Good Posture (2019) User Reviews

Totally charming film

[ianbhunter-22967 · 7/10 · 3 June 2020]

I took a bit of a blind punt on this film, it was on my sky films list, and as I am rather partial to the odd 'offbeat' indie film I gave it a go.

This really is such a charming film, coloured with imaginative characters all of which are acted in such natural ways, there's nothing to make your eyes roll or let our a very long sigh, this is a very enjoyable and beautifully worked production.

I am so glad I watched this.

Good Posture

[henry8-3 · 5/10 · 5 June 2020]

Van Patten plays a pleasant but selfish and lazy individual, who, dumped by her boyfriend has to stay with her father's friend, a reclusive, successful author - Julia. Seemingly unable to communicate effectively with Julia, she decides to make a documentary about her.

This is a pleasant enough tale about growing up, with a Van Patten good company in the lead despite being something of a jerk.

Worth watching just for Grace van Patten

[Boristhemoggy · 5/10 · 17 February 2020]

I had no prior knowledge of this film when I started watching it so I became incredibly bored after 15 minutes and turned it off. I started it again a few weeks later., and watched another 15 minutes before becoming bored again. A month later I watched the rest of it and could not help thinking: Emily Mortimer must have been desperate to put her name to this; John Early made the 'most irritating man in the world' seem really easy; Grace van Patten shines as she always does despite being in a very unshiny film; and I feel nothing, absolutely nothing at all, nothing whatsoever having watched the credits roll up, except a faint tinge of 'what else could I have done with my time tonight?' Those who like self congratulatory, pretentious, pseudo art films will love it.

Enjoyable - some great characters

[sawaugh · 7/10 · 16 October 2019]

A quirky enjoyable film that is centred around Lillian (Grace Van Patten) whose character finds herself in a situation with some interesting we played characters especially John Early plays a really wacky film producer called (Sol sometimes) and Timm Sharp a dog walker.

There are some great scenes like where Lillian first meets Emily Mortimer who isn't actually in the film visually very much and the ends up getting stoned with her husband and the interactions with Lillian ex really captured some early adult phase scenarios.

The length of the film is also well measured from the scope of the story. Nice One

Good movie.

[kookooranjan · 7/10 · 9 February 2020]

A girl in the transition of her life versus women who had achieved her acclaims. The movie Good posture surely made my weekend. Good movie, must watch.

Bland and aimless. Skip this

[Ladiloque · 5/10 · 16 January 2021]

Good acting, acceptable production values on par with a low budget - I guess (a real aestheticist-entrepreneur the one who decided to throw his money here...).

Unfortunately despite 2-3 nice scenes, the insipide writing, pointless story and basic direction don't justify the view.

Looking good

[kosmasp · 7/10 · 2 May 2023]

No pun intended - we have a main character here, that knows she can get away with a lot. Not just because of her looks - of course that is the main thing. But also because how she uses them and how she presents herself. Women can have a lot of power - men can be easily manipulated. Well a lot of them that is - let's not generalize too much of course.

Very well played and with - well if you feel that some pathos is missing, that is on point, that is meant to be that way. She is not someone who is too passionate about things - at least not from the start. Very well played and calculated (again no pun intended). Interesting view - of course it is flawed ... but that is to be expected.

what was the point of this film, or why was it made... for lovin you or not to be

[ops-52535 · 4/10 · 28 January 2020]

Quirky and strange one can say, free and ravishing to others.to me , the grumpy old man and his grumpy better half, do both feel we sit leftwith an empty shell of a story experience, with loads of vocalali, uncareingness, adolescent adults and a writers cramp..

its like drinking tea on the titanic at 12000 feet below waters edge, accompanieged by a self illuminating deep sea sculpin, dangling its fluorescent bait back and forth, to lure you into the belly of silver screen fun and entertainment, but what you get are just a blurry gulch of blood and gall stories of a punch and judy way of life, where the seriousness does kill the magic, and the narcisissm kills the fun.

acting, are very free but not a good way to tell the sad story.

score, some nuttyish feature songs on string instruments sung by a striving female hanging upside down with her gutters pressing againt her vocal chords, may be something for you

but not for me ,im still grumpy, and the max sum of 4 stars goes to some of the shoots at the new york streetlevel. just a small recommend

we know it can't end well

[ksf-2 · 6/10 · 6 January 2022]

