On the Edge

In a way, On the Edge is a wasted potential, but it's hardly a film that should be avoided.

Its main problem is the fact it doesn't offer anything new. Patients in the mental institution, group therapy, doctors, rebellious patient that just doesn't want to follow the routine. That's right: we've seen it all, and we've seen it better; One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is simply too memorable and impossible to forget when watching one of the films about mental institutions.

On the Edge also feels a bit rushed, as if 30 minutes of it is missing. This doesn't let us get to know characters better or understand their stories.

But the film isn't completely bad. Stephen Rea does make us believe he's a doctor, and it's possible to sense a real person behind the professional persona, even if we never get to know much, if anything, about him. But the real heart of the film is Cillian Murphy, who manages to make his Jonathan as complex as the script allows him to.

He brings warmth, honesty and sarcasm to his character, without being over the top, even in extreme situations. Cillian Murphy is one of those actors who can speak with their eyes, and in this early role he proves himself as a talented actor that should not be overlooked.

This is not what you would call an average Irish film where ordinary people fight poverty, or kids gets dragged into nasty criminal business. The film seems to have gotten some bad reviews and I can only guess that this is because these people did not look hard enough. As the saying goes; 'the truth lies in the eyes of the beholder'. No, this film features something completely and utterly different. The film circulates around trust and what you can and what you can not do for a person depraved of the will to live. It touches the subject of trust very elegantly. Both romance and friendship is a part of the film, they do not take a leading purpose of the story but are always present in the background.

I was awestruck by the beauty of this film, it struck the bullseye of my heart. I am guessing that if you have ever known a very depressed soul this movie has a lot to teach you.

There doesn't seem to be enough good movies about the mental asylum anymore. While this film will inevitably be compared to Girl, Interrupted, it really shouldn't be. Girl, Interrupted focuses on girls going crazy, while this movie is mainly focused on three young adult characters trying to figure out how to deal with traumatic amounts of pain after losing a significant other.

The quick story is that a person named Jonathan cracks after his father passes away and attempts to kill himself by taking a stolen car and driving off cliff yet still manages to survive. He is sent to a place for the criminally insane to get rehabilitate. This movie tries to be both a love story & a coming of age story, but I don't know at times which its trying to be. The main plot is that Jonathan is attracted to a patient named Rachel who also has a thing with blood. Jonathan becomes a friend with Toby and they seem to become best friends. Whenever the two would be together, Toby would end up getting in trouble and Jonathan would have to bail him out. I found this subplot to be much stronger in the film and feel it should of been explored a lot further. Another turnoff was the relationship between Toby and Rachel that was barely scratched on yet was a major turning point (no spoiler here) during the film.

The main point of the film was Jonathan learning about himself, how he affects over people, and the changes of good & bad things happening to people. With a great soundtrack of music put in this film, this is recommended film to people who are 16-28 dealing with issues about life, death, losing someone important, and suicide. Just be sure not to bring a significant other, as this is not a date movie.

On the Edge is a very unique film that you will not soon forget. From the very beginning I was captivated by the story and its characters. The characters are true to life as are the issues they are facing so it was very easy for me to identify with them. I was impressed by the performances of all three of the main actors, Cillian Murphy, Tricia Vessey and Jonathan Jackson. If I have any complaints about the film at all it would have to be that Jonathan Jackson should have been given top billing since it is his character, Toby, who is the true heart of the film.

i am tired of going into details on films . Cillian Murphy is captivating. The comedy is brilliant in timing and delivery and Stephen Rea plays it low profile in this film. Such constant and well done comedic content is based around young adults whon in despair do not wish to live and are institutionalised for it. (which is rare enough to find mental health assistance in ireland). the main character starts out wanting to end his life , commits sarcasm and jokes on all serious matters to hide his pain. He then through a series of life's common events, grows to appreciate life in a most touching way. as they say Tragedy Plus Time Equals Comedy" which seems to make a premise of this film yet for the character, his comedy stemming from pain grows to enlightenment. anyone who can understandably see the levels of mental depression in ireland that go without treatment can , i hope , relate to the issue at hand and appreciate the ability to laugh at life as well as treasure it. anyway this is how i interpret it, ( nothing worse than a critic, lol) ;-)