MovieChat Forums > A Home at the End of the World (2004) Discussion > Contrived Garbage for the Brainless

Contrived Garbage for the Brainless

posted 15 years ago by russogerard
18 replies | jump to latest

Are we to believe that someone as unattractive as Dallas Roberts is in this film gets approached by a decent-looking gay guy as soon as he, Colin Farrell, and Robin Wright-Penn leave the movie theatre, but that this gay guy doesn't even look at the phenomenally attractive Colin Farrell? Are we also to believe that the unattractive Dallas Roberts is cruised and picked up when he walks down a street, while the beautiful Colin Farrell is shown walking without a single head turning?
Since Robin Wright-Penn's character does herself up like a fag hag clown, would she really suggest that the Colin Farrell character cut his hair in order to look better?
How conveniently huge the apartment is that the three friends share! The kitchen has that scrapy, worn, East Village look, but Robin Wright-Penn's bedroom has perfect white walls like something from a new Upper East Side highrise!
Colin Farrell's character, as a young boy, closes the door his brother has left open, and so is responsible for his brother's death. Where's the trauma, the guilt, the damage? Is his role in his brother's death ever even mentioned?
Are we expected to believe that the three friends run a restaurant entirely by themselves? Shouldn't we see that they at least have to hire an extra waiter?

[–] releeloo 15 years ago

he's not the one who closed the door, one of the guests did - it's clearer in the book

[–] montegomx1 15 years ago

Picking over the details, like you are, and calling the movie "garbage" makes me think that you rarely watch movies and have very little knowledge about them. My recommendation is that you take a film class before you bore the rest of us with your amateur reviews.

[–] Mharrisonfilms 15 years ago

The fact that you would insult this persons taste in movies simply on the fact that you may have taken some night school film classes from your local community college is beyond me. I have a degree in film production and have worked as a Grip for the past few years. I'm union and have plenty of on-set experience.
I watched this peice of trash with my brother(who is gay) and we both felt that this was one of the worst films we've ever seen. There is no plot, no structure, and no sense of awarness throughout the entire film. It carries itself like a faux artsy indie film, with a sappy score and needless input from this hack of a director. It wanders and and goes nowhere.

I agree with the original posting completely!

Before you insult someone elses OPINION by flexing your flacid "I went to film school" muscle, check your angle, and have a little respect for someone whos opinion differs from yours. Keep on studying "Battleship Potemkin" and I hope that you find a true source of criticism instead of just agreeing with those "flashing lights on the big white screen.....duurr"

[–] devonblue 15 years ago

This is one of the worst films I have ever seen. I own thousands of films in all genres and mostly find something good even in the worst category, but this one left me numb. It does not go anywhere, so many plot holes, the acting is asinine, totally devoid of a story line, and left me utterly depressed. I am not going to waste any more time commenting on this film, I have already thrown it away so I will not accidentally lend it to friends, that is our opinion and apologies if you disagree with me in advance of the slating I am about to receive.

[–] SkaterDave 15 years ago

I think the movie's amazing and all the nitpicky little things the Op wrote are just ways of looking for things wrong in the movie. Yes, Jonathon was good looking enough to get glances and get picked up. Bobby looked pretty gooney till he got his hair cut so he might not have gotten any looks. I could go on about all the other minor things that were picked apart but they're all so silly I won't bother. And no, just because someone went to film school or was a grip doesn't make them an authority on what's good or not.

[–] Hokay 14 years ago

The criticisms given by russo are subjective and in my opinion superficial. As far as plot structure goes, yes it is a weak movie, however this IS an artfilm. Art is subjective and anything can be art, you can film a piece of crap and call it art. If you found this film crap because of an unconventional structure, oh well, but to me and many people this film is a great work of art.

I thought the acting was remarkable for the most part, and the messages in the film and the message of the film as a whole are great. This film spoke to me, especially the characters, these are extraordinary character, juxtapose that with the 'regular' people of the world they are most likely living in and that makes them interesting, to me.

