BootDigest
Such a frustrating disappointment
SparkMore
n my opinion it was a great movie with some interesting elements, even though having some plot holes and the ending probably was just too messy and crammed together, but still fun to watch and not your casual movie that is similar to all other ones.
Joanna Mccarty
Amazing worth wacthing. So good. Biased but well made with many good points.
Cissy Évelyne
It really made me laugh, but for some moments I was tearing up because I could relate so much.
sol-
Two brothers and their lovers become embroiled in mounting murder plots with a lucrative inheritance on the horizon in this comedy thriller full of twists and turns. To say much more might ruin a fresh experience, but suffice it to say, the film is a surefire testament to the dangers of placing too much trust in another human being. The characters live in a very sad world where they can never really trust one another. On the same account though, they are all so greedy and self-absorbed that it is hard to truly care for them; this is one of those awkward films where it is difficult to find a character to root for. The only ostensibly honorable person is a born again Christian detective played by Roy McKinnon, but the way he weaves spirituality into every conversation actually renders him least likable. Ellen DeGeneres also gets on the nerves as McKinnon's wisecracking partner, but she does admittedly have her amusing moments. By all accounts, this is quite a divisive film with not everyone appreciating what director Roland Joffé has opted for by blending neo-noir thriller elements with lighthearted humour. As one would expect from a Joffé film though, it is a well crafted piece of cinema. John Ottman's music score varies effectively between being enchanting and atmospheric and Dante Spinotti's frequently angular cinematography and mobile camera-work ensures that the film is visually arresting. The twists and turns also happen with enough frequency that the film rarely bores even if it is occasionally hard to care for the despicable characters at hand.
triple8
SPOILERS THROUGH:This movie was really really out there. There are more twists and turns in it then one can count and after awhile you sort of give up and decide to either: 1)turn the darn thing off or 2) sit back and enjoy the over the top ride! The second choice is the one I made and actually started enjoying this in a weird, you've gotta be kidding sort of way.The movie features an excellent cast and is filled with one dislikeable character after another. Seriously.... I'm not sure there was one likable person in the whole movie. Likewise, nobody cares about anybody and there are so many ulterior motives and double crossings going on this movie could put "Melrose Place" to shame. That's OK though after awhile, because as the movie goes on, you kind of get the idea things are not going to calm down, they are only going to get more twisty and more over the top. Once you know that though, you maybe can start predicting what some of those twists might be.I am not going to say this is a great movie but I will also admit I enjoyed this. It is a prime example of a "guily pleasure" type movie. Normally I would not give such a movie a 7 rating but hey I did just recently see the movie "Derailed"(to which I also gave a 7) and which is not unlike this in several ways although I actually think "Goodbye Lover" is a little more fun to watch overall. The movie never slows down in its twists, there's a bit of the comedic mixed in with the dark drama, the performances are for the most part good(Mary Louise Parker impressed me most) and the movie has so much happening that you have to pay attention and stay focused.Seriously-this is the type of movie where if you turn away for 2 minutes you might miss something. And for anyone who digs Film Noir this is like Film Noir gone over the top in a dizzying, what the heck kind of way.But it's a somewhat enjoyable movie though it's never going to win any Oscars. I guess I would call this movie "campy" only the performers don't play it that way. Arquette is almost the only one who seems to get into that area on occasion but mostly they play it pretty serious. Oh....the second exception is the obnoxious police officer. That brings me to the line "your under arrest" which he says at the end. I think the movie missed a chance for another twist. It would have been a better ending if they HAD been under arrest and that officer wound up as a really sharp guy having been suspicious of them all along. Instead he's about the only character who is what he appears to be. But as it stands, though this isn't a movie I'd say is great or even very good, it's not bad and a bit above average just for the watchable aspect and the cast. More twists and turns then a roller coaster and an over the top somewhat enjoyable movie. I'd say it's a low 7.
marctr808
I'm not a fan of Ellen DeGeneris, but she was pretty darn good in this, really the highlight of the film. While there were too many twists and turns and the ending was a pretty ho-hum, it was interesting enough to keep your interest. Vincent Gallo has a pretty cool cameo and there were just as many plot twists that were unpredictable as there were ones that were obvious. I really don't have much more to say, but there is a ten line minimum so i will just keep typing until i have ten lines, you can stop reading, i'm just typing to get to ten lines, really not saying anything to this point, just trying to get to ten lines.
gridoon
"Goodbye Lover" is certainly unpredictable, but there is a catch: once you've figured out the movie's cynical attitude (every single character is a slimy cheat looking for the big bucks), the twists all fall into the same pattern and lose their impact. Ellen DeGeneres is particularly grating; Don Johnson, Mary Louise Parker and even Ray McKinnon come off better, because they are pleasingly understated. (**1/2)