Genres

Visitors Review

2012-05-25 13:02:41

Soulmates

"Downloading Nancy" is the best film I've seen in a while. What is so impressive about it is its ability to make the characters in an almost unbelievable story so believable.Nancy wants to die. After suffering horrific childhood abuse, and being stuck in a loveless marriage for 15 years, she can only really feel alive when she's in physical pain. To cope, she cuts herself, but her fantasy is to find a sexual sadist willing to take her life for her. Enter Louis, who she meets on the internet, and who is willing to serve as her sexual dominant and eventual murderer. Louis is the yan to Nancy's yin. He deals with psychic pain by inflicting physical pain. His demeanor is calm and controlled, as opposed to Nancy's histrionics. They're soul mates. They understand each other. And ultimately, when Louis acts, it's out of love.What makes the film is really Maria Bello's powerhouse performance. Nancy is not an easy character to like - she's a person who's so determined to die that she's lost any desire to maintain any kind of dignity. She can be harsh, abusive, cruel ... and yet the actress makes her pain so real that it's hard to fault her for anything she does. She is somehow able to make this disturbed, ruined woman both relatable and even lovable.

ANTHONYM 2012-05-25 05:27:10

IF YOUR DEPRESSED BEFORE THE MOVIE WATCH IT

THIS MOVIE REALLY GETS ON YOUR NERVES IT HAS EVERYTHING YOU CAN THINK OF WHEN YOUR LIFE,WIFE AND YOURSELF ARE FALLING APART. ITS HARD TO FEEL SORRY FOR ANY OF THE PEOPLE IN THIS MOVIE WHO CUT,MULTILATE THEMSELFS FOR GRATIFACATION. I STILL AM BUMED OUT. I DO LIKE MARIA BELLO.

Raymond 2012-05-16 06:21:33

Well crafted, but very depressing

I'm gonna start out by saying that this may be the most depressing anddistressing movie I've ever seen and I've seen a few. It hit me frombehind, I had no idea what I was about to watch. Sure, there are movies about for example the holocaust(s) and somepowerful horror movies, but this movie managed to beat them to it. Iwas a bit surprised about the low score, as this really is such a wellcrafted movie that it deserves better. Altho I understand some may beput off by it's absolute bleakness. It's slow, and it's very hard towatch. On the negative side, there is a tiny amount of exploitment, asthe story is said to be inspired by true events and the direction doesunderline a bit. This is where I drop the score one point. It's adifficult scenario with (inspired by) true stories, as you can't reallyknow what the directors motive was to put this on screen. Is it hisaffection for subjects portrayed here or the fact that he wants to makepeople think about unfortunate people you don't often see on the media.Maria Bello portrays an utterly depressed woman who has been abused asa child and can no longer connect with her husband (Rufus Sewell). Shethen contacts a man (Jason Patrick) online who agrees to kill her. Thestory jumps right into it and is not 100 % linear, which is a bitdistracting here and there, but also works for the benefit of the darkstory.There are as many sides to the story as there are characters involved.It could be seen as a directorial success that even tho the story ispartly seen thru his husband, it still manages to keep him as a bit ofa mystery. The focus is always on Nancy. There are a lot of sceneswhere Nancys husband is shown after Nancy leaves to meet her killer,but we are never really let inside the husbands thoughts. On the otherhand, Nancy's character may be underlined too much. Is this adirectorial decision to focus on Nancy's need for attention or just tohave as many scenes as possible to show Nancys downfall, I don't know.I'm guessing it's all intentional as the movie is quite well craftedand every detail seems to be there for a reason.There is one scene in particular which had a tremendous impact on me.The one where she starts a food war during a bleak dinner. This isprobably the only moment in the movie where you can see a spark in hereye. Only to be shot down immediately by her husbands reaction.Where this movie may fail a bit is that it is easy to see the husbandas a baddie. Or at least this is how I take it from the reviews writtenhere. Had the story been portrayed from another perspective, wecould've seen a tormented man who has focused on his hobby to stay sanein a non working, infertile marriage. There are people who are unableto show their feelings. Nancy had a tragic past, but this could also bea case of bad matchmaking to begin with.A word of praise must go to Jason Patrick, who makes an unbelievablychilling role. It's completely new, never seen a character like hisplayed on screen. There are scenes where his eyes show zero emotion,yet at times you can feel his empathy and care. I read he replaced RayLiotta and this is a small victory. Liotta has played so many psychoroles that he would've watered down the whole movie. Jason Patrickhasn't been in a lot of movies and thinking about it now, he's aperfect choice for the role.I read somewhere that the director credits his homeland Sweden. Hepoints out that only Finnish people may be more depressed than they.Maybe it is the fact that I'm Finnish that I really felt this movie anddidn't see it pointless and slow waste of time as some have said it tobe.

