It sets in one fine evening followed by a mysterious tragedy. Then the story moves back in time for days to introduce all the characters and their intentions in the life. Different families dealing the different issues, but they all lead to that particular evening where it somewhere links them in and bring a fitting end with a twist.So when the film nears the final segment, the curious among us rises. The common mistake we make while predicting the end is once again certain when the final push successfully takes us by a surprise. I am not saying it is a masterstroke, but comparing with the rest of the film, it was good. An independent drama film, except some sexual and drug references, it can be watched by the adults and matured teens, but the pace might trouble you in some parts with slowing a bit. Actors were awesome. Since it is a multi-starrer, everyone had small screenspace, but excelled in that. The disappointment is Kristen Stewart, if you are going to expect more from her role. So the film lacks the star value. Having a good story, but not having the marketable stars made the film to sink deep bottom without a trace. Yep, as for now it needs more viewers, despite whatever result it produces. Other than that this film surely not bad as it was tagged. I will definitely recommend it.7/10

LeonLouisRicci This is one of those Thoughtful "Good Try" Films that will be Proudly Ignored, Shunned, and Berated by the Masses as Pretentious Pandering to the Intellectuals and Targeted for Snobby Thinkers who Think Too Much and Look Down on those that don't Think Enough.Like the "Machines" Generations that have Grown Up on 1's and 0's and Tiny Rectangular Devices that are Like Weapons some Alien Race would Covertly Introduce into Society to Extract the Soul and Take Over the Planet.Everyone is "In Pain". Probably since the Beginning of Time because it is a "House of Pain" that is Our Home. Sure there's Pleasure but only for Balance. The Universal "Law" of Duality is Inescapable, things are Born (even stars), begin to Atrophy and Die, Not without much Pain in the Process. This may be the most Compelling Argument for the Non-Existence of "God". Aside from a Jokester Creator, what sense, other than Sadism or Entertainment, would make the Creator of the Universe Stoop to the "Big things eating little things" to Survive, the MO of Existence. Philosophy Strains to Explain, and Religions Really Strain to Explain.Writer/Director/Actor Tim Blake Nelson Really Really Strains to Explain in the Form of a Film that Wears its Pain on its Sleeve and is a Pain most of the Time Wallowing in the Non-Sense of it all (Life), and the Futility of Trying Trying Trying to Lecture when the Subject Matter has been Lectured to Death since Humans began to Think. If this Sounds like Something You want to Wrap Your Head Around, this Movie's for You. But be Advised, it is Recommended You are "Comfortably Numb" while Viewing.While the Movie makes No Bones that it is Thinking, and Thinking and Thinking, Philosophy, Religion, and yes, Screenplays can do No More than Present What is Happening but Not Why and Life most of the Time does Not End Pleasantly, like a Knife in the Back.