Infamousta
brilliant actors, brilliant editing
Numerootno
A story that's too fascinating to pass by...
Murphy Howard
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.
Thomas Nielsen
Bearing some similarities with "Wilbur Wants to Kill Himself" I was somewhat skeptic from the start but quickly realised this had something else to offer. Cinematography was beautiful as were the sceneries, but acting as a whole was terrible. Dr. Blake was really quite good and Edward showed glimpses of greatness but that was all. For someone sinking, Veronika showed remarkable composure throughout and the attempt to show the patients as the only truly sane went completely overboard and lost the subtlety that would have been so becoming. The underlying story is good but implementation simply didn't do it justice. And what is it with these "Victorian" asylums? Surely they *did* exist in latter days - but this weird fusion between modern day therapy and a 100 year old perception of lunacy is contrived at best.
Combovers
I have actually signed up to IMDb today just so I could write this review. Veronika wants to die is a terrible film. I won't go into the ridiculous plot synopsis (incase anyone actually does want to watch the film), but it is one of the most contrived depictions of mental health I have ever seen in a contemporary film. The patients in the institute are the most one dimensional 'crazies'- catatonic, unintelligent, childlike, etc... It's only a film I hear you say, but with it's so called 'dark' subject matter and shaky hand-held camera I think this film is attempting at some sort of realism. It is anything but.It has the feel of trying - and failing - to be a film somewhat like Rachel Getting Married (Demme, 2008). However the characters lack depth and the plot (and consequently the ending) leaves you feeling cheated.The music that's played throughout the film is unnecessary, it distracts from the narrative and leaves you with a conscious feeling of emotional manipulation. There are many other reasons why this film is terrible, but as I am so enraged of wasting hours of my life watching it, I can't even think straight. I just hope someone else reads this review and doesn't make the same mistake I did.
Raymond
Haven't read this or any other book from Coelho, but I'm aware he's quite a bestseller.To speak the truth, I'm not a huge fan of the general story. There are so many movies these days where people seemingly living a perfect life, figure out that the life they are living is somehow disappointing after all, be it for whatever reason. In this movie Veronika goes to extremes with the subject and decides to die. This is of course a completely different scenario compared to most movies where the characters just go bonkers otherwise. Suicide should never be an option.From the very beginning, you will feel the depression. The whole movie is quite drowsy, like being under sedative medication. The mood is something derived from Lost in Translation and Virgin Suicides with a dream like quality.The mood is the strongest part in the movie, cinematography, acting and music are all top notch. The story also is OK, but the script fails here and there. For example I had a bit of trouble figuring out the relationship between Veronika and Edward, what was the attraction other than they were both pretty handsome and attractive? The other supporting roles also fall a bit short, even tho the actors are doing a good job. I would've liked to see more of Melissa Leo's and David Thewlis' characters development. Veronikas roommate is also left in the shadows, even tho she's introduced in a longish scene.I'd say this movie felt more realistic than many other "mental hospital movies". It's the distant, lonely and depressing mood that lingers all the way that makes you feel more than the story tells.Possible spoilers ahead:What makes this movie interesting is the ending. Even tho it's quite upbeat and ends on a positive note, I kept feeling the same loneliness all the way until the credits. It could've turned into a really sweet and tacky by the end, but was handled with good subtlety.Could've been a true winner is now a bit shallow due to a somewhat lackluster script.
kosmasp
The question is, how much do you care? And it's of course about the awareness of life, but also the awareness of others peoples misery. How much sympathy do you have in you. Can you care for Sarah Michelle G. character? Do you still see Buffy, when you watch her act on screen? Is the ending worth you while? Is this movie too preachy? What could have been done to improve it? Those are all valid questions and I don't have answers for all of them (mainly because some can only be answered personally). The acting is really good though, it's the tone of the movie that seemed a bit off. For a movie that is about caring it does feel a bit to distant too. The theme handled here is good and worthwhile, but could have been handled in a better fashion.
