MovieChat Forums > Frownland (2008) Discussion > Fractionally better than...

Fractionally better than...

posted 16 years ago by badgerking10
3 replies | jump to latest

... spending the evening watching crappy French tele in a Nantes hotel-room... Yes - last night, I had the choice of "Frownland" at Nantes' Katorza art cinema or an evening of the direness that is currently being dished up for the TV-audience of France... I think "Frownland" was just worth leaving the hotel for. But, really, it is a car-crash of a film... Every character repelled and bored me, nothing happened, there was far too much snot, it looked so dated [despite apparently only having been made last year], etc., etc... I think the acting was OK - as far as it went - and I'm more than happy to turn a blind eye to a slightly grainy picture and an obviously low budget if the film-maker has got something genuinely interesting to say. [In fact, I'd encourage such film-makers, as we really do need an alternative to Hollywood.] But, a film needs to engage me much better than "Frownland" managed to.

MILD SPOILERS

Actually, I just was starting to get into it a weeny bit when the guy gatecrashed that rowdy party and I was like: "WTF..?!" Then, I lost interest completely... Right at the end, presumably the viewer is left to decide whether he's going to head off and sort his life out or chuck himself off the building. But, I'm afraid I really didn't care.

[–] Ice-Exile 15 years ago

^^^This review is exactly right on. I agree completely other than the part about French TV.

[–] stobin31 15 years ago

I thought this movie was great in a way that most indie movies of today aren't anymore. I would highly recommend it without hesitation to anyone interested in off-beat cinema. Particularly, if you like the wild, gutsy underground cinema of the 70's and 80's, which is totally what this recalls.

[–] agreatbigwave 14 years ago

i agree. I couldn't believe it was really filmed this decade, the way it was filmed, the clothes, internet cafes. Also, i was really not ever bored watching this whole film. I was captivated. The reason i enjoyed this movie so much, and perhaps the reason that others very much dislike it (apparently the guy at the topped began writing a review before he finished watching it)--the reason i enjoyed it is because i've had a trouble enough trouble of my own--stuff that can't be explained--that i look to art and movies of a darker hue to gain perspective. The ending was kind of expected. But getting there was the best part.