We Are Boats (2018) User Reviews

Actual reviews pan this terrible film, yet the "critical reviews" section is all unkown reviwers who give everything a ten for clicks

[VoyagerMN1986 · 28 March 2019]

Seriously, read the LA times review. I agree, it is a muddled mess. It is Lifetime ,movie level attempt at metaphysics, and frankly, lead by actors/actresses who can't act. As Variety mentions the press notes for this film don't lead with the setting, plot notes, etc, but led with the following: *"first completely vegan set." * The cast is 50% female and 41% people of color, with a 45% women crew.

Oh wow, virtual signaling is bad enough but that is really really pitiful. No wonder all the major outlets did not pick this up and it ended up free on Vimeo. It is idi otic. simple minded, has laughable cringe worth script and delivery, and beyond tedious.

its so indefinite

[ops-52535 · 1/10 · 26 March 2019]

This is a long long boring journey towards, well honestly i dont know, and i couldnt find the meaning of this expressionistic piece of movie art, with dull actors, dull story, bad camerawork and so on.and an essence that are so obscured that you may start to think are they stupid or is it just me....

the grumpy old man gives 1, not recommended

Editing for molasses

[Alice_Robersen · 1/10 · 21 October 2020]

OK, so there is no editor attribution here. Why? Probably because the writer-director did it himself, or the editor didn't agree with the director's choices. The cuts were way too long, offering not enough story to have them that long. Main actress was solid as so was most every other cast except the bartender. The writing seemed a fit for Lifetime TV. I cannot see how it why this film has such a high rating. It isn't often I find poor titles on HBO, but yes, here it is.

Amazing storyline and cast

[mirandareyes-09605 · 10/10 · 7 April 2019]

Where to start? The movie starts off already grasping my interest with asking the W's. It leads in to different characters going through their own difficult situations yet somehow they all connect. This film has a little bit of everything between family, friends, death, romance, etc and left me with puffy eyes from ugly crying. An absolute must watch!!!

Beautiful

[lilywood10 · 10/10 · 9 April 2019]

Beautiful, thought provoking, full of glorious twists and turns...wonderful deep and grounded performances. Lovely.

Brilliant adaptation from the true story

[Porkleaker · 9/10 · 26 March 2019]

We are Boats - based on the Autosub named by the internet, played by Angela Sarafyan as Boaty McBoatface. Riveting story about how deep down inside we are all just boats. Sometimes we float, sometimes we sink but at the end of the day we're mostly just bits of metal, wood and floating around aimlessly in the water until eventually a typhoon sends us crashing into the rocks and we die.

9/10 recommend it highly.

A must watch!

[jackiepelotte · 10/10 · 9 April 2019]

Such a heartfelt and wonderful movie. Beautiful storyline. Just an absolute must watch!

Sure makes you think about your relationships

[Pinba77-1 · 8/10 · 26 July 2020]

I actually had no idea what this movie was about when I started watching it. However, it managed to grab my attention quickly and I was pleased that I kept watching. It's not a Hollywood blockbuster, but the cast delivers an honest performance, realistic enough to make it relatable. I absolutely loved the cast, I thought they worked well together. Give this movie a chance.

Beautifully wrought unforgettable film!

[admather-196-253430 · 10/10 · 28 March 2019]

This upbeat film deals with potentially heavy and depressing subjects in a way that is startlingly beautiful and unique without ever becoming maudlin.

The cast is superb, as is their acting. Each character follows their own arc as their lives intertwine. Altogether this is an unforgettable film!

Guardian Angel or Grim Reaper?

[shagee7977 · 10/10 · 1 March 2019]

Writer/ Director James Bird presents We are Boats. This is one of those movies that is a pure delight to watch. Has everything a movie needs to attract a large audience. You will laugh, cry, get angry and really get drawn to the stories of the main characters. Francesca is sought of a guardian angle/ grim reaper. She weaves in an out of peoples live at the point when things seem desperate and problems occur. Sometimes with good consequences or sometimes death! What is true poetry is the way the people she are helping for this storyline all intertwine and somehow have something to do with each other. Francesca is searching for her own conclusion and is somehow connected within the lives she is helping. Maybe by helping this Misfit group of mortals she can find rest and be able to say goodbye to the love one she left. Friendships are put to the test. Friends shouldn't be asked to test loyalties of brides to be. Or lonely lost husbands tempted by lust and beauty. Loyalty, love, loneliness, lust are all possibilities. I don't want to give away to much as there is a complex set up that is beautifully resolved and will bring a tear to everyone's eyes! Remarkable award caliber performances are displayed in this Lil Indy. A excellent story By James Bird could only be equally Brought to life by his direction. I loved every minute of this movie. It's hard a movie can make you use all your emotions equally and be so satisfying in the end.

(Special Note) "We Are Boats" has a cast that's 50% female and 41% people of color cast with a crew composed of 45% women. The film is produced entirely by women, with producer Anya Remizova representing part of the 1% of female composers in the industry, and director Bird hails from the Native American Ojibwe tribe. The film also had a completely vegan set where no animals were eaten or worn in the film at any time during the production of We Are boats.