This is a great film and for you to trash it so much because you have a gay brother (Who cares) who didn't approve of it either doesn't give you any more credibility.

I'm sorry but you need to take your own advice and have some respect for differing opinions. And the first critique was a terrible one, you should admit that if you know anything about film.

And Colin does look pretty haggard with the shaggy hair, so it's not SURPRISING he wasn't found as attractive as he can be naturally.

And flexing my knowledge (only cause you think you are the only one in the industry on here):
5 Years professional film/tv actor
6 Years prfoessional theatre actor
Motion Picture Arts Applied Degree
Radio and Television Arts Degree

[–] Mharrisonfilms 14 years ago

This started as a harmless comment about a crappy movie. It was directed at nobody except the the filmmakers themselves. Let's not bring on in your personal animosity towards simple differences of opinion.
If you didn't like my comments, simply write your own in a manner directed at the film.

*That's what grown-folks do*

It appears that you crave caustic, combative, conflicts to others on the internet. It probably stems from all those hours you have spent on Xbox live arguing with other insecure children you cannot see. So please, do it for yourself, STOP. Just because someone says something on a public forum that you do not like, you feel it is your duty to correct them.

I'm sure this will not deter your reply to this message. So good luck....with everything.....

[–] SkaterDave 14 years ago

[ It appears that you crave caustic, combative, conflicts to others on the internet. It probably stems from all those hours you have spent on Xbox live arguing with other insecure children you cannot see. So please, do it for yourself, STOP ]

*The above statement is not what grown-folk do*

[–] blitzhard56 11 years ago

The fact that you would insult this persons taste in movies simply on the fact that you may have taken some night school film classes from your local community college is beyond me. I have a degree in film production and have worked as a Grip for the past few years. I'm union and have plenty of on-set experience.

So, your opinion is then superior? Your ass. Trust me -- no one's impressed by your degree, or that you've worked as a grip, or that you're union, or that you have plenty of on-set experience. You come off as an insecure jackass; nothing more. Stop stroking yourself.

[–] sirragered 14 years ago

Saw it the other night on TV, glad I didn't waste the money to track it down and buy it.
My primary criticism is I suppose this movie is supposed to be edgy and unique concerning the situation and the sexuality of it.
Robin Wright Penn was AWFUL in this movie!!! Overacted the whole time. The carachter itself was just lame. As if having loud colored hair is supposed to make her a dynamic and edgy carachter, it's the only bit of carachter that that carachter had!
Contrived is the perfect word to describe this dismial movie.

[–] SkaterDave 14 years ago

That's the whole point. Robin did the weird hair thing because she wanted to be all cool and edgy but as the movie went on she showed signs that she really was quite normal. Like when she and Sissy Spacek were talking by the lake when she hinted that she wished she had a normal life. She started out wanting to be a whacky chick and as the relationship between the three progressed she found she couldn't handle it and wanted a normal life. That's why she left. She wanted her and Bobby to leave and have a nice normal life.

[–] Mysie 14 years ago

Just to sum up:
russogerard believes Dallas Roberts is ugly, some random gay guy has poor taste in men, all random gay guys who don't lust after colin farrell have no taste, Robin Wright-Penn looked scary and it made no sense that she preferred her gay boys to have short hair. Oh, and the apartment dimensions and bedroom walls kill all suspension of disbelief. He spent over half his review proving the movie is "contrived" and "brainless" and "garbage" by nitpicking over physical appearances of characters and drywall. I guess we should be generous and let him sneak in something resembling a comment of substance (you know, before winding things up by nitpicking on the absence of a waiter): where is the brotherly guilt and trauma? (FYI: when the entire household is outside in the dark and everyone goes back inside but one stoned teenager, the little brother who did NOT close the sliding glass door had absolutely no reason to feel guilt for a complete accident.)

