The Friend

I really enjoy Noma Dumezweni in everything I've seen her in, and she was just as great here. The cast overall was surprisingly stacked-so many recognizable faces, and I kept having those "Oh hey, it's that person from..." moments. Everyone delivered strong performances, even the Great Dane.

We learn a lot about Bill Murray's character through the dog. Choosing a Great Dane was a smart move, there's something about that breed's presence that made the conversations around Walter and who he left the dog to feel more substantial. I don't think those same scenes would've hit as hard if it had been, say, a small poodle.

I'm not a huge dog person, so I imagine dog lovers might connect with this more. That said, I liked that the film didn't lean too heavily into sadness, despite being about grief it didn't feel too mopey. Still, I didn't feel particularly moved by it. Emotionally, it didn't hit me, but I thought it was fine overall. It's not just a story about a dog; it's also a quiet reflection on friendship, loss, and how people cope. The first half has some genuinely funny moments too.

The pacing is slow, and it doesn't really build to a traditional climax. It just sort of ends in a way that feels... fine. Not underwhelming, just gently satisfying.

During the Q&A, it was fun hearing the director talk about what it was like working with a Great Dane. I wish I had gotten to see the dog myself, but apparently, it's still adjusting. Maybe the folks attending tonight's or the Saturday Q&A will get lucky, would've been cool to see just how big it really is in person.

This film really should have been a slam dunk, but somehow it manages to be overly long, barely sentimental or emotional, and lacking in any real connection with the characters.

The basic premise is that Naomi Watts inherits a giant great dane from her friend and mentor, and struggles to connect with the dog and look after it. What follows should be a sad and poignant yet heartwarming journey as owner and dog open up to each other and learn things along the way. Instead, the characters remain at a distance. The journey just isn't there for any of them really. What transformations and revelation Watts' character has are so surface level and sparsely explored, that they really don't make much of an impact.

As a result, the film feels very repetitive, static, and just overly long. There really is no real reason why this film had to be 2 hours long. It's a reasonable runtime if it was used effectively, but it just didn't deliver what it should have done emotionally.

It's a shame because the performances are all good, and the dog is lovely (even if he does have an oppressively sad face), so the foundations are all here. Unfortunately it just fails to capitalise on any of this, resulting in a rather drab and dare I say boring film.

A classic definition of a "guy flick" is one in which many people die very rapidly - the corresponding definition of a "chick flick" is one in which one person dies very slowly. "The Friend" is a variation on the latter theme in which a major character (Murray) dies at the outset of the film, and most of two hours is spent depicting how his widow, his ex, his daughter, his dog, and his best friend/protégé/ex lover (Watts) and the dog Apollo (a gigantic Great Dane) slowly come to terms with that death. The production values are excellent. The acting is magnificent. The pacing is tedious. Seeing it once was more than enough.

Directors Scott McGehee and David Siegel adapt Sigrid Nunez's novel, starring a charming Naomi Watts and a Great Dane who stands out as one of the best canine actors of recent times.

A heartfelt and heartwarming drama about grief and the bond between pet and owner. A novel adapted with sincerity and commitment, it's a perfect drama that's well directed and well acted, drawing us into a study of the characters in all their layers, including a heartfelt performance by a dog who steals the show.

It's a perfect exploration of the profound drama of the loss of a loved one, equated in two parallel worlds: that of an animal and that of a person. This dynamic makes the film a constant journey through the intensity of grief, but also through the shortcomings of a protagonist who invites us on a journey through her healing as we immerse ourselves in a magnificent and adorable love story between a dog and a human. This film leaves its own mark, avoiding the typical dog movie we're accustomed to.

It's a well-known story that man's best friend has won that ground. It's a film that dares to explore a dog's deepest sorrow for his owner and his own grief-healing process. Magically portrayed by our friend Apollo, whose wide gaze and size fill us with grief and joy at the same time, we can even sense his own personal interpretation of the canine drama he brings to the screen-an absolute visual impact.

It's a film that offers a moving, funny, humane, and unforgettable story about friendship, loneliness, grief, and love in all its layers. A pleasant and sweet journey in a correct and sincere adaptation of the novel in question. It becomes an irresistible experience that anyone who has ever loved a pet must see.

The supporting cast is excellent, and of course, Murray nails it, making his few scenes shine. New York City has never looked better, thanks to cinematographer Giles Nuttgens.

Bleecker Street hits the nail on the head with the layout of this little indie gem.

While on vacation in Hollywood (ooh la la) I obviously had to see a movie. Funnily enough, I chose the most "New York" movie out there. THE FRIEND is a drama based on a book by Sigrid Nunez about a writer named Iris (Naomi Watts). Her best friend Walter (Bill Murray) commits suicide, leaving her to deal with the grief of the loss, his many exes, and a Great Dane called Apollo. Living in a tiny apartment building, her landlord is urging her to move out because of Apollo. This dog is a huge scene stealer, very expressive and such a good boy. Yes he is. He reminds us that he's grieving right alongside Iris. They start to bond, even though she's not a dog person. This movie shows how one person can affect the people around them in different ways. There are thought-provoking and fascinating conversations that take place here. Taking control of your life can look like a variety of things, small or big. Apollo could be seen as a metaphor for a few things, depending on who's asking. THE FRIEND will resonate with dog-owners and everyone who has experienced loss, which is probably most people.