BeSummers
Funny, strange, confrontational and subversive, this is one of the most interesting experiences you'll have at the cinema this year.
Micah Lloyd
Excellent characters with emotional depth. My wife, daughter and granddaughter all enjoyed it...and me, too! Very good movie! You won't be disappointed.
Caryl
It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties. It's a feast for the eyes. But what really makes this dramedy work is the acting.
markmuhl
There are certain films that remain powerful over time. Many years from now I stumbled over this movie by chance when zapping through the TV channels. I remember well that the zapping came to an end immediately as I was fascinated by the movie from the 1st second. It then turned out that I had missed only the first 3 minutes as the first scene then was a man with no memory stumbling into a NY coffee shop where he meets Isabelle Huppert (what the hack was she doing in an American movie!), a young wannabe writer, who is offended by the waitress for sitting there all day long and not consuming enough while writing. She feels sorry for the lost man and takes him home to her place, where she warns him to be careful for her being a nymphomaniac. When shortly later we get to know that she is an ex-nun and still a virgin then the positive weirdness of the movie has already become obvious.The rest of the movie is about the search of the man's forgotten past, which turns out to be an unpleasant and violent one. As a consequence, the movie turns into a gangster movie, a bit like film noir but still different. It remains bizarre with meant to be pornographic stories being poetry, complaints about a square stiff thing being called a floppy disc (yes it is a film from the 90's) or a female police officer who is just too warmhearted to deal with the harshness that life brings into her office.Usually I am not such a big fan of stories with someone suffering from amnesia but in this case, it is really well done. Martin Donovan does a good job in showing how his character is torn between the curiosity in revealing his past and the anxiety to find out what a bad character he used to be and maybe still is? If you intend to find a weak point in the movie, it may be the clumsiness of the killers, which is a bit unbelievable. Be it! It is still 9 out of 10 points.
bernie-122
I am ashamed to admit that I have only just discovered Hal Hartley. Fortunately, not too late, as I think I still have enough time remaining on this planet to hunt up and watch all of his other films.I'm getting a real chuckle out of reading all the one-star reviews here by people who just don't "get it". I don't blame them, really, but there should be some way of warning them not to do it; not to embarrass themselves by displaying their shallowness. If it's slick predigested Hollywood pap liberally peppered with explosions they're looking for, they're in the wrong place.Hal Hartley rules. If he's made better films than "Amateur" then I'm in for a real treat.
delirious_angel
Its been a while since I've this movie but its always stayed with me and I would strongly recommend it. This film has Hal Hartley's trademark sparse, artsy atmosphere, with the slightly surreal characters, the staged dialogue and set pieces. All the characters are quirky and memorable, I loved Isabelle Huppert's character - the nymphomanical nun - in particular and the story dissects amnesia in a really interesting way. Above all the central love story will draw you in more than you realise; the ending was both crushing and fitting. This is due to the acting, as every movement and expression helps to build characters and relationships. Isabelle Huppert and Martin Donovan both do this perfectly, and the impact of the ending owes a lot to them. The odd 'staging' of the film may put off those expecting a more conventional thriller but open minded viewers will be rewarded.
Sara the Weimaraner
Yes, I'm aware that Hal Hartley is an acclaimed independent film maker. I like most of his films myself.Yes, I'm aware that I'm supposed to like this film.That having been made clear, I want the $1.50 it cost me to see "Amateur" back! (Hey, it's been eight years and I'm not asking for interest or emotional damages.)I suppose it's only fair that I give some reasons for thinking that "Amateur" is a bad film. 1) It is too long. The story could have been told quicker. 2) Owing, in part, to the first reason, it is boring. 3) It keeps faking you out, making you think that something exciting is about to happen and you, the weary viewer, keep giving it that chance. It's kind of like an abusive relationship: despite being hurt time after time, you can't break it off.Don't get me wrong, I'm not claiming that I could do a better job or anything like that. It's just that I had really high hopes for "Amateur" and those hopes were crushed.
