This movie left me completely stunned and disoriented at the end. I've waited a day to gather my thoughts and write this review, as I believe this is really a movie that requires far more reflection than your average fare. There are a lot of reviews here that really show this is indeed not a movie for everyone, but I think from a technical standpoint it is truly exceptional, and also requires a lot of interpretation from the viewer.
First of all, major kudos to the composer and everyone involved in the sound department, they really created an immersive and emotional ride throughout. Sound design was meticulous and was a major component of the storytelling by setting the appropriate mood. It's not often that sound stands out to me, but this is definitely one of those cases.
The acting was also top-notch by all involved. The performances are all genuine, nuanced, and emotional, particularly from the main actor. Cinematography was also excellent, it reminded me a lot of The Fountain by Darren Aronofsky, and the script follows a similar formula as well, although each are certainly unique in their own right.
I really liked the pace at which the story progressed, and each cut to a different scene was meaningful as a device to slowly reveal more of what is perceived to be the the actual story being told as opposed to jarring and sharp for the purpose of being dramatic.
I hate to include spoilers, but I felt it important to leave my interpretation of this movie laid out here, as it's one of the major reasons to appreciate this film. I feel like the plot is similar to The Fountain in that a number of different timelines and events exist. This is a fairly apparent plot device that is established early.
From there, various versions of reality are established based on the choices the main character makes throughout his lifetime. Even the choice he makes as a baby near the end to go through the darkened door or to his mother lead to alternate timelines. His experience with the drug 'Merc' leads to a cloudy, chaotic timeline where he can end up squatting in an abandoned house with Cindy, or going through psychosis in various other timelines (exam and board presentation freakouts).
All in all, I think the director is trying to show how the decisions throughout life affect our fate in various ways. Cindy and Merc seem to be the main catalysts that lead to starkly different life experiences. The ending scene with his mother on her deathbed and the realization that she is the constant in all of his timelines is really touching.
That said, there are a lot of strange things that aren't fully explained, like this entity that is supposedly occupying his mind forcing him to think of time as linear, or the times scratched out on the bathroom wall. I feel like there may have been a few loose ends in the script that have been cut from the final product, but even though I'm incredibly curious about them, I think the movie in it's final iteration is still great, and it's a bold departure from the formulaic dribble that is often produced to appeal to as wide an audience as possible. I think even those who wrote the bad reviews of this movie can admit that it's a creative and original concept, and the final product is high quality production.
This is a movie that definitely deserves more than one watch to fully appreciate.
First of all, major kudos to the composer and everyone involved in the sound department, they really created an immersive and emotional ride throughout. Sound design was meticulous and was a major component of the storytelling by setting the appropriate mood. It's not often that sound stands out to me, but this is definitely one of those cases.
The acting was also top-notch by all involved. The performances are all genuine, nuanced, and emotional, particularly from the main actor. Cinematography was also excellent, it reminded me a lot of The Fountain by Darren Aronofsky, and the script follows a similar formula as well, although each are certainly unique in their own right.
I really liked the pace at which the story progressed, and each cut to a different scene was meaningful as a device to slowly reveal more of what is perceived to be the the actual story being told as opposed to jarring and sharp for the purpose of being dramatic.
I hate to include spoilers, but I felt it important to leave my interpretation of this movie laid out here, as it's one of the major reasons to appreciate this film. I feel like the plot is similar to The Fountain in that a number of different timelines and events exist. This is a fairly apparent plot device that is established early.
From there, various versions of reality are established based on the choices the main character makes throughout his lifetime. Even the choice he makes as a baby near the end to go through the darkened door or to his mother lead to alternate timelines. His experience with the drug 'Merc' leads to a cloudy, chaotic timeline where he can end up squatting in an abandoned house with Cindy, or going through psychosis in various other timelines (exam and board presentation freakouts).
All in all, I think the director is trying to show how the decisions throughout life affect our fate in various ways. Cindy and Merc seem to be the main catalysts that lead to starkly different life experiences. The ending scene with his mother on her deathbed and the realization that she is the constant in all of his timelines is really touching.
That said, there are a lot of strange things that aren't fully explained, like this entity that is supposedly occupying his mind forcing him to think of time as linear, or the times scratched out on the bathroom wall. I feel like there may have been a few loose ends in the script that have been cut from the final product, but even though I'm incredibly curious about them, I think the movie in it's final iteration is still great, and it's a bold departure from the formulaic dribble that is often produced to appeal to as wide an audience as possible. I think even those who wrote the bad reviews of this movie can admit that it's a creative and original concept, and the final product is high quality production.
This is a movie that definitely deserves more than one watch to fully appreciate.