464 opiniones
- michaelprescott-00547
- 15 ago 2023
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The film was trashed by most, but not all critics, and lost like 40 million dollars.
I found it engrossing, beautifully acted, and directed with imagination, nuance and touching sensitivity.
I want very much to encourage people to watch it, so I will avoid spoilers which is not easy to do in discussing this film.
Although it is rightly classified as a drama, it is in many ways a mystery, and like the best mysteries, the clues are all there, but the story itself becomes so compelling that the viewer is too involved in what is happening on the screen to put the clues together and solve the mystery.
Please watch it and decide for yourself. It really deserves serious attention. After you have watched it and thought about it for a while, go to YouTube and watch one of several analyses of the film which may help you appreciate how skillful a film this really is.
I found it engrossing, beautifully acted, and directed with imagination, nuance and touching sensitivity.
I want very much to encourage people to watch it, so I will avoid spoilers which is not easy to do in discussing this film.
Although it is rightly classified as a drama, it is in many ways a mystery, and like the best mysteries, the clues are all there, but the story itself becomes so compelling that the viewer is too involved in what is happening on the screen to put the clues together and solve the mystery.
Please watch it and decide for yourself. It really deserves serious attention. After you have watched it and thought about it for a while, go to YouTube and watch one of several analyses of the film which may help you appreciate how skillful a film this really is.
- gary-426-161272
- 5 dic 2022
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- Rogue-32
- 20 oct 2006
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I saw this in the cinema solely because I had nothing else to do and that Ewan McGregor was in it. I had no idea what it was about. I am so glad that I watched it, because this film left me thinking for ages.
This is a thriller about a psychiatrist (which I happen to be one) trying to help a depressed & suicidal patient. The film twists unexpectedly all the time without getting bizarre. The visual effects are stunning, and the soundtrack created the eerie atmosphere which gave me creeps. The best thing about this film is that the film keeps you in suspense throughout the film, without the use of sudden loud noises, gore or scary scenes. Everything in the film seemed so every day life (to me anyway) and yet it keeps you on the edge all the time. The interspersed scenes of unrelated objects creates suspense in a way that is surreal. In the ending, I was totally surprised at that happened. I had to really think a lot to figure out what happened. Usually, when I don't understand a film, I say it is bad bad bad, but for this film, it leaves me wanting to find out more about it.
I strongly recommend anyone to watch this film!
This is a thriller about a psychiatrist (which I happen to be one) trying to help a depressed & suicidal patient. The film twists unexpectedly all the time without getting bizarre. The visual effects are stunning, and the soundtrack created the eerie atmosphere which gave me creeps. The best thing about this film is that the film keeps you in suspense throughout the film, without the use of sudden loud noises, gore or scary scenes. Everything in the film seemed so every day life (to me anyway) and yet it keeps you on the edge all the time. The interspersed scenes of unrelated objects creates suspense in a way that is surreal. In the ending, I was totally surprised at that happened. I had to really think a lot to figure out what happened. Usually, when I don't understand a film, I say it is bad bad bad, but for this film, it leaves me wanting to find out more about it.
I strongly recommend anyone to watch this film!
- Gordon-11
- 19 may 2006
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While the direction is flawless, the art direction unparalleled, and despite Ewan McGregor providing another breathtaking and engrossing animation of character, the film is, unfortunately, fundamentally flawed. It's story is lazy.
Images will stay in your mind for months afterward. The wall of books, Sam's too short pant legs, the staircase that seems to have been built on its side, the film is nothing short of a breakthrough visually. It never really cuts, it's absolutely seamless from scene to scene. The special effects are truly special. The movie is absolute eye candy, and shot totally unconventionally, breaking the 180 degree rule almost constantly to brilliant affect.
First, how the story works. The way the narrative unfolds, the story itself becomes a kind of character, and a very good one at that. Sam is a wealthy psychiatrist, seemingly beginning to break down, prone to bending the rules of the trade, while Henry, a patient, is undeniably a mess mentally. As a result, we see the events through the eyes of, well we're not sure. Probably one of these two characters. This is the gimmick-going-for-genius-but-fails of the film, the audience is only ever as sure of anything as either of the main characters seem to be. We plunge with them down to the depths of their ever increasing madness. We accompany them on their journey, trying to make sense of an utterly senseless world.