Written and directed by Dolly Wells, her only directing job so far. Stars Grace van Patten, of the many van Pattens, as Lilian, living in brooklyn. She has moved in with a couple, friends of her parentals. The husband is sweet, but the wife Julia is famous writer, and just rude. Out of boredom, or maybe to impress friends, she starts writing about Julia. Without her knowledge. This can't end well. Clearly the wife does not like Lilian, and I'm not sure why they even agreed to take her in. To be fair, Lilian is pretty selfish, and uses people's things without asking. It's so awkward, Lilian and Julia start writing to each other, for communication, since Julia stays locked up in her room. In one sense, the film is about Lilian, since the camera follows her around; but since they are trying to make a documentary on Julia, she's the star in absentia.. they spend most of the film talking about her ( Emily Mortimer... was Jane Banks in the Mary Poppins sequel). Kind of a study of people.

Woeful crud

[namstonk · 1/10 · 29 January 2020]

A film so far up its own arse that it uses the uvula as a disco ball. I have no idea as how this even got funded, what is there to like? The laughable Great Expectations reference, seriously, has the writer ever read the novel? The critics will tell you how the characters are crafted and cooly delivered to the screen etc, twaddle, there is no middle to the film and you couldn't give a toss about the two lead characters. The usual boohoo, nothing new, arty film where everyone concerned pats their own backs.

Clever, witty and kind.

[ajjjja · 10/10 · 1 March 2020]

It always fascinates me when there is a discrepancy between 'user' ratings and the critics. I don't know why people are unimpressed by this film. It is an original and surprising sort of urban New York 'coming of age' story, with very good performances, subtle humour and Austen like irony. The plotting is brilliant, but above all else it is kind and humane; kind to its characters and really quite profound in its humanity, without ever once losing its indie lightness of touch.

Story disintegrates

[stevojaxon · 2/10 · 27 February 2020]

I haven't researched this movie. But I will offer my deduced reasonings. It may assist you when you start to see similar movies that are a waste of your time. This is set in New York. I have seen a pattern emerging of late. It is easy for me to spot, as I live in Australia, so I am not directly influenced from living in the United States of Amerikar. Firstly, the story. It begins and I thought, this may be interesting. It is cute. After 30 minutes, the actors transition from one state of antagonistic behaviours to a state of love for each other by the 60 minute mark. At 61 minutes, resentment and self importance has them going into emotional lock down. Not that you can pick it from the script. Because the scripting melted down 20 minutes ago and the movie is in free fall. By 62 minutes I am finding this story so tedious, that I have to shut it down and go watch an episode of Homeland. During my viewing as the story falls apart, I start to salvage whatever I can to maintain my interest. I remind myself to be grateful that entertainment is democratized. For a pittance I can watch someone's creative blood, sweat and tears. Someone's art, that they are possibly willing to die for. The back end story is probably young New York film maker, sleeping in the back of Chevy Van, eating out of supermarket dumpsters and borrows friend's Canon 5D ... convinces semi-name actors to participate and gets the backing of an investor who is a bona fide Democrat, voted for A.O.C. and applauded the resistance of Amazon's HQ2 in New York. There is a righteous theme to this movie ... namely that we can do whatever we like in Amerigar because of freedom of speech, inter-racial relationships are normalized, symbolic inclusiveness and diversity is mandatory in film making and when a movie has a story about writers, people in arty glasses and budding film-makers, who borrow other people's toothbrushes, then it will naturally be good even if normal people 'just don't understand'. And if you don't like it, don't watch it because there will be people who will relate to the story and love it ... so who cares what you think Mr. Downunder? By the way, the cinematography is something to behold ... and not because it is good. There is scant regard for lighting and the focus of the camera, particularly in the first 30 minutes appears to be all over the place. You could almost wonder if this has been deliberate in an effort to stylistically further the story ... more than likely it is just another of this movie's downfalls. For all of this I gave it a score of 2/10 rather than the realistic 0/10. Why did I give it so much praise with my 2? Because it was cute for the first 5 minutes. p.s. the episode of Homeland I watched immediately after verified what good story, acting and cinematography really is.

Watching paint dry

[dingoberserk · 3/10 · 29 April 2021]

Watching paint dry would be an understatement for this tedious low-budget apology for a movie, set against the dreary North American cityscape, without a credible storyline or denouement. The only worthwhile element was the Martin Amis interview, in which he declares that happiness cannot produce good writing. The script writers, producers and director for this movie must be very happy people.

