Why is this getting bad reviews?
A lot of the reviews that give it thumbs down is because they dislike the subject matter. Apparently the acting is great, the cinematography was good, the directing was there, but the reviewers couldn't stomach the intensity of this movie.
Was the movie itself bad? Or do the majority of people just want to ignore this gruesome part of the world (people like this do exist)? Anyone see it yet?
I saw it last year at the film festival and thought that it was one of the most well acted films i had seen in a while. Maria Bello was fantastic. I have never seen such a believable performance by an actress, and the guy that played the computer dater was great too.
shareI really don't know why it would get any bad reviews, this was hands down the best movie i saw last year. The only bad thing I've heard from movie critics is the usual feminist sexism where it's wrong to ever portray a woman as weak.
Well written, great acting, great directing, great score, I couldn't have asked for more.
It is like you imply a very strong movie, its dense, some awful aspects of life are portrayed in depth in the movie and anyone walking into a theatre expecting a feel good movie would probably not have liked it.
Um, I'm not sure where you heard this? I'm a feminist and I think this is a great film. If anything, this film probably just got bad reviews because people can't deal with or understand the subject matter.
shareYeah, precisely. WTF, "usual feminist sexism"... don't even know what that's supposed to mean, must be some sort of bastardized definition of what feminism is.
Anyhow, I'm a feminist too, and although the idea of a woman being tortured might seem cliché and gratuitous given so many exploitative movies (as a horror movie fan I hate this term, but "torture porn" comes to mind) the scenes involving sex and torture in this movie are anything but gratuitous.
"Most people are average, neither black nor white. They're gray. A dirty shade of gray."
Typing as yet another feminist, I don't hate female characters that are 'weak' or 'strong', just ones that are so one-dimensionally 'weak' or 'strong' without any particular reason. The depth and development of the character is key, for male and female characters alike.
I didn't think that Nancy was weak.
In fact she was capable of manipulating everyone but her husband, her desire for her own death was the ultimate act of self-determination.
She was a remarkable creation.
Well I think sometimes when the subject content is so grim and the overall tone of the story is just so depressing, the fact that it's well acted just makes the movie even harder to watch. I don't think anyone can really blame a critic for giving a movie bad review because he/she genuinely did not like the movie despite the performances and the look of the movie.
I have to return some video tapes
The movie was good. It's not nearly as depressing as you'd think. You could look at it from her perspective and think it's happy. Her married life seemed absolutely terrifying, which is most people's lives.
http://www.vimeo.com/1986276
This is one of the most intense, profound and unparalleled films I've ever watched on this sort of subject matter. None has ever struck so deep, so incisive, so real. The actors here, and especially Maria Bello, do what few others in their profession are able to do, namely, negate the dialectic of acting itself. Therefore, the subjects portrayed are not the synthesis of actor and character, but rather their symbiosis. The subjects do not beg condescending pity, forgiveness or redemption from its audience, they just are...in the most profound way of being. The choking and begging will to be free or to become that which frees.
The cold and distancing, gray and washed-out cinematography does an absolutely tremendous, yet extremely subtle job of portraying the desolation not just of the subject matter, but more so of the settings and characters. The understated direction is perfect, once again, soliciting neither sympathy nor redemption. The score in its colorless and destitute, washed-out ambient drone mixed with individually plucked guitar strings echoing through eternity do a brilliant job of underscoring the whole film. I almost expected to see the likes of Aidan Baker, his outfit Nadja, or Oren Ambarchi, Fennesz, Fear Falls Burning, etc. in the credits. At no point does the score force turning points and/or artificial emotions. It neither elicits nor solicits.
I apologize for the convoluted review, but I think the reason critics are unable to stomach this film is because it presents its subject matter, not as imagined, but as real; the abject real. Frightening, naked and stark. Uncanny.
Brilliant film. One that will stay with you for a long time. And definitely not for those ignorant or unfamiliar with this sort of subject matter. I really hope this film gets the attention and recognition it clearly deserves. This should be a part of any film, media, cultural studies and/or critical theory curriculum.
After watching this film last night, I couldn't agree more.
A compelling combination of the acting, cinematography, and scores made this movie not necessarily a delight to watch, but something I had to continue to watch.
I genuinely thought that both actors and the one actress played their roles to perfection. They allowed the gloomy reality of such a life to really fight through the screen and make a mark.
The music was just unreal. Throughout the film the scores were used to not only assist the emotions portrayed by the actors, but to further and augment each individual scene.
The filming style was exactly what could be expected of such a movie. Most of the movie lacked any flavourful colours. The scenes felt longer, especially in the not-so-easy-to-watch parts. This definitely provided a greater sense of reality in some scenes which bordered on the surreal.
It is a treat to find such a provoking and moving film. It's ashame that it hasn't gained the recognition it deserves.
Agreed. Completely.
shareI have to disagree with you though. I read some of reviews for this movie on rottentomatoes, and it really does sounds like they were stuck on the atmosphere and subject matter. (As opposed to the movie's great acting, presentation and atmosphere.)
Most of the reviewers had a problem with how depressing and apparently nihilistic the movie was. They didn't see the point. And there's also a lack of empathy or understanding for suicidal people in today's society; it's hard for people to identify with someone like Nancy. Then there's the SM stuff, which isn't see too often in a drama, I don't think. But I would argue that this movie does have value, because it shows us another aspect of human life. If you don't like that aspect and find it too depressing (or you're stuck up and "don't care" about it), that doesn't change the fact that it's relevant and valid.