Sissy K 2012-05-16 02:45:17

Mousetraps and razors and nails-Oh My!

Admittedly, there were some scenes I simply could not watch. Let's faceit, we who chose to view this one are probably not fans of the patHollywood ending. Please keep that in mind as you digest my confessionthat I found some scenes too viciously depraved to view. While I knew,after reading the DVD blurb, this was going to be a dark odyssey, I hadno idea I'd signed up for this. Just because a movie is "the most disturbing film I've ever seen"(attribute to follow), does not mean it has redemptive value. Since 1/2watching it, however, I simply cannot get it out of my mind. That this is based on true events should come as no surprise. Sadly,incest is not rare. Its effects linger and certainly alter a person forlife. Clearly, Nancy was viciously abused as a child, and not just byher mother's brother. At one point, the audience is made aware that,upon learning the extent of her daughter's damage, her mother blamesher and calls her a slut. This suggests a legacy of child abuse. Whichmakes me think this could have been an important movie. Not just anightmare.Sessions with Nancy's therapist are annoying. Too little, too late. Thehappy-faced key to the restroom is strange. Look good (Smile) andeverything is cool. No. Would a trauma specialist really be thatclueless? I guess the stupid audience needs to be slapped in the facewith irony. Insulting. This could have been a powerful movie-one that enlightened, rather thanjust shocked. Why is it that damaged men are portrayed with a certainnobility, but their female counterparts are just annoying, hateful, andpugnacious? Her character, like the entire cast, is unsympathetic.She's so over the top at times, it's almost funny-every nail, staple,sharp object-she's on it. It is filled with caricatures. Also, since when can you smoke on a bus? Point taken-she's plum lostit, but it's just another unrealistic scenario. And suicidaldesperation is just not this loud. The most disturbing part of this is how shocked the audience is meantto be-and apparently is-that this is based on true events. First, thatphrase is extremely loose. Secondly, are we not already aware of thestaggering statistics? Thirdly, if the cited case is, indeed, the eventupon which this is based, haven't the filmmakers further exploited her?I hated the voyeuristic quality of this tragic movie. That it's been described here as soft core porn (ReaLLY?) and/or S/M isfurther testimony that the filmmakers failed.

2012-05-06 06:41:41

How Can You Kill Someone When They're Already Dead?

One of the bravest films I've seen in a long time. Jason Patric is absolutely icy. Actually, the whole film is downright chilly. This is definitely one of the most atmospheric films I've ever seen. The title is a bit off-putting but the direction, the acting, the script, the cinematography, the score - all top notch. Further proof that it really doesn't matter what you do, as long as it's done well. Even if the subject matter is troubling or disturbing, at least it is honest.