Now, how it doesn't work. The twist is just not tight enough. If you're going to write a story where ultimately nothing happens, then the twist better be brilliant, I mean perfect. Here it is not. While it is interesting and complicated and even good, it pales in comparison to the other components of the film. It fails at any psychological or philosophical profundity, and fails as a rewarding narrative. The story alone, I'd only give 3 stars. So, while I'm unsure just how this movie ever got made based on its story, I am glad that it was. A true treat for the eyes and the imagination.
Images will stay in your mind for months afterward. The wall of books, Sam's too short pant legs, the staircase that seems to have been built on its side, the film is nothing short of a breakthrough visually. It never really cuts, it's absolutely seamless from scene to scene. The special effects are truly special. The movie is absolute eye candy, and shot totally unconventionally, breaking the 180 degree rule almost constantly to brilliant affect.
First, how the story works. The way the narrative unfolds, the story itself becomes a kind of character, and a very good one at that. Sam is a wealthy psychiatrist, seemingly beginning to break down, prone to bending the rules of the trade, while Henry, a patient, is undeniably a mess mentally. As a result, we see the events through the eyes of, well we're not sure. Probably one of these two characters. This is the gimmick-going-for-genius-but-fails of the film, the audience is only ever as sure of anything as either of the main characters seem to be. We plunge with them down to the depths of their ever increasing madness. We accompany them on their journey, trying to make sense of an utterly senseless world.
Now, how it doesn't work. The twist is just not tight enough. If you're going to write a story where ultimately nothing happens, then the twist better be brilliant, I mean perfect. Here it is not. While it is interesting and complicated and even good, it pales in comparison to the other components of the film. It fails at any psychological or philosophical profundity, and fails as a rewarding narrative. The story alone, I'd only give 3 stars. So, while I'm unsure just how this movie ever got made based on its story, I am glad that it was. A true treat for the eyes and the imagination.
- finding-something
- 17 abr 2006
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I can understand why the reviews for this run the gamut. It's not the type of flick one is likely to appreciate unless they've experienced vivid dreams that seem real and disjoint; cutting from one incomprehensible scene to the next. I'll admit, this movie had me vexed. I was about to throw in the towel when it suddenly struck me: I've had dreams that flowed as incomprehensible! They made sense to me in the moment, yet they made no sense otherwise. Could it be that in his final moments, in a state of shock, Gosling drew on the faces around him in a fantasy to rationalize the tragedy that just became him?
If that's the Director's intent, then this is a brilliant movie and the reviewers who panned it are at a sad lack of imagination.
If that's the Director's intent, then this is a brilliant movie and the reviewers who panned it are at a sad lack of imagination.
- vic-56352
- 4 sep 2023
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Have you heard of Stay? If you're here you must have but I'll bet it wasn't too long ago that you found out about it. It's a movie that came out late last year with little fanfare, was dismissed as a poor movie by critics and quickly ushered back out of theaters.
It's a crying shame.
It was a wonderful movie. My favorite type of movies are psychological horror movies. Favorites include: Jacob's Ladder, Mulholland Dr., Donnie Darko, and in a similar realm, Momento and Fight Club. I love seeing a good representation of the human mind on film and that is exactly what this film shows so well.
It's about a college student (Ryan Gosling) who tells his shrink (Ewan McGregor) that he is going to kill himself on the stroke of midnight this Saturday, leaving his shrink to enlist the help of his formerly suicidal girlfriend (Naomi Watts) to figure out why he wants to kill himself and how to stop him, while his world falls apart.
It's directed by Marc Forster of Monster's Ball and Finding Neverland fame. The movie has been called pretentious, shallow, ridiculous, bewildering, absurd, and empty by many reviewers. Personally I think that they didn't have the patience for it and/or were put off by its extravagant visuals and cuts. I thought it was great and deserves much more credit than it has received.
The movie's visual style is very interesting and jarring in a good way. It had me constantly saying to my girlfriend "did you see that?" Full of slight of the hand camera/editing tricks. Nearly everything in the movie is symbolic of other things or ideas in the movie. The acting is very good, especially among the lesser characters. Everything in the movie feels so unreal, but that is serves some purpose even if one couldn't know what it is right away. A second viewing would reveal many new things. In the end much of the movie is left up to interpretation and my girlfriend and I had a good conversation about our ideas on what things meant in the movie. After thinking about it for a day I'm pretty sure that I could explain everything in the movie, even what the hell is up with Ewan McGregor's pants, Why Gosling wanted to commit suicide and the twins and triplets.
