15 Bewertungen
- BronzeKeilani26
- 7. Okt. 2008
- Permalink
I saw the movie just because I generally like the subject: Ripple Effect. I mean, it's appealing... the idea of unpredictable chains of events.
But I have to admit this movie was horrible. Not because it is a low budget movie, but because they completely ignored the audience. The main character is so unattaching that you cannot really relate to him (worsened by the really poor acting of Mr. Calland). Furthermore, the story is so abstract it becomes meaningless. Then there is nothing to attach to than vague monologues (not even particularly mentally stimulating) of Forest Whitaker (which, together with Virginia Madsen, may be the only two that do the minimum in this movie to deserve the title of actor).
This movie might be interesting as an exercise for some directing class in the University, but not for release as a commercial title. The movie is so self-centered in its futile exercise of movie-making that it completely obliterates the viewer... and when that happens... there's just no turning back. Fast forward... really fast.
But I have to admit this movie was horrible. Not because it is a low budget movie, but because they completely ignored the audience. The main character is so unattaching that you cannot really relate to him (worsened by the really poor acting of Mr. Calland). Furthermore, the story is so abstract it becomes meaningless. Then there is nothing to attach to than vague monologues (not even particularly mentally stimulating) of Forest Whitaker (which, together with Virginia Madsen, may be the only two that do the minimum in this movie to deserve the title of actor).
This movie might be interesting as an exercise for some directing class in the University, but not for release as a commercial title. The movie is so self-centered in its futile exercise of movie-making that it completely obliterates the viewer... and when that happens... there's just no turning back. Fast forward... really fast.
- cyanopicacyana
- 6. März 2009
- Permalink
The only reason I picked this up was Forrest Whitaker. I've seen several of his straight-to-DVD items and they're usually interesting to very good.
I don't know if I want to know the background of this, 'cause I probably would get angrier. I would have to assume the director, writer and star (one guy) is Mr. Whittaker's and Ms. Driver's celestial guru, or some nonsense like that.
It doesn't help that the "hero" starts out as an arrogant douche who insists on calling his wife and child "beybee" 60 times in the first 1/2 hour. All that was missing was the gold chain around his neck.
So this guy runs his business into the ground, despite the fact that everyone around him loves him. They really love him. Adore him. It helps that he's also the writer telling his actors to love him. I don't.
Then, at his breaking point, he has to right a wrong he did years ago. That's holding him back, although it's unrelated to the present events.
(I should say it was entertaining to hear Ms. Driver fall into various accents throughout the film.)
Then another 40 minutes of blahblahblah and we're done.
Many other reviewers were basically calling this "intellectual" Sure. They just forgot the word "claptrap".
At least the star/director/writer is consistent. A consistently bad actor, writer, and director.
I don't know if I want to know the background of this, 'cause I probably would get angrier. I would have to assume the director, writer and star (one guy) is Mr. Whittaker's and Ms. Driver's celestial guru, or some nonsense like that.
It doesn't help that the "hero" starts out as an arrogant douche who insists on calling his wife and child "beybee" 60 times in the first 1/2 hour. All that was missing was the gold chain around his neck.
So this guy runs his business into the ground, despite the fact that everyone around him loves him. They really love him. Adore him. It helps that he's also the writer telling his actors to love him. I don't.
Then, at his breaking point, he has to right a wrong he did years ago. That's holding him back, although it's unrelated to the present events.
(I should say it was entertaining to hear Ms. Driver fall into various accents throughout the film.)
Then another 40 minutes of blahblahblah and we're done.
Many other reviewers were basically calling this "intellectual" Sure. They just forgot the word "claptrap".
At least the star/director/writer is consistent. A consistently bad actor, writer, and director.