Not that good

[johnpmoseley · 4/10 · 10 December 2022]

Script has an early draft feel about it, with a lot being done for effect without really making sense.

At best, it's one of those regular negative exemplar warnings for would-be Baumbachs and Gerwigs, and fetishists of '70s Woody Allen. Turns out that a gentrified boho setting, attractive but dysfunctional intellectuals, a quirky folk soundtrack and a ukulele aren't going to be enough to make your movie. One might further venture that if touchingly realist character studies are your ideal, you might have spent a lot more time trying to understand the characters you decided to depict and a hell of a lot more making their interactions feel unique, plausible, motivated and meaningful.

Watch this

[kevinkeable · 9/10 · 3 June 2020]

Yes it's a little odd at times, but well written, directed and produced. Actors all add their own 'something' to this movie. Really enjoyed the storyline, really enjoyed it. Loved the characters - it felt real.

Heartbreaking depiction of borderline personality disorder

[boomerang21 · 8/10 · 22 November 2020]

In my opinion this film is a very accurate depiction of a woman with borderline personality disorder. The main character lillian seemed to be a carbon copy of my ex-girlfriend, so for me this film was very painful to watch.

The attention seeking fights, the impulsive behavior, the lies out of weakness, the deeply rooted fear of abandonment and the jealous behavior all brings back memories.

Felt the unresolved ending was also very characteristic, sudden and pointless, which is precisely how life is to those people, feeling swept around like driftwood. I find it very sad

Giving it a high rating because I think it's a very good depiction of how it's like for a woman to grow up without a father's love. But you might be a little triggered if you had any sorts of deep relationships with a bpd, or have bpd yourself...

an antipathy that only heightens once Julia insists

[babybuletgani · 8/10 · 24 October 2019]

Mortimer's Julia and Grace Van Patten's Lilian are at daggers drawn the second they set eyes on each other, an antipathy that only heightens once Julia insists that her houseguest should start earning her keep. Gradually, though, their frosty relationship, largely conducted through notes penned in Lilian's private diary, begins to thaw, a softening that happens in tandem with Lilian's own stumbling towards maturity. Written and directed by Mortimer's friend and Doll & Em collaborator, Dolly Wells, Good Posture is a slight but affecting yarn that cleverly makes you root for outwardly unsympathetic antagonists. Along the way it amusingly punctures the publishing world's precocity, Lilian's self-serving decision to make a documentary about Mortimer's "Miss Havisham" prompting hilariously po-faced contributions from Martin Amis and Zadie Smith, as well as a downright dotty one from a dancing Jonathan Ames. The insularity and selfabsorption of the drama's upscale milieu won't be for everyone. Yet those who give it a chance might be surprised how touched they are by a film that's both a love letter to New York and a spry salute to sisterhood.

Beautiful

[bonniesue-79462 · 10/10 · 20 March 2021]

Hopeful, funny, touching, believable, lovely. Would love to see more from Dolly Wells

Song?

[prestonapatterson · 10/10 · 28 December 2020]

Enjoyed it...there's a song that happens 20:15 into the film and it's not credited or apart of the soundtrack. It's haunting, and I desperately want to find the name of it!

Charming indie

[oopslimited · 9/10 · 6 February 2023]

If you like indie and abhor the steady stream of movies that involve criminals, guns, police, unrealistic plot lines, the reliance on superpowers and or crassness then this should appeal.

The baby plot line is just charming and has universal resonance for the special beauty of mother and child.

Marin Amis appearing as himself is just wonderfully weird.

Typically cool indie soundtrack and stunning New York brownstone add to the overall cool vibe.

Hope Dolly Wells gets to make some more, Grace van Patten is making good indie choices Meyerowitz and Tramps.

Emily Mortimer great as always.

Go indie!

Proper Indie film

[Phil_M_A_Kerr · 9/10 · 2 May 2022]

Looks like a smallish budget (but a budget any budding filmmaker would dream of).

A top notch cast.

An honest story with fallible characters.

A slice of life, warts and all, and slight because that's how it often is {but not necessarily to those involved}.

Caught it on Amazon Prime Video. The title and one-sheet(?) design caught my attention.

Was after a small, personal story after the last two - Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Dr Strange.

Some other more detailed and thus helpful reviews here too.