Ensofter
Overrated and overhyped
Senteur
As somebody who had not heard any of this before, it became a curious phenomenon to sit and watch a film and slowly have the realities begin to click into place.
Nicole
I enjoyed watching this film and would recommend other to give it a try , (as I am) but this movie, although enjoyable to watch due to the better than average acting fails to add anything new to its storyline that is all too familiar to these types of movies.
Nilsosmar-2
I found Cactus to be involving and thought provoking. I've read some reviews elsewhere online that said it wasn't fast paced enough; I think they were written by people looking for an action movie, and not prepared for what is basically a relationship drama, in which the painful trajectories the characters are on are revealed to the audience as they're revealed to each other. I found it interesting that while both of the main characters were believable, the kidnapper ultimately was revealed to be more sympathetic (though both characters went through a transformation as the narrative developed.)Re: the reviews online that claim too many elements were left unresolved, I understand but don't agree with their point. Cactus is not a movie that wraps things up into neat packets, neatly labeled, with a narrator summing up the meaning or "moral." The viewer is left to figure some (major) things out. If you like your movies all sewn up with neat explanations, it may be unsatisfying, but if you like relationship dramas that open up slowly, and leave you to ponder some things, I expect you'll like it.
robifearnside
Take a slow and arduous journey into outback Australia with two blokes locked together in a 'FORD', no less! One the kidnapped victim, for whichever reason we never really discover and the other a real loser who turns out to be helping his dieing wife by kidnapping this bloke for $20k, taking him into the never-never by means of a lot of dry banter between both. It keeps one riveted to find out what it's all about and the unsuspected ending left me confused and still bewildered to know what it was all about. I guess it was about a road to nowhere by a film to nowhere via a script that left me perplexed and guessing which direction it was meant to take. Perhaps after all that's what it was all about after all. I am still guessing and wondering if I had the mickey taken out of me though by wasting hours on the road to nowhere watching this? No fault of the actors though- it was worth watching for their parts were difficult and riveting.
Ezequiel
This film could have been a masterpiece if the motivations and situation had been a bit clearer. We are left with an endless trek through the back roads with no destination in sight and no reason to feel any sympathy for either protagonist. There are several moments in the narrative that leave you guessing and wondering why the situation turns out as depicted.When you add up the miles traveled in the red Ford, it seems incredulous to say the least.As for the ending...well, you be the judge. You may be disappointed, confused, sad or in awe..it's hard to know what the film maker's intent was, but then again, that's the attraction of cinema.The expansive outdoor shots are delightful and beautifully photographed.
rstone-27
This is not a bad movie -- not a good one -- kind of slow in places --Standard Ausie Out-Back movie -- some parts are like Bone Dry -- others remind you of Wolf Creek -- Both of the characters played did a remarkable job in keeping you interested in the long journey --It was rather cool how Rosco (Bryan Brown) took care of his friend Thommo (Shane Jacobson)...All in all not a waste of time -- but not an on the edge of your seat thrill either.You be the judge of this one. I gave it a 6 because they didn't supply a 5 & a half.
