Genres

Visitors Review

Andrew Richards 2012-05-19 18:47:59

Great script, superb performances

This was a film I saw completely "on spec" having not heardofit before. As is often the way, when there are no expectationsto be dashed, the experience was entirely worthwhile.Without giving too much plot away, our hero - or more accuratelyour anti-hero - is discharged at the start of the filmfroma psychiatric hospital. He is returned, with a large supplyof tablets, to his brother's care within "the community".When he falls for a woman, who reciprocates, life seemsbetterthan it has ever been, and he begins to question whethertheendless tablets are actually necessary. This is a film which is above all honest. The performancesaretruthful and insightful, and the characters are drawn sympathetically but not blandly. We are shown flaws andstrengths, and we are invited to observe and empathise butnotjudge. The laughter - and it is not in short supply - comesfrom the foibles of the characters we are presented with,andas in life, provides a welcome relief from the more tragicelements. As the film moves towards its conclusion - via a 10 minutesequence of genuine breathtaking tension - the answersprovided are not easy, and the loose ends are not tiedup,yet this acts not to frustrate the viewer but simply toreinforce that this is the genuine article - life has noeasysolutions. I have rated this film as a 9 out of 10; it lacks the perception about the human condition, the wider scope orrelevance of, say "American Beauty", but that was never itsintention, and it is designed, I suspect, with a smalleraudience in mind. It is, however, a beauty in its own right,and I would whole-heartedly recommend it as a thought-provoking way of spending a couple of hours.

hottentot 2012-05-18 23:22:42

Totally gripping!

I saw this film recently, when it was briefly shown at the Cambridge ArtsPicturehouse. My concentration didn't waver throughout the whole film. Forme, the story was told in such a way that it was essentially a truthfulone,without needlessly tugging at heartstrings or indulging in gratuitous funatthe expense of the leading character. I work in mental health, so a filmsuch as this one sits better with me than 'Me, Myself & Irene", which, tobefair, I have not seen, and which I know is intended as a comedy. 'SomeVoices' has comic touches, but these are humane, and do not detract fromthefact that this is the story of a man who wants a life, but finds it hardtoaccept the conditions that other people seem to be placing on him. I wastotally gripped from start to finish, and would urge others to see thisfilm, and also, to enjoy the great soundtrack, which only fades away in amoment of high drama towards the end but otherwise accompanies the actionvery sensitively,and does not get in the way of it. This film deserves alotmore exposure than I guess its independent status will ensure. Go and seeit, or get your local independent cinema to put it on!

paolo_bf 2012-05-17 03:48:21

'James Bond' Daniel Craig as a young recovering schizophrenic? Yes, why not!

Daniel Craig seems reasonably suitable for the role, good also thechemistry with his on screen girlfriend Kelly MacDonald, absolutelyadorable as the wee Scottish lass romantic interest! The movie has arather poetic quality, the poetry of everyday life, and a fairly goodinsight into the little important things which constitute ourexistence, more than into that mythical and mysterious condition:schizophrenia. When the movie approaches this ground the stereotypesstart to pile up mercilessly, but then again the movie is still a cutabove a lot of other films which have in the past tried to deal withthis subject. Cue the almost Nouvelle Vague romantic feel of theHastings day out scenes, on the beach and in the hotel, Kelly MacDonaldswimming in the huge sea-of-white bed to the tunes of a French song.Intriguing and fascinating the London backdrop: a moody sky, a crowdedstreet, evening falling outside, inside a room, in front of a window.

Azeem Ali Khan 2012-05-16 17:16:24

A fine British film that I fear not many people will see

This really is a surprisingly good film - it's only just opened, andalreadythe reviews are mixed. To me it's a refreshingly unsentimental andnon-sensationalist portrait of schizophrenia. None of the characters isperfect, but none of them are irredeemable either, and there seems to beanunderlying optimism about human nature. Despite what the previousreviewerwrote, I actually laughed quite a few times, as well as being moved atothertimes. The three main performances are all excellent, with Kelly Mcdonaldespecially good (why isn't this woman more well-known, why oh why??). Theother characters are well portrayed too, especially Mandy the waitress.West London looks stunning (just kidding!), the filming and acting arenaturalistic, and the music on the soundtrack is effective too. I hopethefilm makes it to the US.