Smartorhypo Highly Overrated But Still Good

Brennan Camacho Mostly, the movie is committed to the value of a good time.

Ella-May O'Brien Each character in this movie — down to the smallest one — is an individual rather than a type, prone to spontaneous changes of mood and sometimes amusing outbursts of pettiness or ill humor.

Quiet Muffin This movie tries so hard to be funny, yet it falls flat every time. Just another example of recycled ideas repackaged with women in an attempt to appeal to a certain audience.

gcd70 Writer/director Michael Rymer's strong, realistic script and profound performances from John Lynch and Jacqueline McKenzie ensure "Angel Baby" is an impacting drama about two schizophrenic out-patients who begin a relationship and plan to start a family.Rymer has researched his material well, and this shows in the tellingly accurate screenplay and the sharply observed characters. John Lynch is superb as Harry, a mentally ill fellow who falls immediately for Kate, the bizarre young woman who consults a spiritual guide (her guardian angel who communicates with her through t.v.'s "Wheel of Fortune") for any decision she faces or information she needs. As the said Kate, McKenzie is incredible and has you completely absorbed with her amazing characterisation. The impressive support cast includes Colin Friels, Deborah Lee-Furness and David Argue.For all it's merits though, "Angel Baby" seems to have no point. Perhaps it is just a quiet statement about the prejudices society holds against the mentally ill, especially those who suffer from schizophrenia. Certainly Rymer never attempts to drive a point home. This can often make for a more enjoyable movie, but "Angel Baby's" hope-less ending, though moving, rather leaves its audience floundering. Tragically Mr. Rymer has killed off what was, up until then, a great movie with too realistic a conclusion, much as Peter Weir did with "Dead Poet's Society".Pic's other problem involves relating to the audience. Two fabulous performances and incisive writing can never help us get inside the skin of people we do not understand. Little explanation as to the origin of their illnesses, or even of the illness itself, is given, making it hard for us to comprehend the whys and wherefores. Of course the reality of schizophrenia is, we don't really understand it very well at all. There is surely much more to it than we know.Monday, June 2, 1997 - Hoyts Croydon

marlasingers When I first saw this film, I felt torn apart by the complexity of love. In particular, the love that exists between the lead characters. It is hard enough in the "real world" for people to have a love without the interference of others.In this film, the love story is exceptional. The two people have schizophrenia, an illness not of split personality, but of hallucinations that don't exist & voices that are heard but have no face.So, under all this still lies the human need for love. And these two people find it. Pure & simplified. Until things start to go wrong again.The challenges that faced the lead actors was to make believable both their love story & their illness. In particular, Jacqueline McKenzie is an amazing & articulate actor & remains true to her character's situation & beliefs throughout the film.I decided to make a point of mentioning the film for it's true portrayal of a greatly misunderstood & yet common illness. For all the films about cancer, alcoholism & other illnesses, mental illnesses are still generally misunderstood & ignorantly ill-portrayed. Previous to "A Beautiful Mind", this is one of the films that portrays this illness both realistically beautifully, and for those reasons alone it can help people to understand more about an illness that most probably affects someone you know.

nz man OK, now do not get me wrong here.This IS a quality film: the acting and script are very good.But the story is heavy stuff. If you want deep psychiatric material, or if you are a psychotherapist, or have a loved one who has a psychiatric condition, then this film may be for you. But otherwise it may leave you somewhat 'rattled'.It was not intended to be light and fun. Just be aware of this.

Joyce Hauchart I just saw this movie on TV and thought why didn't I see this earlier? Was it that badly promoted in Europe or did I really miss it? The performers deserve a 10/10 credit, but what to to with the writer, Michael Rymer. Give him 12/10 or more? Imagine a story with two schizo's, true love, a baby, drugs that are allowed and a "normal" family. You would think it stinks, but no, Rymer brings in the wheel of fortune. What a stunt. It's the thin red line that makes this movie incredible.Daily slapstick around a daily drama. While half of the world is concerned about finding the right consonants, two people are confronted by finding themselves.Also wonderful editing and the music score is overwhelming. Down Under did it again. Thanks folks.