That said, I think if this movie got a wider release and more people got to review it, you would see more positive reviews. Why? Because most of the people reviewing Downloading Nancy probably saw it at a film festival. Just imagine seeing something like Slumdog Millionaire, and then going to see Downloading Nancy shortly afterward. Of course people won't like it, because it's a sharp change in tone.
It's mentioned on the wikipedia page that Rufus Sewell commented on a lot of people actually walking out of the screening. That's just uncalled for, period. I don't care what the subject matter is, because this is art. What a lot of storks and peacocks these reviewers are.
Btw, I think it deserves a 7. Great acting all around; it's what carried this movie.
I think it's the fact that until you're in a similar situation personally, you couldn't possibly understand what goes on in someones head when you feel that way about your life and about yourself.
I guess that's why it's had mixed ratings, it takes personal experience on a deeper level to understand why someone could possibly be like that.
It disappoints me that it gets such average reviews by critics. It's a brilliant film, extremely well acted and very emotionally moving.
I haven't seen this yet, but I can also point to Mysterious Skin, which is one of the most jacked up depressing movies I've ever seen and it still managed to get a decent 7.9 average on IMDB. I think the previous poster's argument is valid.
sharestorks and peacocks?
shareCompared to people saying it was depressing, I just found the subject matter disturbing because the acting was so good it felt real. I felt present when this was all going on and it made me really uncomfortable. By far my favorite movie from last year.
shareJust saw it. Although I thought it was impressive, I can see where the reviews come from. There's not a shred of hope in this movie. I'm usually a fan of Feel Bad-Movies, but at least they should give the characters some kind of perspective, a small light at the end of the tunnel or at least somewhere during the movie, little moments of happiness. Not in this one. We start with depressed people and watch them marching on into eternal darkness.
shareHi there,
I saw this film 2 years ago at a filmfest, and I hated it. Let me explain.
First of all, I love the cinematographer. If you don't know who he is, he's worked with Gus Van Sant and Wong Kar Wai regularly. Absolutely amazing guy, maybe the best cinematographer living.
Second of all, I like all the actors. They are talented and have proven many times they're some of the best american actors out there.
Third of all, the subject matter is something I can relate to very well, especially because I dealt with such people and emotions in real life.
And boy, this film is probably one of the 5 wort films I have ever seen.
Let me explain.
First of, on a technical level, the film is well made... but it looks absolutely generic. There is nothing beautiful, haunting, innovative or inspiring about Doyle's work here, and same goes for the light, editing, music... it's all just a blob. It's not even realistic, it's taken to over-the-top extremes, which makes it even worse.
And this leads to my biggest problem with the film: THE SCRIPT IS BULLSH!T!!
We are told time and again how bad Nancy's situation in life is, how there is no way out, blah blah... BUT THERE IS!!
If you closely observe the film, the biggest problem this woman has with her life is her husband. Her husband, who is scripted like a character from a South Park episode, who rather plays golf than *beep* his wife, and once his wife is gone, goes *beep* insane, EVEN THOUGH HE DIDN'T CARE FOR HER AT ALL!!!
So the most likely conclusion would be to leave her husband and go look for something fulfilling in her life. Now, that's just me, but this is exactly how I have dealt with situations like this, both personally and as an advice to people I knew who were in these kinda situations: if the problem is too big - change your life for the better. Look for a new partner, look for a new place to live, look for a new job. But do something.
So what does Nancy do?
GOES INTO A DIY SUPERSTORE AND CUTS HERSELF WITH TACKS!!!
What I always hear in excuse of this film is how the film is received badly because it is depressing, hopeless, realistic and depressing - but all I saw was an artificial puppet show of over the top characters doing over the top things to hurt themselves instead of doing anything progressive whilst they had a choice. The characters are not human, they are merely a device for the director/screenwriter having a woman cut herself. There's no insight on what depression is or where it comes from, because the situations depicted are so over the top they can't be taken seriously.
When the film ended and the credits roll, there's a song played in the background - ironically, by the band of the director, as I found out later. It's a bad pseudo-Emo-pop song. And that's just what this film is. And attempt to cash in on something the director/scriptwriter has had no idea on.
If you want to see a truly great film on such a subject matter, maybe try the scandinavian ANGELS OF THE UNIVERSE, Tsukamoto's VITAL, LAST LIFE IN THE UNIVERSE or something by Lars von Trier. But this was bad, BAD kitsch.
EDIT: As for the tone, I saw it on a filmfestival that also showed POLYTECHNIQUE and SYMPATHY FOR MR. VENGEANCE and many films which really, REALLY depressed me and made me sad. So nope. No change in tone.
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VOTE JACOB'S LADDER INTO THE TOP 250's!!!
http://us.imdb.com/Title?0099871
...
So the most likely conclusion would be to leave her husband and go look for something fulfilling in her life. Now, that's just me, but this is exactly how I have dealt with situations like this, both personally and as an advice to people I knew who were in these kinda situations: if the problem is too big - change your life for the better. Look for a new partner, look for a new place to live, look for a new job. But do something.
So what does Nancy do?
GOES INTO A DIY SUPERSTORE AND CUTS HERSELF WITH TACKS!!!
What I always hear in excuse of this film is how the film is received badly because it is depressing, hopeless, realistic and depressing - but all I saw was an artificial puppet show of over the top characters doing over the top things to hurt themselves instead of doing anything progressive whilst they had a choice.
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Nancy was a deeply depressed compulsive, with PTSD.
These people exist.
These people cut themselves.
These people do not make "good" decisions.
Nancy was a complex and realistic creation.
If you just felt manipulated, then I wish I lived in the world you do... where people in pain make all the right choices.
I believed Nancy.
I've known people just like her.
Because that's what it deserves !
Boring trash. !
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