Then releeloo points out the facts. montegomx1 uses his turn to point out russogerard's weak argument with ease, then lets his ego slide in at the last moment. Mharrisonfilms concludes that russogerard's taste has been personally insulted, and decides to prove his point by flexing his own movie-business ego and bringing up that his gay brother didn't like the movie either. (FYI, pointing out that someone did a really crappy job of stating their opinion as an argument with a non-supported conclusion isn't an insult, it is a cry for understanding. No flexing of anything necessary, flacid or otherwise.)

devonblue, SkaterDave, and sirragered all have valid points and an awesome understanding of the English language. Fin? Non!

Mharrisonfilms attempts to end the crazy brought on by others (but not himself) that has disrupted his little thread ridiculing the filmmakers. Completely unaware he did not start the thread. Or that anyone has used any animosity (but him), or had a problem with differences of opinion (except him). He begs for peace, love, goodwill towards men, and that we shall all begin to only make comments directed at the film - because he alone is allowed to knock about someone else's comments until his verbal fists are satisfied. By pointing out that this is something that grown-ups do, and showing that he doesn't know how to do it, he has inadvertantly (?) insulted his own grown-up-ed-ness. Leaving we poor readers to question why exactly he felt the need to then bring up cravings that begin with the letter "c" and Xbox live. Oh! How magnanimous! He has wished us luck on our future endeavors! Thanks, my Level 61 Borderlands Siren has been a little uppity lately.

I shall now remove my Captain Obvious hat and throw on my Actual Public Response hat to say:

*giggle* I had no idea the IMDB boards could be so amusing! Screw Xbox - how do I sign up for gold here?

ps: SkaterDave was right, everybody else is wrong and sucks and smells really, really bad. None of you are invited to the happily-ever-after bliss that SD and I shall hereafter share with one another when we review movies in tandem.
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Film Lover Tip #1: never go into a movie with expectations - you'll enjoy it more.

[–] evilpink 14 years ago

Bravo... that was some major PWNage (to those too sophisticated for xbox live, that means you just got OWNED!!!)

[–] hofo50 14 years ago

I have a degree in Figure Skating from Potemkin University and chuckle at the level of nastiness certain "comments" are towards the level of intelligence of others. Gee - I had this movie on today while making lasagna & enjoyed it. I have to figure out why the Claire character left - perhaps I'll read the book or just replay that section. I liked seeing Colin Firth in his many roles & emotional sides. I like the getting high scene with "Sissy". I don't think I've seen that twist in a movie. When I cook, the music is particularly impt. & in this flic there's Laura Nyro, The Band, & Traffic. It's a soundtrack Bonanza! There is so much available today, that one doesn't need to suffer sitting through unpleasantness. I'd understand if you were strapped to a chair & forced to watch. I was with my ex yrs. ago & walked out of "Roger Rabbit." I still have never watched it in it's entirety. I think we owe it to each other to pass that metaphorical "joint", offer the piece of cake, open the door, and lend a hand when the opportunity arises. Being able to spot misspellings, inaccuracies, and differences of opinion is so 2010. "When you have enough time to be critical then you're time is running out." Lester Descartes

[–] strangerdave-2 14 years ago

Mysie - Well said. It is ludicrous to say that a movie is unbelievable because a gay guy finds Jonathan more attractive than Robert, or that a person who is in the fashion business decorates her room well. (As to the former, I'm certainly no expert, but Jonathan looked gay and Robert didn't, and since they were with a girl, I don't think its illogical to assume that the girl was with the non-gay looking guy.)

I found this movie very interesting, very well acted, and as one who was coming of age and a young adult during the exact same time period as Robert and Jonathan, very believable.

[–] mlmerit 13 years ago

Thanks Mysie! I appreciated your comments...

Sometimes I dread coming to a message board on here for these petty opinion, bitch sessions...It would be nice if some people would just get over themselves.

((( Don't blow my cover! I'm Cleverly Disguised as a Responsible Adult )))

[–] vince-volaju 13 years ago

I agree with you, Stranger dave. I two am of that age group and liked all the music. This is a charming little film, hardly 'garbage.'.

[–] snes4u 8 years ago

gay