ReaderKenka
Let's be realistic.
CommentsXp
Best movie ever!
Comwayon
A Disappointing Continuation
Evan Wessman (CinematicInceptions)
With the unparalleled filmmaking that the Nolan's have shown us so far this century, I was quite eager to go back and watch this, their first film. This is something that every aspiring filmmaker, particularly writers, should see. A budget that could have been funded by a few years worth of saved tips produced an engaging and interesting 70 minute film that surpasses the quality of some films with budgets exponentially bigger than its own. We have three actors that nobody has ever heard of, a shaky camera, and no marketing whatsoever, but the idea and the quality of work put into the film turn out a great product. Certainly it could have done with some better technical execution, but the story is there and 10 years later, the Nolan's are producing some of the biggest and best movies of all time.It's a very interesting narrative. You can tell pretty quickly that it bounces around, but it's not too hard to follow. I didn't get everything down, and don't remember exactly how the story all works, but most of it made sense at end. The black and white was definitely the right choice. It gave it a slightly dull atmosphere as grayscale tends to, but this was a small price to pay for the serious and gritty feel that came with it. Although color would have been nicer to look at, it would have thrown off the mood. The same goes for the strident music score. It sounds kind of ugly, but it's spot on for the mood. We get some pretty good acting as well. The Blonde gets easily the worst performance, but it's better than some of what we get from Hollywood actresses. Cobb and Bill's actors are both great. Alex Haw in particular is very natural as Cobb. The performances aren't outstanding, but they are impressive.Bill makes for a decent protagonist. We can see that he's smart, but Cobb is much smarter. What's more, Cobb is confident and doesn't have any hesitation, which gives him a distinct edge over Bill, whose intelligence is more of a strong curiosity. This curiosity is what drives the story and eventually leads to Bill's disaster. Once he realizes that the entire situation is much bigger than he understands, he panics. It's actually rather sad how helpless he is. It's kind of fun to think about whether the Cobb here is the same Cobb played by DiCaprio in Inception, but if they are then there must have been a lot that went on to change him from mean-spirited crimes to constructive ones in the twelve year hiatus.I think this is still on Netflix, so watch it now while you can. If not, it's free to watch on YouTube. If you like thrillers, particularly interesting ones, it should satisfy, though it's no Silence of the Lambs. It's a movie that's good to watch alone in one night. It's quite short, but feels longer than it is. You might get bored at times, but I would encourage you to watch the whole thing. Overall Rating: 8.4/10.
D' Francis
It's easy to see, in his first production, exactly why Christopher Nolan is one of the best modern directors. Like with what we would eventually see in Memento, this is an out-of-order complex confusing psychological thriller with plot twists galore. Stylized in black-and-white and stripped of 90's technology, it could pass for an old school noir-film.While not as intricate and lavish as his later films, Nolan does a tremendous amount of good with practically no budget and a cast of competent actors. The fact the cast plays their roles like regular people instead of the Hollywood cliché acting we'd expect from a drama is sort of refreshing. At 70 minutes, it's short but definitely not short-changed.
tgchan
Meh, not really in a mood for this one… but hey! It has Ratings: 7.6/10 from 59,934 users and it's made by no other than Christopher Nolan. I would love to watch something light, with plenty of action etc., but I also want something good and proved, and there is nothing else at the moment. This is also the last film from the man I have not watched yet, so here it goes!11 minutes – the moment I got hooked 17 minutes – it is kind of creepy watching a film about things you have secretly thinking about before…29 minutes – great atmospheric ambient music, soothing your ears while you dive deep into an interesting story 42 minutes – I am genuinely shocked… How on earth did he get this idea… The thing I was secretly thinking about; how cool it would be, to be able to live in someone's home for couple of days. This world is rigged… I am telling you… There are no coincidences… 45 minutes – it has got a very similar music to the one from Memento (2000), actually it's got similar vibe to it as well 49 minutes – now, the real mindf**k has started, and the real questions are pouring down on your mind… What the hell is going on and why!? 1h 6minutes – damn… what a story! It's hard to believe this was the real first Christopher Nolan's filmBrilliant! Zero bullsh*t, top notch story and acting with a great music and atmosphere. It is amazing because you can see the vivid style of Christopher Nolan's work, even in his first film. (Yes, I know about his 3min Doodlebug (1997) )tgchan's rating: 7.5 /10
tsakiridis1217
I love this film. Just calm, simple, strong filmmaking.Truth is that not many directors can make such a good movie with such a small budget. The story is original. The deeper you go in the movie, the more you start to recognize Nolans' signature. And while it may not be that spectacular, it is engaging and if you invest in it, you'll win. It surely captures the spirit of a less noisy, silent noir-film, than the great set-pieces of blockbusters. It's a confident and self-realized script executed really well.I guess that finding and watching this movie alone is a proof that you are probably a Nolan fan, so I trust that you'll enjoy it. But the man who is behind this picture is today one of the finest directors and screenwriters, so even if you are not a fan of these types of films, you have a reason to give it a shot.