It was fun was figuring out what the rest of the movie meant after seeing its end, the solution. The movie is like a code and the end is the decryption key. It differs from other "sixth sense" type surprise ending movies because everything you would see in the movie before the end would not act as a clue to what it all means or what the ending is. It's more like decrypting a diary than a problem with a solution to it.
Basically, any movie buff owes it to themselves to see this movie. I rented it but after seeing it I fully intend to purchase the DVD.
It's a crying shame.
It was a wonderful movie. My favorite type of movies are psychological horror movies. Favorites include: Jacob's Ladder, Mulholland Dr., Donnie Darko, and in a similar realm, Momento and Fight Club. I love seeing a good representation of the human mind on film and that is exactly what this film shows so well.
It's about a college student (Ryan Gosling) who tells his shrink (Ewan McGregor) that he is going to kill himself on the stroke of midnight this Saturday, leaving his shrink to enlist the help of his formerly suicidal girlfriend (Naomi Watts) to figure out why he wants to kill himself and how to stop him, while his world falls apart.
It's directed by Marc Forster of Monster's Ball and Finding Neverland fame. The movie has been called pretentious, shallow, ridiculous, bewildering, absurd, and empty by many reviewers. Personally I think that they didn't have the patience for it and/or were put off by its extravagant visuals and cuts. I thought it was great and deserves much more credit than it has received.
The movie's visual style is very interesting and jarring in a good way. It had me constantly saying to my girlfriend "did you see that?" Full of slight of the hand camera/editing tricks. Nearly everything in the movie is symbolic of other things or ideas in the movie. The acting is very good, especially among the lesser characters. Everything in the movie feels so unreal, but that is serves some purpose even if one couldn't know what it is right away. A second viewing would reveal many new things. In the end much of the movie is left up to interpretation and my girlfriend and I had a good conversation about our ideas on what things meant in the movie. After thinking about it for a day I'm pretty sure that I could explain everything in the movie, even what the hell is up with Ewan McGregor's pants, Why Gosling wanted to commit suicide and the twins and triplets.
It was fun was figuring out what the rest of the movie meant after seeing its end, the solution. The movie is like a code and the end is the decryption key. It differs from other "sixth sense" type surprise ending movies because everything you would see in the movie before the end would not act as a clue to what it all means or what the ending is. It's more like decrypting a diary than a problem with a solution to it.
Basically, any movie buff owes it to themselves to see this movie. I rented it but after seeing it I fully intend to purchase the DVD.
- Barshki
- 7 abr 2006
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Ultimately it's a richly textured, multi-faceted look at the relationship between guilt and love, death and life. Suicidal themes run amuck, so, as you can imagine, there are many dark, intense scenes between talented actors. And the performances really are great, as is the mind-bending cinematography. But its way overwritten...the truly brilliant "interesting plot device" mingles but never bonds with the characters or dialogue, so everything falls flat. It's not rewarding, because insignificant elements overshadow details crucial to experiencing the intended impact of the film.
If you want to see an astonishingly filmed, well acted movie, here it is, have fun...But Stay breaks the first commandment of film-making because it takes itself more seriously than its subject. At the end of the day, the message the filmmakers seem to communicate is, "see what we did!" instead of "see what we mean."
If you want to see an astonishingly filmed, well acted movie, here it is, have fun...But Stay breaks the first commandment of film-making because it takes itself more seriously than its subject. At the end of the day, the message the filmmakers seem to communicate is, "see what we did!" instead of "see what we mean."
- travisyoung
- 19 mar 2008
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- joely2112
- 16 nov 2005
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- dkwilliams2
- 16 may 2006
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- dmiles777
- 6 abr 2007
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- Melissa_1982
- 22 oct 2005
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- Scarecrow-88
- 27 dic 2006
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- planetbprod
- 27 jun 2007
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- krachtm
- 1 ene 2007
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I too was part of a test audience for this film. I do agree with the last comment about the plot. The script was a little predictable and the one liners seemed a little corny at times.
The acting however, I thought was great. Ewan McGregor put in a marvelous performance, demonstrating that he is talented and can easily play a wide variety of roles. Naomi Watts, I think also put in a great performance.
Of course, I haven't as yet seen the fully edited theatre version, but so far I think it's a film that should definitely be seen.
A good film in all. 4/5
The acting however, I thought was great. Ewan McGregor put in a marvelous performance, demonstrating that he is talented and can easily play a wide variety of roles. Naomi Watts, I think also put in a great performance.
Of course, I haven't as yet seen the fully edited theatre version, but so far I think it's a film that should definitely be seen.