TheHrunting 2012-05-05 19:22:00

At wits end (Part 3 of 3)

When the printing press was invented it spread media quicker andfarther than ever before. Fast forward to the information age wherewritten documents as well as ways of communicating went digital fromthe invention of the computer and then a way to connect them to others:The Internet. Writing letters turned into e-mails and inked articleswent way of text on a blog. This story uses the modern way ofcommunicating and connecting to others but as an outlet for darkerreasons rather than opportunity or forward outlooks. And what makesthis tale so haunting is that is was inspired by real events with somecinematic liberties altered from a 1996 case about a woman named SharonLopatka who went by the name of Nancy over the computer."Downloading Nancy" is about a down-on-this-world woman, played byMaria Bello, who searches for someone on the Internet that would takeher life as she's tried herself with scars to show for it. Not tomention going to therapy sessions to resolve her long list ofdeep-rooted issues without any substantial luck. She's married andunable to have kids due to being abused and suffering physical pain asa little girl. Her husband Albert, played by Rufus Sewell, doesn'tunderstand her need for infliction during intercourse, and after 15years of marriage is fed up with her immature and selfish ways ofdealing with problems. He has golf and other hobbies to keep himselfdistracted, not to mention they sleep next to each other, yet areworlds apart. Nancy finds her guy, or so he says, and takes off withonly a nondescript note left over to her husband. The newly met manfrom online seems the perfect match to give her the rough stimulationshe feels she needs. Nancy has her highs and lows, from emotional towithdrawn, giving a torn decision to the man who's now infatuated withher.Slow, serious, subtle, "Downloading Nancy" builds up by showing ratherthan telling how this woman got to the desperate, manic, end-all stateshe's at. There are loose, hand-held camera shots that put you there.Sometimes hiding behind something to give the point of view ofwitnessing and experiencing it first hand. The settings are dulled withdrab colors and neutral furniture to give an oppressive tone withoutoverdoing it and trying to be creepy. Maria Bello does an excellent jobof playing a pessimistic woman with more than one troubling issue tocontend with. Her impulsive ways make her unpredictable and unlikable,though there is a feeling of pity as she can't even help herself.This doesn't have the typical amount of hope or resolve that you see inHollywood pictures, but it's filled with real feelings of emotion thatradiate from the screen. The film doesn't have any good guys or badguys, and it isn't a horror tale as it won't happen to you due to bothindividuals being willing participants. It just unfolds this strangetale of how the Internet brought these two together, who would haveotherwise never met as they're several states over. Though Nancy hadstacking problems that were becoming too much to handle, and this washer way of finding an answer to solve it all by including this man totake charge of her life without question. The amount of blind trust sheput into him might say more about herself than him. (If you missed 'emsee my profile and click chronological for first review "Grimm Love" orthe second "Cannibal.") (Also submitted onhttp://fromblacktoredfilmreviews.blogspot.com/)

Robert Collins 2012-05-04 03:40:06

A sad portrait of a woman tormented by life.

The title DownloadingNancy does nothing for this film, I wish thewriter could have come up with something more polished because thetitle doesn't do the film any justice. That is literally the only thingwrong with this disturbing but excellent film.Maria Bello is on top of her game as Nancy, a woman who is tormented bylife, a woman who has given up hope of ever finding happiness, Bellohas never been better than she is here, it's such a shame that thisfilm went unnoticed because I'm sure she would've been a frontrunnerfor all of the big awards. She totally embodies this character, insaying that, Maria Bello is a tremendously watchable actress and nomatter what kind of role she's in she always shines.This film has a fascinating subject matter, the thought of someonebeing so unhappy in life that they would go to the extreme of payingsomeone to torture and kill them is truly sad. This film is looselybased in fact so it's not Luke we can just say " it's only a movie",also this is not just a one off thing, another film tackles the samesubject, Grimm Love, starring Keri Russell also has the same storyline, that movie is much more horrific and graphic but it deals withthe same issue of people being unhappy in life.This movie isn't something to cheer you up, it's most certainly notgoing to do that, but if you like movies that will divide a room andstart a conversation then this is one for you.I wish this movie had found a bigger audience because it's so deservingof a wide audience, I really hope Maria Bello gets more roles like thisin the future. She's just excellent.

Kelly Volkart 2012-05-03 20:19:54

Intense! This movie takes a look inside a well hidden disease.

