Das Glück des Augenblicks

Ah, the new movie starring Gerard Butler, the poor man's Clive Owen, always up for some good all-American entertainment that makes you think but also makes you smile. This one's about a headhunter whose life revolves around closing deals in survival-of-the-fittest boiler room. He battles his top rival for control of the company, but then his oldest child falls seriously ill. Also starring, Gretchen Mol as the loving but ever-suffering wife, Willem Dafoe as the ruthless boss, Alison Brie as the rival and Alfred Molina as the token solid supporting male character. First and foremost, „A Family Man" is a genre movie, which means it's produced and put together of clichés in hope of finding a suitable mainstream audience. The approach is pretty solid one, using several drama subgenres in order to appeal to wider circle of cinema-goers, including sick child story, a middle class American success story, finding yourself again story and some „Wall Street" type high-octane competence porn. The execution is actually pretty solid too. The able cast are doing their darndest best to act through all the material, and there's a lot of it. 108 minute movie may feel quite a bit longer, at least for those who have seen way too many movies to take all these clichés and workmanlike storytelling seriously. On the other hand, those who still watch movies as just a nice way of passing time, or aren't tired of bland dramas made of middle- class dreams and aspirations, can definitely find some entertainment here. They don't even have to think how to feel because the movie manipulates you in all the right directions at the right time. I am taking a wild guess that "A Family Man" is most suitable for girlish audience, but it will also surely feel in the right place when it's 2 am and you're desperately trying to find something new to watch with Butler starring in it. He's a doing a fine job too, the whole result relies on his manly charm and grunting. All in all, there's nothing wrong with „A Family Man". It's just there's nothing terribly exciting either, with the creative bar set relatively low and all. I hope I didn't sound too ironic here or something, I quite liked the movie for what it is.

The story line was very predictable and the acting was just about watchable. People living the dog eat dog world of money and consumerism who plan or have a family should watch this.This move is a must watch for the content not the music or acting. Gerard Butler aka "The Headhunter" performance deserves 5/10 for confirming the greed of the headhunting business.

This film tells the story of a successful headhunter, who puts his career first and family second. The unexpected illness of his son makes him re-evaluate his priorities and decisions in his life.

I find this film unexpectedly good. Both Gerard Butler and Gretchen Mol are very good in their roles as heartbroken parents. In addition, Gerard Butler delivers the intensity of a ruthless career man who is charismatic on the outside, but not as beautiful in the inside. The plot is captivating and touching. I really enjoyed watching it.

A correct film not only for acting, storytelling, twist and atmosphere but for the science to remind significant things. A direct and honest way to propose the fair suggestion when, so often, the family life is in balance with profesional suces and, at first sigh, all seems very, very simple. A good story and the perfect cast.

Everyone of these characters has depth and is very well textured.

There really wasn't a minor character. There were extras of course but the small selection of characters each had at least two scenes showing 2 different traits that added richness to themselves and to what they had to offer to the primary story line.

Even among the films available to fans of the 2016 festival this one stands out.

A better example of character building I have not seen at this festival. Every film maker has something to learn from watching this film.

So very well done - thank you.