A good film in all. 4/5
- lilmiznetnerd
- 11 jun 2004
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I continuously fell asleep while watching this movie. The actors performances are superb (on the other hand Naomi Watts and Ewan McGregor are a guarantee of success) but the viewer is supposed all the time to figure out what's happening. It's an experimental film putting the audience to the test all the time, a puzzle much more then a thriller motion picture. The plot (a shrink trying to prevent his patient from committing suicide) is not standard but not even unconventional, the setting, as well as the special effects, make the situations cryptic and weird. The problem is that many times things need to be deciphered.
- antoniotierno
- 8 mar 2006
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This is really a spectacular film. I know I'm going to have to see it at least once more, because there's so much stuff going on that it's impossible to give Stay the attention in deserves in one viewing.
First and foremost, although I won't give away the plot here, I'll say that the movie (thankfully) does not rely on a surprise ending for the totality of its impact. In fact, if you're paying attention, you can pretty much figure out (mostly) what the situation is before you get too far into the movie. Unlike some of the worst examples of this genre (i.e. The Sixth Sense), Stay is not a film that "hides the ball," but instead presents you with characters and a storyline, and asks you to draw your own conclusions.
That said, there isn't an obvious solution to the movie. While you may be able to explain the film after viewing it (which is trickier that it will seem at first), you may realize that the real brilliance of this film is in the levels of its narrative. At its core, it is a basic psychological thriller. Simultaneously, and perhaps subconsciously, it also meditates on weighty issues of reality and identity- consider what the imperative "Stay" means to different characters at different points in the film, and it's almost like you're watching an entirely different movie than you originally thought.
Finally, the visuals in this movie provide their own context and narrative regarding the fragile nature of human memory and perception. This is the best looking movie I've seen in a long time, and the fact that it's combined with such a great story and cast makes this a rare treat.
If there is a weak link here, it's probably Gosling, who I think missed some opportunities to really dig in with his character and creep us out. Still his acting is better than that of most of Hollywood's garbage these days.
Final verdict: if you want a smart and unsettling film that will spur a serious discussion, watch this. You won't be disappointed.
First and foremost, although I won't give away the plot here, I'll say that the movie (thankfully) does not rely on a surprise ending for the totality of its impact. In fact, if you're paying attention, you can pretty much figure out (mostly) what the situation is before you get too far into the movie. Unlike some of the worst examples of this genre (i.e. The Sixth Sense), Stay is not a film that "hides the ball," but instead presents you with characters and a storyline, and asks you to draw your own conclusions.
That said, there isn't an obvious solution to the movie. While you may be able to explain the film after viewing it (which is trickier that it will seem at first), you may realize that the real brilliance of this film is in the levels of its narrative. At its core, it is a basic psychological thriller. Simultaneously, and perhaps subconsciously, it also meditates on weighty issues of reality and identity- consider what the imperative "Stay" means to different characters at different points in the film, and it's almost like you're watching an entirely different movie than you originally thought.
Finally, the visuals in this movie provide their own context and narrative regarding the fragile nature of human memory and perception. This is the best looking movie I've seen in a long time, and the fact that it's combined with such a great story and cast makes this a rare treat.
If there is a weak link here, it's probably Gosling, who I think missed some opportunities to really dig in with his character and creep us out. Still his acting is better than that of most of Hollywood's garbage these days.
Final verdict: if you want a smart and unsettling film that will spur a serious discussion, watch this. You won't be disappointed.
- evilmatt-3
- 21 oct 2005
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- muddychikk
- 7 abr 2006
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- rab62442
- 20 feb 2006
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- sol1218
- 4 abr 2006
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Ok, what is totally absurd for 90 minutes becomes clear in the end. It's a coherent story, if nothing else. The problem with Stay is that it's just a huge trick that's revealed in the end. I mean, the whole movie is quite unnecessary, and there's no real plot. It's just a story devised to keep you guessing what's happening, and then when you get it, you say "Oh, fine, thanks". There's no real motive underneath, existential, moral, psychological or whatever, a reason-to-be such the one that inspired "Enemy" by Villeneuve, for example. Would I recommend Stay? No.
- mgd_m
- 20 abr 2019
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It would be cruel to reveal anything about the story before seeing this film because most of the enjoyment is learning which path the story will choose.
The film has masterful visual style. At times it appears to be a normal picture until the surreal aspects make themselves known with subtlety. The editing is seamless, almost but not quite confusing, and the callbacks to earlier scenes are never overused.