SHOOT that other reviewer...you have my permission... i fast forwarded through most of the film past the first 35 minutes and it was STILL some of the most painful 50 minutes of my life... and i've had dental surgery with no anesthetic... i'll tell you what happened here. some wannabee hollywooder has some money and somehow gets a few decent(actually, very good...even if they didn't get to show their abilities in THIS film) actors, one with a big name, to be in his film... VOILA...you're a 'hollywooder'. and THEN someone OBviously connected to the film, and this happens WAY too often to my liking...it's just gotten more and more obvious that this is the case, since i KNEW from the quality of the writings i've seen that these people are not illiterate...so they KNOW they're reviewing a piece of crap, even though they're praising it to kingdom come... someone i assume is connected to the film writes a glowing review... or even SEMI glowing... i kept on thinking...OK. so when is the real movie going to start... that's 10 lines, right? i've wasted enough time on this piece of crap but i HAD to set people right since there was only one review before this and i would like to save OTHERS my experience...
- imizrahi2002
- 24. Juli 2008
- Permalink
A terribly tedious film equipped with a top line cast that still couldn't save this film.
Terribly unbelievable story line, unconvincing characters and the lead character who is also the film producer and director should serve as warning to avoid.
A film self published as this one is for a good reason and indicator the studios rejected it the way antibodies attack and eliminate microbes from invading the body and the studios did their best to keep this film from impeding cinematic audience.
A tire sales pamphlet is more interesting and a better use of your time.
Terribly unbelievable story line, unconvincing characters and the lead character who is also the film producer and director should serve as warning to avoid.
A film self published as this one is for a good reason and indicator the studios rejected it the way antibodies attack and eliminate microbes from invading the body and the studios did their best to keep this film from impeding cinematic audience.
A tire sales pamphlet is more interesting and a better use of your time.
- eaglespear
- 10. Juni 2010
- Permalink
Not sure what the money was spent on if the budget was actually $12 million. I suspect that this reported budget is actually just stated as such as a play on the reported finance needed in the film for the protagonist's project?
Whilst the story line that an event could have a further impact on your life is interesting unfortunately the film does not really explore this in any meaningful manner with the characters involved, which is a pity as the character development was good, albeit a bit slow. As a result it become a very underwhelming tale.
I have given 4 stars as the music score was good, the acting was reasonable and assuming the budget was lower than reported on IMDb, it is not badly made, just the story line lets it down.
Whilst the story line that an event could have a further impact on your life is interesting unfortunately the film does not really explore this in any meaningful manner with the characters involved, which is a pity as the character development was good, albeit a bit slow. As a result it become a very underwhelming tale.
I have given 4 stars as the music score was good, the acting was reasonable and assuming the budget was lower than reported on IMDb, it is not badly made, just the story line lets it down.
- starman-wa
- 18. Apr. 2025
- Permalink
What great plot to developing a fine movie but a miscasting put the whole thing running away, firstly the picture loose time on endless family matters, the main actor didn't delivery properly and the Forest Whitaker wasn't enough plausive as the victim, Minnie Driver sexy than never didn't look the right choice to the role, anyway the all ellements are disagreement with the concept predetermined and the results are predicable under such condition, but something could be takes from this movies, Minnie singing, the old saying told by the main character and finally the message of forgiveness is high point, it should be better!!!
Resume:
First watch: 2018 / How many: 1 / Source: DVD / Rating: 6.5
Resume:
First watch: 2018 / How many: 1 / Source: DVD / Rating: 6.5
- elo-equipamentos
- 18. Nov. 2018
- Permalink
It's a long time since my last comment but I felt it is necessary to write something for this beautiful, sensitive, meaningful and exceptional movie.
The strange thing is many have written almost worse-than-negative and because of my respect for common idea, I cannot and will not fight with them...
...No, actually my problem is why people are getting more nonsense and more stupid day by day??!!
With all due respect to Hollywood productions like fantastic 4, The Dark Knight and many many other movies (which I have seen and will see and enjoy), it is a sin even to compare this movie with them.
This movie is a dramatic, meaningful movie which benefits from its good acts (almost all the actors and actresses are great, specially Forest Whitaker and Philippe Caland), its really nice and well-tailored story, its exceptional music and every other aspects of cinematography that I can remember.
All I can think that people are so unkind to this movie is just conspiracy!! and I do not know why.
I STRONGLY RECOMMEND TO WATCH THIS MOVIE FOR THOSE WHO THINK THEY CAN THINK....
The strange thing is many have written almost worse-than-negative and because of my respect for common idea, I cannot and will not fight with them...
