Nate & Margaret (2012) User Reviews

A simple, lovely effort.

[runamokprods · 7/10 · 27 February 2013]

Sweet, good hearted little indie about the unlikely close friendship between at 19 year old gay wanna-be film-maker and his neighbor, a 52 year old wanna be stand up comedian.

While there are rough spots – the low budget shows through, not all the acting is everything it might be, some plot twists are either obvious or a bit of a stretch – this film deserves lots of credit for dealing with something as delicate and complex as friendship.

There are obvious parallels to the great "Harold and Maude" (especially when a folky singer who sounds a bit like Cat Stevens starts singing under the opening scene), but really the two films are very different. "Harold and Maude" was both far more farcical and more tragic, and dealt with romance. This film is quieter and smaller, dealing with the subtle humor and sadness of day to day life. A simple, lovely effort.

First movie and not so bad

[thepinkrabbit · 5/10 · 6 September 2012]

Although this movie is the first from Adloff and Palmer, it's quite well done. But to tell the truth the actor Tyler Ross is the reason I watched this movie. As a matter of fact he looks a lot like the ex porn star now doing regular movies Sean Paul Lockhart (Brent Corrigan)specially in " Judas kiss" which is too a low budget, 1st movie. Fact is women's note for this movie is 8.5 whereas males give it a 4.5 . Likely reason : the real cute Tyler. His character is the perfect boyfriend, kind, clever, stable guy. Margaret is to my taste too shallow. Adding 20 minutes to the movies to give more details about the life of this women could have created more empathy. I give this movie a good 5 which is a good mark. Some informations are missing in the storyline towards the end. I really think 20 minutes more would have solved theses little problems.

What? The bard would disagree

[olliemankz · 6/10 · 17 September 2013]

Well, folks, I gotta say ... I was taught the theatrical definition of "comedy" a long time ago, and, basically, it's "all's well that ends well." The rest is tragedy.

So I believe that this is a comedy, both in the strictest sense of the word, and, I think, too, in the enjoyment of the film. I agree with so many others here, this is a movie that stays with you. I've seen a lot of good movies this year, not all made this year but popping up on Netflix for my viewing pleasure: Extract, Butter, Price Check -- all for some reason revolving around food, Satisfaction Not Guaranteed ... the list goes on and on. No, this one is not a thigh-slapper, but then neither is the comedy of the main female character ... perhaps the one stretch is to think that her shtick could make it. Yet I think it is so endearing, and Natalie West underplays her roles so well, that is not beyond reality at all. I can't say this is a great movie yet ... time will tell how it sits. But it certainly is sweet.

One of the worst.....

[Hovis100 · 1/10 · 28 May 2014]

Nate and Margaret

My sister and I watched "Nate and Margaret" after reading several positive reviews. Reviewers generally regarded the movie as a quirky, sweet friendship film.

WARNING: We found "Nate and Margaret" to be one of the worst, most self-indulgent movies we have ever seen. After watching one-third of it we wanted to stop but were compelled to see how much worse it could get, and it did. It had no charm, poor acting and the Margaret character was extremely unsympathetic and irritating. The relationship made no sense -- why were they 'best friends'? What was Nate's fascination with dour Margaret? Her attempts at humor (comedian?) were excruciatingly embarrassing. Why did the heckling turn into laughter when her routine hadn't improved? Why did the manager want to promote such a losing act? Why was he attracted to her?

Did we mention how bad the acting is?

Nate's first gay love, James, is extremely unattractive. Although we are positive to the gay agenda, there was an over attempt at "political correctness", inserting gay characters (such as lesbian neighbors awaiting a baby) unnecessarily.

Did we mention how bad the acting is?

All of the characters were trite, stereotypical unauthentic and superficial.

Did we mention how bad the acting is?

This movie had no charm or love in it. Nothing interesting happened in the entire film. We cannot understand any of the positive reviews. The movie is a complete waste of time. In fact, you may be wondering why we are wasting our time writing this review. We are too! If it hadn't been so bad we wouldn't be.

Did we mention how bad the acting is?

Summary: "Nate and Margaret" was irritating and annoying. Rating: 0.0

0 stars

Fun, well-made film

[JetBoy · 10/10 · 5 June 2012]

The trailer doesn't do this film justice. It's a fun, well-made film that feels honest. Nate is earnestly played by a very cute Tyler Ross. Balancing him is Natalie West as Margaret, whose acting and script fit together so perfectly. The writing makes the story fresh and funny, honest and heartfelt. The acting brings it to life in a way that feels true. The film is very professionally edited, making it seem the work of seasoned experts. The genuine chemistry between the actors shows.