Cast: Angela Sarafyan, Luke Hemsworth, Amanda Plummer, Adriana Mather, Justin Corwell, Jack Falahee, Gaia Weiss, Booboo Stewart, Graham Greene and Uzo Aduba. Director: James Bird Screenplay: James Bird Producer: James Bird

Good moving movie

[Headturner1 · 8/10 · 27 March 2019]

I really liked this. I'm a bit confused " spoiler" there's a part were she asks sior whatever her name why wasn't I saved? So I assumed from the begining she died doing escort work and then became what she was. It makes no sense that she says she was on the job when she wasn't " saved". Other than that I liked it. Kind of like other movies before she is finishing things on earth I guess atoning until they feel she's done enough? Idk. I guess I'm over thinking. I did cry at the part were the father ended up being the bartenders and some other parts . When it was over I had a weird feeling and said " I need to watch something more uplifting". definitely stirred emotions. I thought it was a good well done, thought provoking film.

A story unlike any I've ever watched!

[bivetq · 10/10 · 3 April 2019]

The most beautiful and intricate story. I'm just wowed at how amazing it played out and that ending has me wanting more. James bird has a way with story telling and this movie does not disappoint. I laughed and I cried. I cried a lot actually. This is definitely a must watch. No one is making movies like this. This movie touches several very sensitive subjects in such a beautiful way.

correct

[Kirpianuscus · 3 August 2020]

The theme is far to be new . The guide for afterlife is a character maybe to familiar. The subject is seductive and fascinating and that makes it a good option for a director. In this case, the term correct works fine. Delicacy and poetry and Graham Green are the good pieces for a nice work. So, not great but beautiful. For correctness first.

Bring the tissues!

[jenbrdsly · 10/10 · 10 April 2019]

I love chain-of-events plots, and this one delivers. Be sure to keep a box of tissues handy because the last five minutes will destroy you.

Indie Darling Speaks to Our Life Journey and Human Connection

[bighamdiana · 10/10 · 24 April 2019]

I have been a fan of James Bird since I saw his first film From Above. I am always amazed at how he captures the depth of human emotions.

We Are Boats is an incredible fantasy drama that has a diverse and talented cast. Fans of Orange is the New Black will be excited to see Uzo Aduba as Sir, an angel in the after life, who places other angels in assignments to influence or transition people on earth.

The film opens with Angela Sarafyan (HBO's "Westworld") playing Francesca, a prostitute, who meets a violent and unexpected death and then enters the after life.

Cinematographer, Stefan Colson, does an excellent job of creating a believable after life with wide expansive shots of rocky terrain bathed in luminescent lens flares.

Francesca interviews with Sir for a job that would place her back on earth. The various assignments lead her to interact with individuals that are facing issues of loss and loneliness. Francesca hopes to navigate these turbulent waters so that she can visit the daughter that she left behind.

Along the journey we meet Ryan, a spunky bartender, played by Adriana Mather. She serves as a bridge to tie our characters together. We first meet her at a funeral where she unwittingly insults the widow.

On the drive back from the funeral, she learns that the deceased had an affair which sets off a heated debate with her fiancé on fidelity.

Mather does an excellent job of wrapping us up in her emotions of abandonment as we discover her story of an absent father which she conveys in her therapeutic interchange with Cliff, played by Graham Greene. As always, Greene delivers an outstanding performance and delights an audience.

Angela Sarafyan captivates us as Francesca. Her character is grounded in reality and the right amount of grit, and Sarafyan captures the essence of the free spirit who makes her own rules and navigates fearlessly toward her goal of seeing her daughter again. We find ourselves cheering her on toward her goal. She is a likable hero in unlikeable circumstances.

As the film progresses, James Bird, crafts these individual stories that flow and interconnect to form one connected and satisfying ending.

After watching any film by Bird, you will find yourself in a reflective and thoughtful state of mind with the encouragement to do better in your own life journey. This is a story worth watching and sharing.

We Are Happy

[RichBuck · 10/10 · 10 October 2020]

Fantastic cinema. The lead is so great as to be unbelievable. She was in WestWorld & played a prostitute. Perfectly cast film. Amanda Plummer is in it. Quite deep. Beautifully directed by James Bird. Watch it alone or with a loved one. Curl up and enjoy.

Wow

[keiracochran · 10/10 · 6 July 2021]

I say wow. It is so very wow. I've never seen a more wow film.

The production story was cool.

[RoyMince · 8/10 · 28 September 2023]

This film comes off as one of those ones that provides everything that an audience needs but a deeper dive shows that this film could have been a lot better if the promotions actually focused on the film and the personal lifestyles of the cast and crew. And I don't get me wrong there's nothing wrong with , choosing what you feel is a better lifestyle but when overall it becomes the highlight in greater than the movie versus actual the actual movie, that's where problem come in. The movie was was decent. Kudos to the cast and crew for their amazing feet as a production, but I think that overshadowed the actual film, and took away from the movie in general almost becoming a distraction.

Not a bad film at all

[GraceMcClintock · 10/10 · 30 September 2023]

Keeping an eye on this director is something you do because the future is Bright for this one. This movie is daring, risk-taking, and provides dark impact for filming experience to the viewer. This is one of those films that I would consider a complete package because the directing production, the acting even the cinematic shots, they all fit perfectly. I definitely recommend this film because it's new its storyline is creative and the finished product is meaningful. This film for sure gets two thumbs up. I for one I'm looking forward to some of the other projects that this Director has in store.