MovieChat Forums > Black Pond (2011) Discussion > Pretty poor

Pretty poor

posted 12 years ago by quirkyrecords
7 replies | jump to latest

The story, concept and execution was all over the place.

Simon Amstell's character was an appalling decision, used only to add some extra time, the documentary talking heads was outright bad storytelling in trying to add realism due to the story being so dull, any synopsis of the film gave you the entire plot - the rest of the film was character development of some weak characters. An unhappy couple with their polar opposite daughters, their weird friend, and the crazy guy they meet and seemingly invite to live with them for the next 3 days.

It really had no story, I was waiting for something interesting to happen with the death but it never came and was truly underwhelming when he did die. Then I realised that the film was meant to be about an unhappy couple and how unhappy they were and thats just a really poor waste of what could be a decent black comedy, or mystery film or something.

Langham is a funny actor, he made me laugh a couple of times but the rest of the cast were poor, the script was fine and did ok with realism but there is nothing interesting about arguing couples who argue just because they dont love each other any more. Two people falling out of love is not an interesting plot.

The daughters were pointless, their friend was pointless, amstell was less than pointless, the crazy guy made no real sense and was thoroughly uninteresting or mysterious.

It felt like an overly long and incohesive episode of 'Doctors' or some other daytime ITV soap.

[–] n1cl0las 12 years ago

[–] chriscoates 12 years ago

everyone's entitled to their opinion.
but inflicting such a poorly written opinion on others is inexcusable.

____________________________________
"...needless to say, I had the last laugh."

[–] quirkyrecords 12 years ago

Ah yes, the old "defend the right to opinions then criticise the writing". Very mature.

I am no professional writer, and you are welcome to act like an adult and counter my thoughts, but resorting to attacks on my writing ability is pathetic, especially as it was written late at night on a phone, making it difficult to type properly.

[–] chriscoates 12 years ago

"...resorting to attacks on my writing ability is pathetic, especially as it was written late at night on a phone, making it difficult to type properly. "

good god, man. do you have any idea how pathetic you sound?

____________________________________
"...needless to say, I had the last laugh."

[–] quirkyrecords 12 years ago

Right, you attack my writing style and I defend it and I am the only one who sounds pathetic?

Why even bring it up to start with?

Its the same old tactics, someone doesn't agree with something they read so they attack a different aspect.

Just talk about the film or keep your personal attacks to yourself.

[–] marlee-4 12 years ago

I actually agree with you on a lot of points but think it's in its place to point out that this film was basically made by two guys on a micro budget, some of the footage is even dslr.

I think they deserve heaps of kudos for actually pulling this off. Next time I'm sure they will do better when it comes to character arcs (which I agree was just not there).

Looking forward to what they come up with next :)

[–] quirkyrecords 12 years ago

I will always champion people for making films on the cheap, especially when they get them released and seen by the wider public.

But a script doesn't cost anything to make (in theory), and thats where the main fault of the film is.

You can write a great script without any money. As you will have noticed I didn't criticise the production value, budget or quality of the production, just the film as a film.

Obviously it can help to have money, but you dont get trusted with that as a director unless you can show what you can do with a limited budget.

Their next film will have to improve drastically before anyone gives them a proper budget to work with.