Answers to Nothing

"I'm buried in the armor, I'm an iron man." After a child is abducted this movie deals with the following five days and a group of people including the single mom who is investigating the case. Her sister (Mitchell) who wants to get pregnant badly but her husband (Cook) is cheating on her. A school teacher who is obsessed with finding the missing girl. An alcoholic who is taking care of her wheel chair bound brother and a self hating black woman who wants to fall in love. I have to begin by saying that this is not a movie for everyone. Very slow moving in some parts and not a happy movie at all. That said I really enjoyed this. Dane Cook is a huge surprise in this role and is actually a very good dramatic actor. This movie shows how each person is somehow intertwined in each other's lives and how one life effects the other. While not nearly as good as "Crash" it does have that type of feel to it. This is a movie that you must be in the mood for and is a struggle at first, but the last half hour makes you glad you stuck with it. Overall, the type of movie that leaves you thinking about it long after it is over. I recommend this. I give it a B.

I saw this film at the Napa Film Festival and was blown away! Dane Cook is not someone I would normally peg as a great actor but this guy has the chops. Major acting skills here. I didn't even think about it being Dane Cook at all the whole film. I was totally engrossed in his story line. However, this film is not just about Dane Cook's storyline his is only one of many which is one of the reasons I liked the film so much. There are about 5 different main characters which you follow as you watch the film and they all intersect through out the movie. Not the most original idea ala Crash or Magnolia...but this film pulls it off. The movie moves smoothly from scene to scene and there is a big climax at the end that I wasn't expecting. There is some great acting talents in this film. Unknown and known actors, TV, film actors and newbies. The music in the film is also fantastic and I will be buying the soundtrack to this one for sure.

Coming in to this movie, I thought it was going to be multiple peoples stories that all come together at the climax of the film. This did not happen. Each characters story is very compelling on their own and everyone is loosely connected to each other, but they don't make up one story as a whole. I felt like the movie was building up to the climax of them all impacting the finding the missing girl, but this is not the case. Only about 4 characters, out of a dozen, impact what could be called the climax, and I feel like the 4 that do had the least screen time. Overall, if you get invested into each and every character, the movie maintains interest. I would have rather seen each characters' story as its own short film rather than thrown into this hodgepodge of lives. If you enjoy movies like Crash or a much darker version of that comedy Valentine's Day, then you might like this.

PS: Dane Cook gives a surprisingly great performance.

Answers to Nothing is that rare combination of an ensemble cast grappling with life's complexities without descending into heavy handed storytelling. It both lifts you up and crushes you down as you recognize the various shades of yourself in the characters. I have been weary of ensemble dramas like this since the manipulative'Crash', but I felt the director and cast did a superb job and the emotion really builds to something tangible and rewarding. The singer Aja Volkman of 'Nico Vega'provides an emotional charge right through the film and Mad Men actor Mark Kelly gives a great turn as a gamer/High School teacher out for justice. Great film - highly recommended.

This is kind of an answer to another review... I voted 10, to increase the score of the movie, although I think is a clear 8.

If you think movies about real people, real problems and damaged people are not your thing, please don't watch this movie.

This movie is amazing in characterizing several kinds of people, is so replete of so many different styles and personalities. All of them has a different role and all of them is extremely important.

I would not like to say much, because I will spoil the movie, but maybe the reason the movie is so hateful, is because people see them in some of the character and hate themselves...

Just pay attention to the details and you will have the answer to EVERYTHING.