Benjamin

Phenix Brossard gives power to one of the finest love scenes on film. Like the magic of the love scene in Louis Malle's ' Les Amants ' it happens in a bath. Two people in a bath together and then the moment arrives which made this a perfect film for me. Phenix Brossard says ( to my ears, although the copy I saw with French subtitles translates as ' Bonjour ' ) almost inaudibly ' I love you ' and in that split second I saw a totally new way of expressing those time old words. The whole scene expresses it even if the word ' love ' is not said and it was in my own imagination. Let those who see it decide. In fact his whole performance radiated an inner glow that shows up the lack of depth of the people ( not the actors ) around him. All the hypocrisy of the ' cultured ' and pretentious London media scene with its overnight failures and successes has rarely been so accurately portrayed. The hypocrisy of words insincerely felt, the tantrums, and I got the feeling that Noah played by Brossard sensed it all. The one scene of real talent is when he plays a prelude by Shostakovich and you know for once the applause is justified, and there is nothing London trendy about it. I want to congratulate Simon Amstell for such a perfect gem of a film. Now to get to the core of what I am trying to say. Colin Morgan gives a brilliant performance and he truly deserves all the praise he gets from his acting, but for me the acting that went beyond acting was Brossard and without him in the film it would not have had that special quality rarely achieved in a performance; a real sense of being. And to those who think the film is cliched, then see it again and not through a glass darkly. If there are awkward moments they are negligible, and the entire cast were well chosen. As for the ending Brossard urges Morgan into a very, very powerful affirmation and for a while after the film had finished I saw Paris. There is a lot of pretentiousness in Paris but somehow Noah ( an appropriate name ) will save Benjamin from being out of his depth. A deeply moving love story.

Nothing predictable here. Really enjoyed this quirky and unusual Rom-Com. Nearly every major character is "weird" in their own special way. Everything flows smoothly and lead actor does a BRILLIANT job.

I found the two pivotal scenes PURE GENIUS: 1.) Bathtub scene and 2.) closing scene. Showing that once you shut up and get out of your own head; you can break through and truly LIVE!!

LOVED THIS

Small, original, quirky and very well crafted film about an odd, smart and sweet young filmmaker falling in love. I loved the oddball writing and the performances, particularly the lead, Colin Morgan. He plays this unconventional character very well. Phénix Brossard and Jack Rowan are both new to me, but they were both very appealing. Joel Fry, who I am familiar with, is a good actor who retains his offbeat sense of humor, but his character is the one that eluded me. I don't think the role is very clearly conceived. I'd never heard of this, which is a shame as it should be seen by more. Loved the bathtub scene, but it has a few special moments. Short, unusual, touching and recommended.

I love this film. Some complain about the cliche storyline. Might be, but the story touched me.

An essential element of the film, I will say is the awkwardness. There are so many scenes make you feel the awkwardness is going out of the screen, but I like it. Whoever haven't met awkward situations like that, especially when you are, somehow social phobia. All those scenes make me feel alive, and real. And I know what's it like feeling incapable of love, you lock yourself in case you hurt others or let anyone hurts you. I'd say I fully understand Ben, feel his pain and happyness, his odd behavior. Thanks Simon for just letting me know I'm not alone. And thanks Colin's excellent performance, what a sweet boy!

I'm sat here trying to think of anything i liked about this movie. I guess the cat was cute? Cliched on so many levels and littered with unlikable hipster knobs. One or two belly laughs, and one or two really uncomfortable moments. The whole thing is laced with self-obsessed millennial misery. You wouldn't want to spend any time with any of these people. It wants to be tender and deep, but it's just empty cliche after cliche scored with a grating soft melancholic piano. If you want to see a movie about someone struggling to be open to love, watch 'Gods Own Country'. I've been a big fan of Simon Amstells for a long, but if this drivel is the best he's got, i hope he sticks to stand up and leaves movies alone.