What did you think of it? - The Half Life of Timofey Berezin (2007) Discussion

[–] grchereck 16 years ago

I don't care what anybody says -- I've been wanting to see this since I first heard about it, and I still do! It sounds like a good story, and Paddy and Radha are terrific actors.

I don't have HBO myself, but a friend of a friend is supposed to tape it for me; and even it doesn't work out, I'll be looking forward to the inevitable DVD release.

"I know I'm not normal -- but I'm trying to change!" ~ Muriel's Wedding

reply

[–] EndLessMike2 16 years ago

Very good and very sad.It's like the movie follows this character and you see him fall apart on screen.You don't like what he is doing but in a way you want him the sell the plutonium but you also don't want the deal to go down.The ending very quick and almost uninteresting but it tells how quickly things can fall apart in 1 day.The character of Shiv was also funny but like Timofey you see this guy live his regular life but in one day you see him fall apart.These two guys were the differant faces of the same quater characters.Just two normal guys good hearted guys doing the wrong thing to get money.

SAVE INVASION http://www.petitiononline.com/33030/petition.html

reply

[–] reviio 16 years ago

Terrible movie. The bad guys act way too hard to be bad, the dialogue is awful, and it kills off the two main characters for no too easily. No resolution, no closure, just utter crap

2/4

ANIME JA NAI

reply

[–] Darknight1080 16 years ago

I thought it was quite a good film. How boring of a person do you have to be to have the ending handed to you on a silver platter? Not everything has to be resolved in a film, most films that have open endings are the ones that are the most realistic and mirror life a little bit better.

reply

[–] univarn 16 years ago

I did enjoy the film for the most part, ended up giving it a 7 rating. I really think the Paddy Considine carried the film in an oscar worthy job, and the guy who played Shiv was really good as well. A relatively depressing film that I really felt ended too soon.

reply

[–] EndLessMike2 16 years ago

I think that people saw Shiv killed to easily.But the two guys are just ran out of time.Shiv ran out of time because of the money he owed.Timofey ran out of time in a ugly underground and with his own body.Two good guys doing bad things to help them out.As you saw it just never works.

SAVE INVASION http://www.petitiononline.com/33030/petition.html

reply

[–] 16 years ago

[deleted]

[–] grchereck 16 years ago

A friend of mine just gave me a taped copy, so I finally got to see it.

I wasn't disappointed -- Paddy and Radha's performances were as lovely and moving as I thought they would be, and Oscar Isaac, whom I had never seen before, was excellent as Shiv. The story was pretty fast-moving, and I liked how it balanced and contrasted Timofey and Shiv's parallel situations as it brought them together (Paddy and Oscar played off each other fairly believably), but I thought it ended rather quickly... All in all, it was a well-done piece of work, and well worth the wait.

"I know I'm not normal -- but I'm trying to change!" ~ Muriel's Wedding

reply

[–] lasraik 16 years ago

Very good and very touching movie.

Exellent all the way around. Most people saying it's boring are the same people who like explosions and boobies instead of an intelligent story and good acting.

reply

[–] frdbggns150 16 years ago

I loved it. I wish it was a little longer. It seemed short for the kind of film it was but I guess it goes with the story.

reply

[–] ojdidntdoit6 16 years ago

I'm going to assume it's ok to post spoilers. So...
*Spoiler warning*

Paddy Considine is one of my favorite actors but I have to say he really didn't impress me here (but it helps me realize that the man is the Gary Oldman of accents). His character just frusturated me for the wrong reasons. Was he a good husband? Yes. Was he doing the most he could for the good of his family? Yes. But why did he frusturate me? I don't know.

But Oscar Isaac was GREAT in my opinion. Especially in the scene where he dies. The acting was great, the music was great, it was like getting kicked in the stomach, just not expected.

And the other two criminals were a bit over-the-top but fun.

The first 2/3 of the movie was decent, but the last act really brought the movie up a notch.

reply

[–] sewiltz 16 years ago

I absolutely loved this movie! Like someone else on the board, I don't have HBO, but made a point to see it at my parents' home.

I thought this movie would be very good. It blew me away. Paddy Consindine's narration: Nuclear Poetry! I have mixed feelings about narration in film, but in this piece, the narration added a layer of beauty to an already beautiful piece.

The acting! Consindine and Isaac worked magic here, I thought. Mitchell and the actress who portrayed Oksana gave nuanced performances to what could have been flat roles. The Thai-loving gangster was a very interesting character. The only question marks were the Laurel & Hardy-like criminals and the tennis-loving criminal. Jason Fleming (sp?) was brilliant as always, but sometimes I felt that the comic relief of those characters was inappropriate. However, I did not think that the storyline wrap-up with the criminals was funny in any way; it was tragic.

To me, this movie is a piece of art.

reply

[–] thegreatgazoo-1 16 years ago

Very good movie of a plausible situation. 7/10 and I rate a little conservative for the most part.

reply

[–] firemaple 16 years ago

I agree -- I really enjoyed it. It was even better than Kalfus's story.

reply

[–] areo64-1 16 years ago

I enjoyed it. It kind of climaxed quickly but I like the parralel story lines that converged. Moving, too.

reply

[–] wittywarrior 16 years ago

I thought it was really good. I thought it was funny, touching, and also thrilling. To me it had just the right balance. And I thought the acting was really spot on.

reply

[–] anita-blake-1 15 years ago

Great movie!!!Verry touching and sad too.I acciedlty caughted it on HBO and i was impressed by it a lot :)

What do you do when the only person who can help you stop crying,is the one that made you cry?

reply

[–] xgreenlungsx 16 years ago

Great movie, great acting, great soundtrack and visuals.. how you could not like this movie is beyond me..

reply

[–] 16 years ago

[deleted]

[–] redskiesz 16 years ago

To me, it seems like the writer had a great story in his head, but just couldn't put it down on paper. At many times it seemed confused and directionless. It had good moments, good cinematography, and a great soundtrack, but none of those disguised the fact that, on the whole, the movie was a very good idea soured by poor writing.

reply