...No, actually my problem is why people are getting more nonsense and more stupid day by day??!!
With all due respect to Hollywood productions like fantastic 4, The Dark Knight and many many other movies (which I have seen and will see and enjoy), it is a sin even to compare this movie with them.
This movie is a dramatic, meaningful movie which benefits from its good acts (almost all the actors and actresses are great, specially Forest Whitaker and Philippe Caland), its really nice and well-tailored story, its exceptional music and every other aspects of cinematography that I can remember.
All I can think that people are so unkind to this movie is just conspiracy!! and I do not know why.
I STRONGLY RECOMMEND TO WATCH THIS MOVIE FOR THOSE WHO THINK THEY CAN THINK....
- ShahramMirkhani
- 11. Okt. 2008
- Permalink
GOOD MOVIE....and unlike the guy before, i didn't fast forward through it, I WATCHED IT. if you decide to see ripple effect while receiving phone calls, cooking dinner or fast forwarding through it, there are so many more titles I would recommend for such an evening. Ripple effect is a movie about characters, that cannot be defined in "genre" terms. It is not an action/drama/comedy/horror/etc...kind of movie that fills the pipes and feeds the tiger, and as a result, may not find broad appeal. At first I was engaged by the writing and the acting, but I gradually realized that I was watching a special movie that tried to (and managed to) be different from everything else....and for that alone, hats off to all who made it happen. I have great admiration for the main cast forest whitaker/virginia madsen/ minnie driver, for taking a leap of faith with this film....stars of that level usually don't venture into such "out of the box" movies, but ripple effect worked for me, and I am sure that others who WATCH it, will feel the same.
- jackcornieth
- 1. Aug. 2008
- Permalink
I don't think it was a bad film at all.
I don't usually like to comment on films, I think it's all kind of silly. I like to see the film and make up my own mind.
I just read "imizrahi2002" comment and I don't know why some people are so angry over a film. There seems to be a lot of upset people on IMDb. I guess "imizrahi2002" was in reaction to "jotix100" over glowing review. Dunno....
It's true the film is no Gone With the Wind or anything, but the film does have it charms.
I thought it was a nice simple emotional film with a good heart.
I don't usually like to comment on films, I think it's all kind of silly. I like to see the film and make up my own mind.
I just read "imizrahi2002" comment and I don't know why some people are so angry over a film. There seems to be a lot of upset people on IMDb. I guess "imizrahi2002" was in reaction to "jotix100" over glowing review. Dunno....
It's true the film is no Gone With the Wind or anything, but the film does have it charms.
I thought it was a nice simple emotional film with a good heart.
- hell-no-productions
- 2. Aug. 2008
- Permalink
A bit shocked by the very negative review at the beginning. This is a very thoughtful, insightful movie. It feels very Buddhist in the sense that you cannot freeze any event in life and say whether or not it is a good or bad thing. Life exists in flow and bad turns to good and the reverse is also true. Those who are most free in life are those that let the past be what it was and choose to use it as a series of opportunities to learn how to live more deeply. There is a powerful intersection of two lives at the beginning of the film that shatters two lives in that moment. But both people use the event differently and when the opportunity is created to reconnect their lives, how each of them deal with it comes to light. "There is nothing evil but that thinking makes it so" all life is interpretation of events that are just events.
- john-987-267311
- 25. Feb. 2011
- Permalink
This was a great movie in my opinion, and like another user stated if your like the masses rating movies 4 and 5 stars like UP and Dark Knight and rear window you maybe be disappointed in this gem, My idea of a 4 or 5 star movies = Fight Club, 25th hour, Magnolia, Sin City, Pulp Fiction, American Beauty, Usual Suspects, 300, Requiem for a Dream, Taxi Driver, Waking Life, What the bleep do we know, Matrix, Angel Heart, American Psycho, Office Space, The Wall, Slacker, Tape, Before the Devil knows your dead, Mo better blues, Swingers, Sixth Sense, Trainspotting, One flew over cuckoos nest,Usual Suspects,Kill Bill, Seven..well you get the idea..If your taste is like mine you'll probably love this movie.
- cinemama745
- 10. Dez. 2008
- Permalink