The suspense and curiosity is what kept me watching!Maria's character, "Nancy" portrays true-to-life behavior that leavesyou wandering ...will she really do it...cut herself...kill herself?This is clearly a movie with a hidden message that reveals actualbehavioral traits from a disease, a topic, that most are not willing todiscuss as they fear being shunned.As the movie ends, you may find yourself asking "how can someone dothat?" The answer is simple... those that suffer will go to everylength to keep you from knowing. Yes, people you live and work around…Will you be able to recognize the next victim…the next "Nancy?"Watch and see from the edge of your seat how "Nancy" handles hersuffering!Kelly J. Volkart Author, "Sensory Leadership"

TheExpatriate700 2012-05-01 11:45:28

Dark, Disturbing Character Study

Before renting Downloading Nancy, people should be aware that it is anextremely bleak, depressing film that follows the trajectories of anemotionally disturbed woman and the man she finds online to torture andmurder her. This is not a thrill a minute suspense film for theTransformers crowd, or a film to brighten your day. It features semi-graphic depictions of sadomasochism, and explores the psyches of peoplesuffering from severe emotional dysfunction.It is also one of the best films of the past two years, and has beenunjustly neglected by film distributors, critics, and audiences.The film functions on a number of levels. On one hand, it explores thepersonality and life of Nancy, a woman unable to cope with the traumaof having been sexually abused as a child. We see her experiences witha therapist and with self-mutilation. However, it is also an indictmentof a emotionally and physically sterile suburban existence, embodied byher dullard husband Albert. The film's sets and color scheme reflectthis barrenness, with gray being the color of the day.Maria Bello's performance anchors the film, and should have been givenan Oscar nomination. Although most of the praise has gone to Bello, itis also worth noting Jason Patric's performance as the sadomasochistshe turns to for release.Although I believe this is a very good film, it is not perfect. RufusSewell's portrayal of Albert is overly broad, lacking real depth.Furthermore, the film's soundtrack is lacking, a very genericsynthesizer score that may reflect the film's low budget.For comparison, look at David Cronenberg's Dead Ringers and the VeraFarmiga film Quid Pro Quo. As with these films, many people will hateit, but the thoughtful will love it.

2012-05-01 06:42:42

not an east watch

Acting was superb and since it's "based no true events" I guess i can't complain about the plot. very disturbing, emotional movie. A very good movie but not entertaining- especially since I've known several people like Nancy.

Kate Jackson 2012-04-28 15:08:43

Powerful and Worthwhile

I can't stop thinking about this movie. My friend is going to see ittonight in NY, and I wish I were there to see it again. Not that it'sfun. Well, maybe like a wooden roller-coaster.Questions bouncing around in my brain: 1. Can a person ever be healedif his/her sexual needs are perverted by abusive treatment duringformative years? 2. If we look at this film as metaphor, what does itsay about the nature of love? 3. Is the title a pun referring also toSewall's character? He is dressed in a pink shirt and shows no sexualinterest in his wife. Might "downloading" be the process by which weare receiving *his* story? 4. What can I do if I know someone likeNancy? What can I do if I *am* Nancy? (just thoughts...) Please don'tflame me for being an English Lit. major. ;)

