Where We Started (2013) User Reviews

A story told as often

[oparnie · 5/10 · 20 July 2022]

Will and Nora meet, find their spouses sooo terrible that they find each other soooo different, sooo wonderful, and, yes, maybe with hesitation, end up in bed.

This is not shown directly, Nora starts kissing Will, cut, Nora lies in bed in underwear, Will comes in, in clothes, told her, you fell asleep. She doesn't dress up but goes back into his arms later, talking about life, plans, what to do with their spouses...

Just to be reminded by a phone call, that losing their terrible spouses doesn't feel sooo wonderful either.

Nora tells her husband "I LOVE YOU TOO"!

What a liar.

Will even calls his wife and tells her, at the very end "I LOVE YOU"!

What a liar.

The play itself I found reasonably convincing, from that point its a nice movie, but the story and its message?

If you feel bad and you find someone who shares that feeling, and has all time of the world to benevolently listen to all your grieves, hop in bed?

The message is, to me, this having sex with a stranger is normal in such a situation, this is what you do, this is what happens, everybody does it, and when the real world knocks, well, then, no remorse (against your spouse, just lie and tell them you love him/her), just go back to your regular life.

This message is so bad. What about a message of self restraint even if it gets tough. At least this is what marriage is about.

To stick to your vows WHEN it gets tough.

The alternative is to separate, but not by a "warm exchange", but separate FIRST, if your spouse and your family is sooo unbearable.

Then look out for someone else.

My Dinner With Andre?

[tzippyz · 5/10 · 6 May 2021]

Perhaps it's me, but I felt they were trying to go somewhere but never quite got there.

A delight to watch; great dialogue and ease between the actors.

[januaryman-1 · 8/10 · 14 February 2014]

I saw this movie in two sessions. I watched the first third or so at a film festival but had to leave before it was over. I found it hard to leave the screening, and the movie stayed in my mind. I used IMDb to get the e-mail address of its production company and contacted the director/writer. I was able to buy a disk of Where We Started and was finally able to see the entire film. I'm glad of that.

Where We Started is essentially a two-person movie with minimal supporting cast. Matthew Brumlow plays Will and Cora Vander Broek plays Nora. They look like people you could run into on the street on any given day, a fact that adds much to the believability of WWS. The two had a remarkable ease of interaction in their roles as they carried out high quality dialogue written by Christopher Hansen and themselves. It was the dialogue and rapport between the actors that hooked me on my first shortened viewing and that's what made me seek out the DVD to finish my viewing. Will and Nora are nice, normal, likable people who aren't really happy with their humdrum, married lives. That likability carries the first two thirds of WWS but the two aren't without their flaws. WWS is decidedly not a romantic comedy, but it is rich with humor and lightness that thinly cover a more serious issue--marital infidelity. Will they or won't they? I'm not saying; Hansen tells the story far better than I ever could.

Keep in mind that this is a lower budget film made in Texas. I tell you to keep that in mind because that is a strength of this film. It is polished without being slick. WWS is not the typical Hollywood pablum. It is fresh, interesting, and theater ready. Too bad that distribution is such an issue for films that don't come in a Hollywood wrapper. The cherry on top of WWS is a infectious soundtrack performed by local talent. It will stick in your head.

With its limited cast and sets, WWS would be at home on the stage if Hansen ever decides to adapt the screenplay.

WWS is a job well done.

Smart Writing. Excellent Acting.

[bartbaggett-1 · 3 May 2014]

If you like smart dialogue, this movie will captivate you. While writers and filmmakers will deeply respect the witty writing, the outstanding acting, and the emotionally moving storyline... the non-Hollywood audience will relate the the characters inner struggle.

For a micro-budget film with no special effects, limited locations, or ridiculous action sequences... this is a film you should cherish and admire.

I would recommend it for anyone over 30 who has dreams, relationships, and a desire to be a "good person".

And, I simply adored the "John Hughes" movie references... perhaps that is because I was a teenager in the 80's.

Very Riveting Movie

[rawhidesmith · 9/10 · 10 March 2020]

I enjoyed this movie too much. It touched a raw nerve.