Exoticalot
People are voting emotionally.
PlatinumRead
Just so...so bad
Sharkflei
Your blood may run cold, but you now find yourself pinioned to the story.
Motompa
Go in cold, and you're likely to emerge with your blood boiling. This has to be seen to be believed.
hemril
I saw the comments saying that this movie is a copy of American Beauty or the Private Life of Walter Mitty. Even if I can see where it is possible to see similarities, I insist this is a whole new movie all together. Many elements are quite original, even though the intention of the movie is to show us how we can see life pass us by and not even be aware that there is something wrong. The movie very clearly asks if a life in a suburb, with commuting to a meaningless job and a life partner who is completely absorb by their work is worth living. To me, this movie goes further than AB or WM because it demonstrate how depressing our world can be. I watched it 6 or 7 times and I still discover hidden messages in some of the images. Denys Arcand is a great director and he has contributed in an important way to helping put Québec cinema on the map. To me, this is an 8.5 so I will give it a 9 on the voting window.
chupito-1
Of course, if you are a person who believes our modern society is the culmination of human evolution and you are comfortable with the western way of life, you might not like this movie so much (referring to the review posted by someone from Chicoutimi). Otherwise, it has to be one of the most brilliant criticisms about the North-American way of life. Another reviewer compared it to Brazil from Gilliam, and there surely are some similarities, though Arcand does not go as far into surrealism. The cast is wonderful. All in all it is a great satire that makes you reflect on many aspects of life in our time. It is funny, but really dark at the same time. I liked it even better the second time I watched it. It just lacks a little something - maybe a stronger climax - to be a masterpiece.
kluseba
This movie is well described with one word: "depression". The whole atmosphere of the film is just depressive, melancholic, sadistic, boring and senseless. Everything is grey, everyone is unhappy, everything is going wrong. Concerning the atmosphere, the director and main actor did a great job, without any doubt, but who wants to see a movie that shows just a negative sense of the life and a pseudo-critical family or society portrait? You have not any fun by watching this movie, but if you want to feel down and depressive, go for it, but watch it alone, because it could destroy the atmosphere of a movie night with some friends.
sharkies69
Saw this recently at the Canadian film festival.I was expecting to be let down by this film (as Arcand set the bar very high with his previous films. However I was pleasantly surprised and found this to be very, very entertaining.With the opening shower scene and the fact that his wife is a real estate agent there are obvious comparisons to American Beauty.Ulimately I think Arcand covers more ground in his film and you can't help but laugh at his very dark and also very accurate observations on modern life in a big city.From ridiculous government bureaucracy to disconnection through mobile phones and MP3 players, speed dating and relationships in general Arcand is dead on.I guess the only thing I didn't quite agree with was the notion of moving to the country house away from the city and it's craziness and everything will be just fine.I guess it is ultimately sad that this is a pretty accurate depiction of modern society in many western countries right now. The level of disconnection among people is both sad and and frustrating.But I loved the honesty in the film and found it extremely entertaining and much funnier than his other films.