Nate is a film student. Margret is a coffee shop waitress and aspiring stand-up comic. Their friendship is deep and meaningful; they obviously have been the most important figure in each others' lives for a while.

Nate's first romantic relationship (with Conor McCahill's excellent James) provides the source of the conflict, as James wants Nate all to himself.

Diffuse, plodding and not a comedy

[christophercurtiskelley · 4/10 · 22 December 2012]

I'm not sure what the good folks at Netflix were thinking when categorizing this film, but it's certainly not a comedy. Nate & Margaret is a character study of the eponymous duo, and it is not funny.

Positive: The film shines in its realistic depictions of mundane social interactions. The dialogue seems unsatisfying at first, but it's actually spot-on in depicting casual exchanges (both short and overly drawn-out) as opposed to the tighter, snappier dialogue audiences are more accustomed to. Alos, Nate & Margaret's cinematography is not overly artistic, but rather impressively unintrusive. It displays restraint uncommon in a first-time director.

Negative: This movie is as funny as a $40,000 chemotherapy bill. You can tell the moments where you were supposed to laugh, but these moments feel empty and sad. It's like you're a fly on the wall of the theater during the first screening, and you can see the director's family members forcing a laugh. It leaves you wanting to pull the director aside and give him examples of real comedy (Mel Brooks, Harold Reimis, even Judd Apatow if that's how you choose to live your life).

The film is rife with musical interludes that don't serve any purpose other than maybe draw out the runtime. There are at least three continuous musical tracks at the opening, three different tracks that all sound like DVD menu screen music.

The plot or narrative arc is unclear. The audience misses out on the parts of the characters' development that would be most interesting, then it sort of ends. In between there are a lot of scenes that frankly we can't say belong or don't belong because we can't tell what the director was trying to say. Friends are good? Relationships are... a mixed bag? No clue.

Readers: save yourself an hour and eighteen minutes. Director: Keep working, man, you're going places some day. Try something more traditional before you break the rules.

Very well done

[darkeyes9090 · 10/10 · 30 September 2012]

I enjoyed this little film more than most everything else I have seen this year. The direction, camera work, casting, writing are all well done. The chemistry between the actors is evocative. The story, as one reviewer said, could use another 20 minutes filling out the female lead's actions. But, at the same time, one of the great qualities of this film is the actor's ability to inform us through their presentation of characters. So many films and TV series depend on long laborious telling of a character's backstory to let us know who they are. With this film's level of writing and the actor's ability to present their characters, they fill in much of that for you without it needing to be spelled out for you.

What I liked most, was just watching a story that was interesting, touching and well presented, avoiding the two dimensional predictability of so much of what is being churned out of a production line industry.

Slightly overrated

[djohnson149-1 · 5/10 · 27 June 2023]

I watched Nate & Margaret because Tyler Ross was in it. I knew about Tyler from watching two excellent movies by Stephen Cone, The Wise Kids and Henry Gamble's Birthday Party. Tyler has a small role in Henry Gamble, a leading role in The Wise Kids. After watching Nate & Margaret, my opinion that Tyler Ross is a wonderful actor has not changed. But as for the movie itself, well, director Nathan Adloff should have a long talk with Stephen Cone about how to make a movie worth watching. Both of Cone's films have interesting, well-developed characters, interwoven stories, and excellent timing. Unfortunately, the excellent acting by the three leads, Natalie West (Margaret), Tyler Ross (Nate), and Conor McCahill (James) could not make up for the poor script and directing.

Credulity Stretching

[Suradit · 4/10 · 19 August 2014]

Without much in the way of supporting evidence, we are expected to accept: (a) some mutual admiration society spontaneously formed between a naive gay boy-man and some older challenged woman with no discernible personality, (b) that Margaret could manage as a stand-up comic while being rather slow-witted and inarticulate throughout the movie, (c) that Tyler and James could bond and then their relationship could self-destruct so rapidly.

I'm not saying these improbable situations might not have arisen in reality, but nothing was done to make them seem real & plausible to the viewer.

It may be easy to see why Margaret would be drawn to friendship with a cute young man given that she appears to be otherwise friendless, but that he would not have formed more important & natural friendships at college with peers seems improbable since he does seem to have some normal social skills, is decidedly attractive & good natured, and there's nothing maternal or supportive coming from Margaret to warrant more than an incidental acquaintance between the two.

