neamtzu_rau

This movie hits me on a very personal level.

It resembles much of my relationship with my father. I never knew why my father started or why he couldn't stop drinking. I am certain that not many IMDb users can relate to violent childhood memories but this film goes beyond that.

The poetic voice-over, the spectacular scenery, resembles Terrence Malick's doing and the violence on a Black & White screen, punctuated at key points in the story, resembles Quentin Tarantino's work.

I don't have much to say about this gem, but that it captures how it feels to be born in a family with a violent past and how good men chose to make different decisions in life.

It's spot on. Uncomfortably so.

Yet beautiful.

Thank you, Sean Brosnan

Not only does this flick promote clichés, demoting women to servile, selfless weaklings, only there to be used by selfish bastards (like our hero), it does so while pretending it's something new altogether.

Director Paul Negoescu's debut is no gem. It does not reinvent the wheel. It doesn't even pose any real, mature questions regarding the human condition.

Instead, all we get to see is banter. People wasting air and giving out ideas like they're nothing. Sure, life in Bucharest can be boring, but when you're as confusing an ex with your current GF, that's when problems emerge. It feels truncated somehow. The subtext is missing. I don't know, every love story needs an alibi.

You'll find none in this movie. And I'm being gentle.

Uhm, I loved the movie.

Mainly because its mission is honest, just like in real life, you're not suppose to like everyone you meet. Sure, Greenberg is an ass, but aren't we all, sometimes? Are we so much better than him? We all get scared even when we don't have to be and we all act out based on what scares us most.

In his case, failure & commitment were the biggest fears. And I can relate. I hate his guts and I would punch his lights out if I met him in person, but I can understand what makes him tick.

He's not a likable guy. So what?

This movie isn't about the Like button on Facebook. It's mainly about extremes and contrasts attracting each other. If anything, it made me feel in love with Florence.

Greta Gerwig has a terrific smile and she acted her role brilliantly. It makes me proud to say it's the first movie of its kind that made me fell in love with the female lead and not the male one. Because it's kinda hard not to relate to her.

Even if I'm more like Greenberg, as a personality , in real life, I would accept her immediately and be a hell of a lot nicer to her. Because she really 'ain't that bad'. She's like salt on your food (the character, not the actress)

She helps people because she can and she doesn't ask stuff back. That's rare, these days. And I loved it how she can take a 'beating'. Also, I don't think her relationship with Greenberg will last.

This movie has an open ending. It's like set in one of those time laps where you can't see the next step, and the next step before that.

So no, I don't think this movie was bad and people not getting it are not worthy of my time. Lots of dumb asses in this world are not worthy of my time.

So here's my two cents about it.