2012-04-27 22:51:11

Incredibly Depressing Film

This has to be one of the most depressing, gut wrenching films I've seen in a long time. The only thing that rescues this film from the garbage heap is the method the director used to tell this story; essentially three timeline threads that weave back and forth. The film fades to black at the end, and we learn that it is based on actual events. The sad life Nancy lived is based on a real woman's life.There is absolutely nothing happy about this film, no jokes, and no humor. This is a study of some form of insanity, a woman who has absolutely no self esteem, and hates her life. The bright spot in the story is as a cautionary tale to anyone that was abused as a child. I hate to reveal much of the plot, the method the director used to uncover the story is critical to enjoying this film. The film is the classic love triangle turned on its head, maybe with a bit of Romeo and Juliette thrown in for good measure.The intriguing part of this film, the director runs three timeline threads at once. He uses subtle clues to place the particular sequence in the past, present, or future. The time span of the film is not much more than four or five days. Some films require a lot of work and careful viewing to understand complex timeline manipulation; not Downloading Nancy, the director telegraphs the time very clearly and never uses the dreaded date or time titles. The film is one hour and forty two minutes long. Like being stopped on the highway due to a traffic wreck, this film is very hard to avert your eyes. The acting is quite good. Maria Bello (ER) is beautiful and believably crazy as Nancy; Amy Brenneman (Judging Amy) is a somewhat clueless psychiatrist and gorgeous; Rufus Sewell (a fine British actor, but not British at all in this film) is the clueless husband that is much more into his golf than anything else; and Jason Patric (In the Valley of Elah) is the on line love interest, a bit too handsome, and a bit too well spoken. This is a low budget film, there are no special effects. All the painful bits are shown off camera and the effects are shown with makeup; no need for stunt doubles. There were only a few shooting locations. The film relied on the power of the story and the dialog to move it forward.This film is not rated, but is really meant for mature audiences. Cutting is a recurring theme, shown a few times on camera, and pretty graphically made up aftermath. There is frontal female nudity. But most importantly, the film deals with a mature subject. A woman and a man are shown masturbating, albeit with their private parts covered up. This film is not for younger viewers.The DVD includes previews to other Strand Releasing films. The only other bonus material is the original theatrical trailer. Like a car accident this film was hard to stop watching. It left me feeling not very happy, and emotionally drained. Sometimes that can be a good thing, and others it is painful. In this case it was a little of both. The director did a very creative thing with the timeline. From a pure cinema viewpoint, this is an interesting film. The audience for this film must be small.

Turfseer 2012-04-25 23:22:38

Depressed housewife hires sadomasochistic gigolo for fun and games

As is often the case, films about self-loathing characters do notusually make for good drama. 'Downloading Nancy' is no exception. It'ssupposedly based on a true story about a woman who's murdered at herown request by someone she meets over the internet.The protagonist is Nancy (Maria Bello) who is married to Albert (RufusSewell). Albert is a successful software developer who has developed agolf game which his company has successfully marketed to various barsand bar/restaurants. Unlike most human beings, Albert has virtually nopositive attributes (except for his ability to be successful in thebusiness world). Throughout the film, Albert has a grim and dourexpression on his face. He has no sympathy for his wife with all heremotional problems and resorts to patronizing prostitutes. When hiswife asks for sex, he punishes her by masturbating in her presenceinstead.Nancy is equally one-note as a character. Not only has she had aloveless 15 year marriage but was sexually abused by her uncle when shewas growing up (thankfully there are no flashbacks of that back storyin the film). Her self-loathing takes the form of self-mutilation and aresult, she's forced into therapy. However, she has such contempt forher therapist that no progress can be made.Finally, Nancy is so depressed that she contacts Louis over theinternet. He's sort of a sadomasochistic gigolo, who has sex with womenfor money while inflicting massive amounts of pain to boot. It'srevealed that Louis has two children but no longer sees them (thechildren's mother no longer wants anything to do with him).Nancy's plan is to first have painful sex with Louis and then have himkill her. There's a particularly unpleasant scene where Louis has sexwith Nancy while slashing her vaginal area with a broken piece ofglass. These scenes are shown as flashbacks after Louis pays a visit toAlbert who ties him up and strikes him with a golf club. It seems thatLouis has a two-fold plan in going to see Albert: 1) berate him for histreatment of Nancy and 2) enjoy the beating he receives. It takesawhile before Louis will reveal Nancy's fate—first, he forces Albert todo him the favor of taking his dog to a relative so someone will carefor it in the future. Nancy's fate of course is that Louis finallyended up choking her to death (but showed some hesitation first as hemade it clear that he had some 'feelings' for her). We soon learn thatLouis is imprisoned for life for Nancy's murder.What exactly are we to take away from a film such as Downloading Nancy?Are we supposed to feel sorry for victims of sexual abuse and domesticviolence? Is that the main point of the film? Is sympathy for Nancyactually warranted? I don't think so. The film's writers create a strawman in the character of Albert—someone who is so cut off from hisemotions that he is the one that is held responsible for Nancy'sdecline. But are people so one-dimensional in real life? I think not.They have the repulsive Louis, a man who makes a living by inflictingpain, come over and berate Albert for neglecting Nancy. Furthermore,his expressions of love towards Nancy (before he kills her), issupposed to show his 'sensitive side'.In the end, it matters little whether the filmmakers have defined wheretheir sympathies lie with the various characters in the film. They areso bent on titillating their audience with scenes of gratuitousviolence, that Downloading Nancy becomes nothing more than an exercisein poor taste and soft pornography.