Without revealing too much detail about the pivotal event in their relationship, when Nate becomes very frustrated & agitated and goes into rant mode directed at Margaret, it seemed that that gun was cocked & loaded and ready to be fired for quite awhile. The alleged love and respect he felt for Margaret must not have run very deep considering the volley he lets loose at her, making the film ending all the more implausible.

Much too much of the film is given over to the supposed development of Margaret's stand-up skills over time. Again, any evidence that progress is being made is totally lacking. She seemed as unfunny when the talent scout approached her as she did when she first appeared before stunned audiences of one or two. Her insipid material and mousy delivery did not justify more than a yawn and a rush to the exits.

The whole Nate and James thing was poorly developed both as a relationship between the two and as a wedge between Nate & Margaret.

To sell the Nate and Margaret pairing, more proof of their dependence on one another needed to be developed to convince viewers, and the Margaret character needed to have some believable substance. It would all still have been somewhat incredible, but it might at least have engendered a sympathetic response from some in the audience.

An annoying waste of time with little to redeem it.

Nate & Margaret will steal your heart

[orosiefactor1959 · 10/10 · 20 October 2012]

Nate & Margaret is that rare combination of writing with intelligence, acting with depth, and direction with a storyteller's sensibility.

In these days of billion dollar blockbusters with interchangeable 'big name' stars, story lines driven by special effects, and direction as excessive as the decibel level of the soundtrack, it is refreshing to find a 'little' film that has chosen the path less traveled.

Veteran actress Natalie West gives us a quirky, cranky and ultimately irresistible Margaret, an eccentric 52 year old pursuing her dream of becoming a stand up comic. Tyler Ross plays Margaret's unlikely best friend, Nate, a 19 year old film student. Ross' performance bubbling with boyish charm and enthusiasm provides the perfect counterbalance to West's world weary curmudgeon. The supporting cast of characters are all well drawn and completely relatable. We know these people; we love these people; we are these people.

Nathan Adloff handles his big screen directorial debut (he also wrote and produced the film) with a combination of wit and tenderness that elevates what could have been a cute coming of age story to really fine filmmaking that makes me anxious to see what he has up his sleeve for his sophomore outing.

No, Nate & Margaret won't send you into sensory overload, but it will steal your heart.

Lovely movie that rings true

[FromDecatur · 8/10 · 30 March 2014]

This is a really nice little movie about two people who have a deep friendship at stalled points in their lives. Nate is an incredibly shy film student who is trying to explore life as a gay man. Margaret is a woman with dreams of being a stand up comic who has not learned to speak her own truth. Their friendship is the spark for both of them to move forward in their lives, not without conflict, pain and difficulty. Still, it remains a sweet, light-hearted and hopeful film. Nate's story arc in particular has a very genuine feel. There is really nothing in the movie that feels forces or shoved in for moving the plot forward. Everything flows out of the characters.

It's always nice to see Chicago in a movie as well. It's a location with a lot of character that doesn't get utilized enough.

Oh Lord, the feels...

[chamberlain2007 · 10/10 · 24 April 2013]

While not a comedy, this movie is a prime example of a relationship in which neither person is doing the other a favour. That is, I expected a movie where a cute guy is nice to an old lady and is an obvious tear jerker. In reality, I got a movie which was expressive, fulfilling, and not at all expected. I didn't feel sorry for either character. I empathized, and boy did it hurt. It was a tear jerker, but in it's genuineness. Honestly one of the best films I've seen in quite some time.

I strongly recommend watching this film, but prepare yourself. Or rather, leave your preconceived notions at the door. Don't expect a witty comedy. Don't expect a chick flick. This film is raw, fresh and smart, but definitely not a blockbuster. And I wouldn't want it to be.

A movie about a friendship and dreams

[imavegan2 · 8/10 · 30 May 2015]

This movie is worth 7 as a movie, and I'm giving it an extra 1 just for Tyler Ross.

I don't know how other people perceive this movie, but to me it's a movie about a real friendship, a friendship just like a real love doesn't know age, race etc limits.

And also this movie is about not giving up and pursuing your dreams at any age.

As I said I was giving an extra 1 point just for Tyler Ross, he is a good actor and played very well in this movie.

That's it, there is not much to say about this film, dialogues are good except for 1 or 2, and this movie could have been a lot better with the right music choice.