The Event

i heard of the movie by chance and caught it while it played (it was only here for a week). i had to go by myself because no one else would go with me. but i did, and i'm glad i did. what an amazing movie. it moved me in ways i never believed possible. i went because of don. i knew little of the plot. an old couple left mid-way through the movie. why? it was hard to watch. it was a hard concept to swallow. i cared about the characters from the start. when the sister reacted to her brother's news of his infection it hit me harder than a bus could have. that's the reaction i would have had.

it was a hard topic to deal with, but it was done so properly and it ws very beautiful. the acting, the filming, the writing, it drew emotion out of people.

it really is a must see. i can't wait for it to be released for home-viewing. bravo

Thom Fitzgerald has done a wonderful job directing this film. By twenty minutes into the movie I cared about the characters. There's nothing pretentious or annoying about this movie, however the ending shocked me totally. I was not prepared for the ending. I heard sniffles when the credits rolled and when I walked out on to the sidewalk after leaving the theatre I felt stunned. I had no idea that local actor Walter Borden was in the movie -- a definite added attraction. But I don't want to say who does a better job in acting than others as I totally believe the movie is superb just the way it is.

This is a movie I would prefer to attend alone so no one will talk to me throughout the film. Without sounding like an owl, the ending shocked the pants off me. I thought I figured it out, but was w-a-y off. Thom Fitzgerald: take a bow.

This is not the kind of thing that attracts me: simple drama. Straight ahead, grinding humanity.

Why would people invest in watching something like this? For engagement, I suppose.

There's engagement in the story, for sure, if you need it. But there is a higher level of engagement in knowing that these players are pouring out their hearts for us.

Sarah Polley is extraordinary, just extraordinary. Olympia has a grace that matters. Parker is less open than usual until the end.

Coming to the event, the man's sister and mother talk about Shirley McLain's performance in "Tears of Endearment." The whole movie revolves around that line, that notion.

The thing is constructed so that there is a movie within the movie — a movie of the event. Something clever.

Ted's Evaluation -- 2 of 3: Has some interesting elements.

The event was a strong powerful movie. The family was cast perfect. It felt like it could of been your neighbors. The movie made me cry and every person sitting next o me cried as well. Olympia should get an award for her acting. The little girls made me laugh. I needed to laugh between my tears. Good Job

Gay guy Matt has died from AIDS and Asst. D.A. Posey suspects something other than natural causes. In spite of these mysterious overtones, "The Event" spends most of it's time being a gay guy dying flick which deals with coming out to mom, visiting doc's, hanging with gay friends, talking about options, taking drug "cocktails", creeping symptoms, emotional contortions, philosophizing about life/death, etc. in a kind of muddled Mulligan stew of gay/straight family/friend relationship stuff via flashback. The ill focused story manages to pull itself together in the end and gives everyone in the audience (who is left) ample time to relish in the hopeful woe of the moment...and then ends all over again. Kinda sappy, full of stereotypes, quite disjointed, and poorly scripted, "The Event" has it's moments though they apparently went unnoticed by GLAAD. The bare bones DVD I watched also had no CC or subtitles or special features. Recommended for gays and anyone who have the stomach for another AIDS flick. (B-)