It is not a spoiler to state that early on Something Isn't Quite Right, and there are story elements that the avid moviegoer will know to be central to the conclusion. However, it's the path that leads to the end that makes the time enjoyable.
Naomi Watts, as usual, is perfect, and Ewan McGregor has again picked one of the scripts that was for the art and not the money. Ryan Gosling is effective, and Jeanine Garafolo's three minutes were eerie. I'm certain that Elizabeth Reaser will be seen again.
Not a perfect movie, but definitely worth the time if you enjoy surrealistic stories.
8/10
The film has masterful visual style. At times it appears to be a normal picture until the surreal aspects make themselves known with subtlety. The editing is seamless, almost but not quite confusing, and the callbacks to earlier scenes are never overused.
It is not a spoiler to state that early on Something Isn't Quite Right, and there are story elements that the avid moviegoer will know to be central to the conclusion. However, it's the path that leads to the end that makes the time enjoyable.
Naomi Watts, as usual, is perfect, and Ewan McGregor has again picked one of the scripts that was for the art and not the money. Ryan Gosling is effective, and Jeanine Garafolo's three minutes were eerie. I'm certain that Elizabeth Reaser will be seen again.
Not a perfect movie, but definitely worth the time if you enjoy surrealistic stories.
8/10
- DennisH
- 21 oct 2005
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One person's pain is another's journey.
STAY takes us a wild but confusing journey as a psychiatrist (Ewan McGregor) attempts to help a severely trouble young man (Ryan Gosling). But all is not as it seems.
Great actors, big budget and seemingly contains all the right elements. Yet the problem with STAY is that comes down to style over substance. The director seems more concerned with the transitions between scenes than finding cohesion in the script. And yet the ultimate onus must come back to the screenwriter and the producers who went with it.
It's okay to have mystery. Not everything has to make sense, but the audience must be led along, not left dwindling in the mire. It might work well in a novel, but a film is a journey and STAY has too many dead ends. To go into detail would ruin the story but events occur without explanation and after a while, it all seems a bit pointless.
The real joy in this film is in the sumptuous visuals and the stunning production design. It's worth seeing for that alone (loved the tiled walls). And there are some well-crafted scenes. By the end it all comes together but by then, we don't really care anymore. I wouldn't even say it has decent performances because there's not a lot for the actors to cling to. Naomi Watts is a little wasted in this. Bob Hoskins does a fine job and Ryan Gosling plays the tormented youth well, but Ewan McGregor seems more out of place than his character.
Beautifully put together but there's just not enough to hang your hat on. A missed opportunity.
STAY takes us a wild but confusing journey as a psychiatrist (Ewan McGregor) attempts to help a severely trouble young man (Ryan Gosling). But all is not as it seems.
Great actors, big budget and seemingly contains all the right elements. Yet the problem with STAY is that comes down to style over substance. The director seems more concerned with the transitions between scenes than finding cohesion in the script. And yet the ultimate onus must come back to the screenwriter and the producers who went with it.
It's okay to have mystery. Not everything has to make sense, but the audience must be led along, not left dwindling in the mire. It might work well in a novel, but a film is a journey and STAY has too many dead ends. To go into detail would ruin the story but events occur without explanation and after a while, it all seems a bit pointless.
The real joy in this film is in the sumptuous visuals and the stunning production design. It's worth seeing for that alone (loved the tiled walls). And there are some well-crafted scenes. By the end it all comes together but by then, we don't really care anymore. I wouldn't even say it has decent performances because there's not a lot for the actors to cling to. Naomi Watts is a little wasted in this. Bob Hoskins does a fine job and Ryan Gosling plays the tormented youth well, but Ewan McGregor seems more out of place than his character.
Beautifully put together but there's just not enough to hang your hat on. A missed opportunity.
- anthonyjlangford
- 19 oct 2011
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Tedious, uninteresting pablum that was supposed to be mind-blowing, but fails miserably. After 10 minutes you notice there's something wrong with the rhythm of the directing; after 20 minutes you start both yawning and wondering what are the odds to blow it completely if you have a decent crew and a potentially good plot. The end of the movie is supposed to be explanation of the plot and the end of the suffering for the main character - but no, it is the end of the Chinese torture toward the watcher executed by an amateurish director.
And all of this is written by someone who has 'Jacob's Ladder' in his top ten list of movie masterpieces...
And all of this is written by someone who has 'Jacob's Ladder' in his top ten list of movie masterpieces...
- simplius
- 1 abr 2006
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