MovieChat Forums > Ballast (2008) Discussion > I'd like my 96 minutes back please Lance

I'd like my 96 minutes back please Lance

posted 14 years ago by arbydar
18 replies | jump to latest

I watched this movie last night with fairly high hopes. I didn't read all of Topher-Liam Froehlich's review of the movie, as it was starting to appear to gave a bit of the movie away. So the wife and I sat down and watched it, only knowing it was about people affected by a suicide.

In my opinion, these non-actors desperately needed a script. Lance Hammer's intention was for the "story to fall into place"? Don't get me wrong, the direction was good, being he was directing some people that had no idea what they were doing, to compose a story about something fairly tragic.

The viewer shouldn't need to know how the movie was created in order to develop an appreciation for it.

The whole movie though by the most part is slow, unintersting, unemotional and... gritty. Gritty in the sense that there's no soundtrack, and it would seem the sound people try to grab all the insignificant sounds around them, such as chip bags crinkling, grass and gravel munching & grinding, etc.

Essentially, I feel like I could've done alot more useful and thought provoking activities with my time, and if I could somehow retrieve those 96 minutes back, I desperately would.

[–] TermlnatriX 14 years ago

Well, what can I say - it is indeed unfortunate you felt this way in general about the film, not me though.

slow, uninteresting, unemotional and gritty - where you find them as negatives, I find them as positives. That is what makes the film what it is, it's a reflection on how life IS and not what it appears to be, especially around a location where the film has been shot in.

I have personally experienced a lot of the wandering in my early childhood as the kid - this film gets it right. I think people will appreciate it who like independent film, realism, and maybe even experience.

[–] timmy_501 14 years ago

Hey, you want your 96 minutes back. That's really clever, thanks for your contributions.

Call me Ishmael.

[–] stobin31 14 years ago

Must admit, I felt the very same way (let down). I thought I was going to just love this film, having not heard a negative thing about it. Perhaps as a result, this came up short for me. Very short. I really don't see what all the fuss is about. It felt very unfocused and I really didn't care for the hand-held camera work.

I didn't hate it, but...gosh. Very so-so.

[–] ilikefunnyrabbits 14 years ago

No, THAT'S clever. Thanks for that contribution!

[–] timmy_501 14 years ago

You must have them cracking up on the playground.

Same old walls closing in

[–] arbydar 14 years ago

For somebody that regards themselves so highly as a literature and cinema aficionado, I'm a little disappointed in the utter lack of constructive criticism coming from you, Tim.

There was a quote I read one time about sarcasm, and you may have already read this one: “A sarcastic person has a superiority complex that can be cured only by the honesty of humility.”

________________________________________________

As one who has experience with not one, but two suicide attempts in the family, I know that it doesn't desensitize you and leave you feeling lifeless like the way Lance wants you to believe. It fills you with sadness, rage, loss, confusion. Idly sitting by, watching the world turn, silently. I didn't see any of this occur, in both real world environments.

[–] timmy_501 14 years ago

Why would I answer something so silly and cliched as "I'd like my ... minutes back" with anything intelligent? If you want a real conversation find something less inflammatory to title your post with; what you have here is only the smallest of steps above "Worst Movie Evah!"

Not everyone handles trauma the same way. How do you know that your experience is the norm?

Dear Mom, I put a couple of people in Hell today...

[–] ionica12 14 years ago

and when finally, I find this treasure, a movie worth watching...i see this kind of comments. there is no chance for things to get better...
there is a thing called dogma. there is a thing called art. this movie is a master piece...go see it...go out, smell the fresh air and feed a dog at least once in your lifetime. talk to people. Lance you are one good human beeing, thank you.

[–] 14 years ago

[deleted]

[–] imdb-12297 14 years ago

96 ... plus the 4 to write this? LOL!

[–] 14 years ago

[deleted]

[–] TwanTwan87 14 years ago

See, this tells me you DIDN'T "get it". This movie, above all else, should win serious awards for its sound design. Every scene has a musical hum on a different pitch. Every scene finds some natural way to evoke emotion through sound without music. It is deliberate and calculated. It is breathtaking.
Also, this film, to me, is a lot like literature. It leaves a lot of those emotional peaks to be imagined, sure. That's what I love about it! I saw as much as I needed to of the Scene with Lawrence sitting with his neighbor. The rest I can infer. This film doesn't spoon feed you, to which I reply "THANK YOU!"

[–] gmacfilms 10 years ago

Perfectly said, TwanTwan87.

[–] m_tami17 14 years ago

Agree!

"Thieves get rich, saints get shot and god don't answer prayers a lot"

[–] Celluloid_Dreamer 14 years ago

Although I didn't hate this film, I can understand the OP's disappointment because it let me down as well. Don't tell me I didn't get it, I understand that it's supposed to be a slice of life, I understand that it's quietness reflects the environment that these people inhabit and the very nature of their lives, I get that and it's not the first movie that I've seen done this way. I was so happy when I bought this film and it just didn't move me. It's well made, beautifully shot and exceptionally acted by Tarra Riggs, the little boy was okay too, but Micheal J. Smith lacked conviction, almost every word he said sounded like a line reading during a rehearsal. Since it's a part of my collection I'll definitely give it another look, I think it's a film that my appreciation will grow for after repeated viewings but as for now I can't really say that it's great - aside from the cinematography and Riggs' performance.

http://addictedtocelluloid.blogspot.com/

[–] 14 years ago

[deleted]