Really liked this, don't agree with the weak ending comment - much happier with it being left hanging than seeing a disappointing conclusion crowbarred in... I thought it was fairly clear what was going on at the end, but there was enough wriggle room left for you to draw a number of different conclusions.
Elizabeth Olsen was fantastic. Excited now to see her in Kill Your Darlings, the Oldboy remake and of course the next Avengers. Very talented.
In relation to the only other comment on this film, I was quite relieved that there wasn't some huge exposition at the end, as it would have killed the tensions that had been brooding throughout - you are left to come to your own conclusions as to whether Dave has to pay his dues or not. To my mind, it was fairly clear cut, but there is no need to expand on what I feel the natural outcome beyond the fade to black would have been.
Magnificent performance by Woody, and a great cast all round. No one does this source material like Ellroy, and while this isn't as conventional as his other work and lacks a satisfying Hollywood ending to satisfy the masses, it's a very high quality companion piece to sit alongside his broader (yet still kind of narrow) canon.
Haunting, bleak, depressing and as flawed in many ways as its lead character, yet still essential viewing. Not for everyone, but if you can stomach it then you will find a way to enjoy the experience if not perhaps the film itself. Don't take that as a criticism - our enjoyment was clearly not high on the filmakers' list of priorities on this occasion.
Fantastic adaptation of a brilliant book that I'd always considered to be unfilmable.
Yes it's a difficult watch, but the intensity of the performances helps you through. The only reason I haven't given it ten is, compared to the book at least, at times it lacks a little subtlety but I can understand why as they needed to attract as wide an audience as possible for what is undoubtedly a tough sell to the mass market.
A good example is the scene of the actual 'incident' itself - while nothing is actually shown in violence terms I still felt it was more powerful without it - by that point everyone should know exactly what happened, without seeing it, and it felt a little like they were pandering to people whose attention had maybe wandered.
It's a minor nitpick though, as on the whole the film is a masterpiece of subtlety as it slowly reveals itself in all it's gut-wrencing horror. Essential viewing for all lovers of film, and even all prospective parents!
There's no twist at the end though!
Thought this was much better than I'd been led to believe, or than the trailer made it out to be. Fan of the book, and it is utterly unfilmable, so this could only ever be 'inspired by' really, and it does a good job in that respect.
Took Brad a long time to figure out what the weakness was though! Considering his reputation he really should have seen it when they met the soldiers in Korea... Massive signpost.
This is an important documentary but I keep watching these 'worthy' types of films and coming away frustrated. There always seems to be so much more that they could and should cover. No idea how its mark is so high here or on imdb.
I was amazed that the film completely brushed over the on-line aspect of bullying, which is surely far more harrowing than the 'school bus journey' that they agonised over for so long
There was very little detail or insight as to the truly vicious nature of some of the bullying - weak kid getting pushed into a locker is nothing new, nor is gay people being called 'fags' etc. Yes it's wrong, but it's always happened and always will.
Where was the insight into the mindset of those doing the bullying, and the analysis of the new techniques they employ to ensure the victim suffers not just at school, but at home too - something which has surely led to the increase in teen suicides? I got the feeling the film was trying to stir emotions by making us feel sorry for the victims, but I already feel sorry for them, I don't need 90+ minutes of by the numbers documentary making to accomplish that. I also suspect the makers either were scared to actually make any kids look bad, or failed in their attempts to get even one to open up. Either way it is disappointing. Is it just me that thinks putting a camera man on a bus will automatically mean anything that happens from that point on will be altered to the point of irrelevance?
Bully offers very little insight and even less substance in relation to potential solutions and methods of dealing with both the act and its effects. The wishy washy school teacher roaming the halls wringing her hands didn't cut it.
I've seen this called the most important documentary of the year - it should have been, but clearly isn't. It's a film that should have had the power to change a bully's mindset should they see it, as it stands I suspect it's more likely to send them to sleep.
Even Family Guy's treatment of the issue was far more effective and thought provoking (as in http://familyguy.wikia.com/wiki/Randy_Fulcher), and that's a pretty damning indictment.
This interview in the Telegraph actually answers some of the questions the film left me with, worth a read: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/filmmakersonfilm/9459425/The-Imposter-interview-with-the-Chameleon.html
This is one of the craziest stories I've ever heard. The subject matter is fascinating and more than a little creepy - it is hard not to jump to unpleasant conclusions as it progresses, first that the family and law enforcers were monumentally stupid people, and then that the family had a less than pure/stupid reason for welcoming Frederic with open arms (a point that you are whacked with about 2/3rds of the way through quite explicitly, without a satisfying resolution). The law enforcement types just remain monumentally stupid - how could they not have done any checks on the guys' ID? He was a 23 year old Arab posing as a 16 year old American and they just took that on face value (when the face was clearly not that of a blonde haired, blue-eyed American kid!).
Sadly it would have been a much better movie in the hands of a more competent documentary maker - Frederic is an incredibly weird and disturbed guy, that much is obvious, but he is portrayed as being kind of the hero of the tale when the more interesting angle to take would surely be to explore his skilful manipulation of the people and situations around him and let us know how he became that person. In the absence of answers to the questions all viewers will have about the disappearance of Nicholas more questions are just layered on about the origin of the main character in this twisted tale and how he developed his ability to deceive. He is portrayed as smug and utterly without remorse, and the film never fully reveals his motivations - ultimately this is good but far from great, the major disappointment being that you suspect somewhere in there are at least two mind blowing stories just waiting to be told - we just never get to find out what they are. Frustrating, but still well worth watching for the bizarre situation and fascinating lead 'character'.