lastliberal 2012-04-25 10:52:09

The pain of sexual abuse goes on forever

The question is, Is this film worth watching? Of course it is, if fornothing else but to see Maria Bello's Indy Award nominated performance.Don't let the fact that it went straight to video dissuade you.It is not a pretty movie. Watching the effects of child sexual abusenever is. Watching someone engage in self-mutilation to mask the painis, in a word, painful.Bello (A History of Violence, The Cooler) was, of course, perfect forthe role. Rufus Sewell played the husband, who was more of an enigma.It was never clear whether he was just a jerk who was obsessed withgolf, or if 15 years of marriage to Nancy (Bello) just wore him down.Nancy finds Louis (Jason Patric), someone on the Internet she wants tokill her. They end up having a relationship, if you want to call itthat.In the end, I am not sure whether he kills her or whether she killsherself. It really doesn't matter. It was a dark, twisted film withvery little music and washed out cinematography. It set the mood, butit is easy to see why this film would get no buyers at Sundance.People don't go to the movies to get more depressed, and this one willdo just that.

Howard 2012-04-23 05:53:20

Appreciate What You Have Now Before It Is Lost

Downloading Nancy is one of those films that only comes together after you have watched the last scene and are driving home, or a day later. It was a hard film to watch but ultimately I liked it very much. The film is trying to say - look closely at what is in front of you before it disappears, never to be seen again. Albert, the husband, learned this the hard way, when he lost his lovely,troubled wife who terribly needed his love and understanding. He was so selfish and into himself that Nancy was shut out.Albert, however is given a chance for redemption when a man shows up who jars open Albert's atrophied conscience. Alas,it is too late to bring back his lovely wife. To emphasize the dark nature of the film it was shot with darkened scenes, with little or no strong colors. The spooky music also contributed to this effect. This film is not for everyone,however those that appreciate a well crafted effort will enjoy Downloading Nancy.

monsterkil 2012-04-22 11:20:33

A vortex of paradoxical sensations

Downloading Nancy is fine piece of cinema. It perplexes you through outthe entire time, showing the hidden box of feelings and ideas mostpeople wont admit or share, thematics that are disguised with effort inorder to adapt to the fine "perfect" machine humans have created to putsome sense of order in life. The themes presented compose elements thatmankind tends to ignore and expel in a funny attempt to give lucidityto the paradoxical events of life.This story enlightens a slice of a woman's life who is getting in touchwith the marks of the past, the wounds of the present and the prospectsof the future as well as trying to manage the whole concept of realityand the real satisfaction that she can pull out of life, and in a veryrealistic way(and somehow raw, like life) the audience can assist tothe "release" of all these factors. The events are told in a mix of flashbacks and the present time line inwhich the characters are explored and keep progressing to the clash ofa choice not everyone can understand.You should take your time to think about what our experiences do toourselves and to those surrounding us; the meaning of life, actions,words and everything. Nothing is bad, nothing is good, it's only a question of perception.Like many other movies and works of art it always comes down to the waythe audience interprets the experience, but one can still analyze andquestion the message passed. This is a reality. Deal with it.

pvlvr21 2012-04-22 04:24:34

dark, compelling movie about a segment of life we want to ignore

This movie is so dark it is disturbing but it is also compelling. Allthe actors are marvelous and do such a good job they may beunder-appreciated. Nancy's character is so flawed that it is easy toblame her husband who seems to be equally depressed. Maybe 15 yearswith her did this. Wish we could have seen him before their marriage.She was destroyed many years earlier by the only person she feels lovesher...her uncle...and her therapist is right about this but Nancy won'tlisten. Good for these gutsy actors. This is not a picture for thefaint of heart nor for those who want to ignore the many problems ofthe world today.

richard_sleboe 2012-04-21 18:10:04

Who has friends in Baltimore?

