Without spoilers, this is a very well constructed movie that I felt wasn't written as well as it thinks it is but it's still a good watch
Now spoilers:
I'm really not particularly a fan of "it was all a dream" endings and this movie seems to have been made in the height of that phenomenon following The Sixth Sense. Despite that, I suppose what elevates this movie significantly and makes the ending work is that the movie never really lies to you. It makes it very apparent very early on that it is a dream. The choices made by the director in the editing, the clever scene transitions and the easter eggs peppered throughout make it very obvious that all is not as it seems and it disorients you constantly
In that way, the movie is very well made. A lot of very clever choices were made and the movie tells a lot just by showing. For eg. for the most part, every scene set in a stairwell is always shown with the characters going down, the use of morph transitions occasionally makes you mistrust what you see and so on
I suppose my big problem is with the writing. Now I didn't really like that the primary POV, that of Doctor Sam was fake. It seemed quite disingenuous that we see Sam losing his mind more so than Henry who gets very little screen time yet is the one who is dreaming. The movie also gave itself away far too early. Maybe it's just me having watched so many movies but it was highly apparent from the first scene of the car crash and Henry walking away that that was what had happened. Any other attempts at trying to convince me, the viewer, that maybe Sam was losing his mind really made no sense and I was expecting Sam to be a figment of his imagination. This meant I was pretty severely disappointed that Sam was a bystander helping out the dying Henry. The ending of Sam asking Lila out was also a very contrived moment that I really disliked and would have worked better if they'd exchanged numbers as witnesses to an accident. The whole movie could have tried to be more subtle but I felt the writing was trying way too hard and going "YOU GET IT YET? YOU GET IT? IT'S A DREAM DO YOU GET IT?" at me without really earning it
Surreal! Very surreal. The colors, the atmosphere, the transitions – it's a piece of art!
It doesn't make much sense until the very end but "there's too much beauty to quit."
"There's too much beauty to quit."
Somewhere between Enemy, Unsane and Donnie Darko with a mindfuck question reality psychological madness plot. It's depressing with a dash of hope. Solid mystery that had me glued to the screen for most of it. Nothing phenomenal but some good performances from Ewan McGregor, Ryan Gosling and Naomi Watts (who was underused in the second half). Very good looking movie with wild camerawork and editing. Nice score, dialogue and atmospheric with the moody gloomy trippy visuals.
I'm mixed on the characters, not bad by any means but for some reason I couldn't really connect or even care for them. Because of this, I didn't really feel much once the twist and ending hit. Up until the twist happened I kept thinking "this movie makes no sense" which might have diminished my enjoyment a little and because of that I believe it's a movie that needs to be rewatched to be fully appreciated. As for the twist itself I have mixed feelings, it's a great twist but I think it could have been executed better.
Day 2 of Ryan Gosling Filmography binge
Okay so, I went into this movie expecting nothing, I just knew it was a mindfuck plot twist kinda movie, which I love btw. I love myself some open ended conclusions, mystery flicks and also movies that makes me wonder what's real and what's not.
'Stay' however also tries to be such a movie, a movie that makes us guess what's happening and what will happen. Aiming for similar level of depth such as 'Black Swan' or 'Perfect Blue', 'Stay' fell short for me. Despite Ryan Gosling's stellar performance, the editing and the style the movie failed to grab me in terms of substance. A really well executed stylish movie on the surface but deep down it lacked the substance i expected from it. I very much loved the first act, I was never bored but as it proceeded the overall experience came off a bit pretentious and gave me "wannabe smart movie" carried by a groundbreaking plot twist.
The film's greatest strength is the style and the editing, oh god the transition, I loved them at first and screamed early 2000s for me. The cast was solid, Ryan Gosling was great his range is really amazing, I didn't see anything note-worthy from other cast members though. However, the film relies heavily on a contrived plot twist. Moreover the film's artsy presentation overshadowed what little substance we got from it, although it's visually appealing it ultimately ended up masking the film's lack of depth.
Overall, it's still a solid experience, I might need a rewatch to completely understand the love it gets from some people, I love myself some convoluted mindfuck plots but this wasn't really my cup of tea.
Stay- 6.3/10
Ryan Gosling- 8.2/10
I like movies that only show their real meaning at the end.. and this one was brilliant!
One of the best movies I seen so far. Many people might find it underwhelming once the movie concludes. But the build-up and writing is very remarkable. Keeping in mind this was released before shutter island, and I watched this later, I would definitely place both movies in same genre. And it delivers what it's supposed to. Definitely a worth watch.
Difficult in perception with quite amazing, unreal scenes and editing. However, due to its heaviness, it is not a film for everyone.
The definition of arty.
There’s absolutely nothing interesting going on here below the surface, it’s using convoluted writing and a fancy presentation style to cover up for its lack of substance.
The ‘twist’ at the end is a massive: so what?, acting’s just okay, nor are the characters even that captivating.
Finally, while I do appreciate the effort that was put into the scene transitions, it’s also blatantly obvious that this is ripping off Aronofsky’s signature style at points.
4/10
It's a very entertaining first viewing but left me underwhelmed after rewatching it. Once you know all the twists and turns the story really doesn't have enough to offer. The cinematography and performances are excellent, the aesthetic is great and script aside everything about this film is very well done. This is definitely a worthwhile one and done movie, the less you know going in the better.
I don't really understand all the reviews everywhere saying 'I don't get it'. I didn't think the ending was that hard to understand. A truly beautiful film. Go in blind and just enjoy the ride.
Worth watching on a lazy winter morning. Rain, or hail, preferred.
While some may not prefer it, the seamless transitions between scenes beautifully convey the headspace of the main characters and complement the story well.
Lila Culpepper: “There's too much beauty to quit.”
It's a well-built movie with great scenes, lighting and camera position! Good performances. The ending is without an explanation, but it's a good movie.
Not bad but doesn't understood whats the ending. Mediocre
*** More about the journey than the destination***
It would be cruel to reveal anything about the story before seeing this film because most of the enjoyment is learning which path the story will choose.
The film has masterful visual style. At times it appears to be a normal picture until the surreal aspects make themselves known with subtlety. The editing is seamless, almost but not quite confusing, and the callbacks to earlier scenes are never overused.
It is not a spoiler to state that early on Something Isn't Quite Right, and there are story elements that the avid moviegoer will know to be central to the conclusion. However, it's the path that leads to the end that makes the time enjoyable.
Naomi Watts, as usual, is perfect, and Ewan McGregor has again picked one of the scripts that was for the art and not the money. Ryan Gosling is effective, and Jeanine Garafolo's three minutes were eerie. I'm certain that Elizabeth Reaser will be seen again.
Not a perfect movie, but definitely worth the time if you enjoy surrealistic stories.
My score: 6/10
Who's the crazyest? The doctor or his patient? Pity. So great actors in a so mediocre movie.
Didn't totally understand this but still enjoyed it.
Very weird. I really didn't get that movie.
Shout by Alan Enrique MoralesBlockedParentSpoilers2017-03-16T14:14:33Z
A very tense film with great performances. A very unexpected and really good twist.
For those who loves sci-fi, weirds dramas/thriller.