Charlie Countryman

On balance I think I enjoyed "Charlie Countryman", though it sure was a bizarre film that left me confused. It's NOT a film more most audiences and is for someone willing to look at a film that comes at them from all sorts of strange directions.

The film stars Shia LaBeouf--and he's a very strange actor that is hard to categorize. Sure, he made fluff Hollywood pieces like the Transformer movies--but he also made this small film as well as the sex-filled films "Nymphomaniac 1" as well as Nymphomaniac 2" with famed Danish director Lars von Trier. There's just no telling where he'll show up next!

"Charlie Countryman" starts with the death of Charlie's estranged mother. Oddly, just after she dies, he (LaBeouf) sitting in the hall outside her hospital room--and she comes to talk to him! She's been a mostly absent mother and he asks for some advice from her and she tells him to go to Bucharest, Romania.

On the trip there, the nice guy sitting next to him dies in his sleep. But, like earlier, the dead guy then has a conversation with Charlie-- asking him to take a very silly hat to his daughter (Evan Rachel Wood). He does this but somehow has convinced himself that there MUST be more to the story than this--some other, higher purpose. So, although this daughter pushes him away and her husband terrifies Charlie because he's a psycho mobster (Mads Mikkelsen--in a very scary role). And, again and again, Charlie is nearly killed by the mobster and his goons...but he continues seeking out the girl, as he's SURE there is a purpose to their meeting and being together.

Along the way, there are a lot of violent and nude scenes--far more than in a typical R-rated film. It is not for the squeamish or prudish, that's for sure. In addition to LaBeouf and Mikkelsen stretching their comfort zones in acting, Rupert Grint plays a drug-abusing strange person...and I mean STRANGE. There are tons of things to offend you in this one, a confusing and strange plot, weird characters and Bucharest-- one of the least touristy towns in the world. I kind of liked it because the film took so many risks and because the music was great. But, there was an awful lot that just seemed to not quite belong as well. For the viewer who is looking for something different...very, very, very different.

This movie really surprised me; I think this was one of , if not THE best Shia LaBeouf performance (looking forward for nymphomaniac).

The story is pretty simple and suffers from some plot holes but the movie strangely kept me glued to the sit wondering where Shia LeBeouf's journey of self discovering in the unknown city of Bucharest will get him.

The casting choice for the lead female role was a little odd, (i think it would've worked a little better with a more "traditional hot"-looking girl) Also noted should be the brilliant soundtrack of this movie (especially Moby's contribution). must listen: Moby -- After (Drumsound & Bassline Smith Remix) from the subway chase scene.

To sum up, this movie was a very nice surprise, the kind that keeps me watching and trying to discover the unappreciated beauty in the not-so-mainstream movies.

My Rating - 8/10

Dark Mysterious tale well cast well acted just odd enough to be diffident from the mainstream. Perfect locations were sort and used to full effect giving a realist feel to this movie. Breathing life into a film that stands head and shoulders above many a middle of the road attempt of this sort of strange super natural oddball movie. Elements of genesis are running through it with clever one liners from a unhinged gangster played to great effect.To sum up this film reminded me why i watch so many movies in a hope to fine one like this as good as this nowadays seems about one great movie in 25 or so movies watched.

Nigh on impossible to categorize, kookier than a Tim Burton Halloween party, an at times borderline incoherent shambles and a film destined for a life time in the Cult selection of cinema, Fredrik Bond's energetic and unique The Necessary Death of Charlie Countryman is an absolute blast of fresh air that despite all its many faults and inadequacies is a film well worth tracking down for its undeniable charms and ability to never conform to expectations.

The story at the centre of Charlie Countryman feels no need to adhere to much formal structure or the ABC's of movie storytelling and fly's the line between being a straight up drama, a love story, a frenetic thriller and some type of modern day fairy tale where the dead talk and Mads Mikkelsen wears a vast array of insane shirts with a highlight being his sausage dog getup. Charlie's journey to Bucharest is undertaken because his dead mum told him to go there and once there the story continues to surprise, frustrate and involve in equal measure and Bond has such a keen eye for not only the eye-popping visual (a scene where Charlie and his new friends Luc and Carl played by the Inbetweeners Buckley and a very naughty wizard in the form of Grint first party a particular highpoint) but a great feel for the pace and structure of the film that you can't help but go along with all its craziness and you'll find yourself asking internally "since when has Shia LaBeouf been so tolerable?".

In a role that showcases a talent that is missing far too often in his other projects LaBeouf delivers here in what could be his best role outside of kids classic Holes. Charlie is clearly a messed up person and LaBeouf plays him to perfection with the right amount of vulnerability, smarts and craziness that while hard to relate to is always watchable. LaBeouf is well supported by the other cast members and in particular by a menacing Mads Mikkelsen who continues to impress in everything he does. Mikkelsen's role of drug dealing gangster Nigel is a strange one but fits in well with the films tone. Evan Rachael Wood is perhaps the films weak link in a role that doesn't exactly click in the ways we needed for the love story to be more involving.

Not for everyone and as stated early filled with many various faults The Necessary Death of Charlie Countryman is also more enjoyable the countless other films released on a week to week basis. A fine debut film by director Bond and a role that shows LaBeouf can in fact act and act well, Charlie Countryman should be sort out but perhaps not by Harry Potter fans who wish to remember Ron Weasley as a clean cut ginger wizard not a budding adult movie star called Boris Pecker.

3 and a half hard partying Ronald Weasley's out of 5

The movie is dumb and disappointing. Shia LeBouf did a commendable job but his character in the film was extremely annoying. There was barely any plot and the director didn't bother fleshing out any of the characters. All the characters were one dimensional. I watched this movie with zero expectations and yet I ended up disappointed. The ending sucked. The only redeeming quality of this film was Mads Mikkelson. Sadly he was given barely any screen times.