Something dark looms over this movie: Nancy's plan. For a long time, wedon't know what it is, but it can't be good. Nancy (Maria Bello) is apain junkie, the self-destructive kind: no pain, no gain. Maria Bello,she's good. This is her movie. The way she carries herself, the way shewalks and the way she talks all radiate defeat. Maria Bello has a nice,articulate voice. But when Nancy speaks in that same voice, it doesn'tmatter what she says. The way she says it says it all. Nancy rarelysmiles, and it's a pretty desperate smile, mostly reserved for herluckless therapist. Against hope, I found myself hoping for betterdays, but they never break. Nancy takes off to Baltimore. "Who hasfriends in Baltimore?", her helpless husband finds himself wondering.He's right. Nobody does. Nancy doesn't. She doesn't have friends. Notin Baltimore, not anywhere. She's not the type. - The script jumps backand forth in time, to unsettling effect. If you liked "Chasing Sleep"or "Breaking the Waves", this might be for you, but I'm not sure it'sfor anyone. There's not a ray of light in it, but I guess that's whatlife is like for the likes of Nancy.

charlytully 2012-04-20 02:43:05

Pepsi is for losers! (And, please, someone, buy Bello a shake!)

Out of thousands of movies I remember, DOWNLOADING NANCY has the mostblatant product placement by far. Cans of Pepsi Cola are visible innearly half the scenes. Characters even ask each other, "Don't you wantmore Pepsi now?" Since Pepsi is used throughout this film as a metaphorfor infamous "People's Temple" pope Jim Jones' lethal Kool-Aid (aregistered smiley face trademark) concoction a few years back duringhis 900-person mass suicide stunt in South America (from which theubiquitous expression "Don't drink the Kool-Aid," meaning 1)"don't bebamboozled," and 2)"hang in there" derives), a savvy viewer can onlyconclude that COCA COLA paid the entire budget of this movie. A word tothe wise, then: if you don't want to barf during your next round of the"Pepsi taste test" due to the subliminal anti-Pepsi message ofDOWNLOADING NANCY, then do NOT download this flick into your brain! Ona related note, the actress playing the title character here is clearlyanorectic, as anyone pausing the film at about the 57:05 mark willsurely deduce. Please, someone, buy Maria Bello a REAL milkshake beforeshe goes the way of Karen Carpenter.

screamingfoot 2012-04-19 18:39:21

Compelling story of tortured soul

I imagine a lot of religious types would hate this movie and comment onit without even seeing it solely based on their beliefs, which is kindof ironic when you think about it. I would expect even most of the moresecular types would hate this film because it IS hard to watch andatypical of most movies that have either a clear message or aprotagonist that somehow manages to succeed.The truth is, this film is very hard to watch but is a very well madefilm that allows us into the world of a woman fraught with pain thelikes of which I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy. Who among us coulddeny any living thing relief from profound pain? It seems as a specieswe're much more adept at causing and prolonging each others pain thananything else.In this film, Maria Bello plays very much a victim of childhood abusewho now suffers at the hands of an uncaring, unsympathetic husbandplayed masterfully by Rufus Sewell. Every nuance and every tick iscaptured and sometimes shown in closeup as Sewell goes about hisbusiness with utter disregard for his wife's profound suffering.Maria Bello portrays a woman I'd expect would elicit even a modestmeasure of sympathy from a passing stranger and yet her husband,clearly unable, shows himself to be either a monster or yet anothertortured soul, battered by years of his wife's seemingly unreasonableanguish.This is not a film I'd care to watch a second time, but I'm glad Iwatched it because it IS very well made. The performances are asperfect as any I have seen, while the cinematography and the scoresimilarly show qualities that perfectly fit the story.