mcdaid

This was a very slow, albeit very short film, with a running time of 81 minutes. At its heart it seems to be about changing the way in which women are perceived by some men in Saudi society. The premise where the men visit a mysterious hotel to fulfill their hearts desires without knowing what to expect is not a particularly novel idea. That said, the focus - indicated early in the story, that the hotel provided very quick arranged marriages was not something that i have come across before. I was drawn enough into the story to be curious about where it would go. This film certainly will have many detractors, but i was intrigued and it kept me interested all the way to the end.

I must admit i was bowled over by how good this film turned out to be. I have never been a great fan of Burt Reynold's movies, but this is a small, simple but great movie. It really is all about coming to terms with the ageing process and learning to live with regrets. And it is very auto-biographical - Reynolds is looking back on his own career choices - really the path he could have chosen after Deliverance and the path he went down admittedly with great commercial success during the 70s. Burt plays Vic Edwards, an aged actor long forgotten by the public - shopping in his local supermarket and eating tv dinners. His mobility is very limited although his still fancies himself as a ladies man. Invited as guest of honour to a small time film festival in Nashville to receive a lifetime achievement award, the film really centres around the odd-couple relationship between Reynolds and his goth driver/assistant for the festival, Lil, played by Ariel Winter. There are some inevitable cliches and the film at times does descend into pathos, but it is never out of place. Unexpectedly touching, warm and at times life affirming, it is one of Reynolds best performances by some distance. That is because it cuts close to the bone and the portrayal of ageing and decline is very real. The.writer/director Adam Rifkin has said he planned the movie specifically for Burt Reynolds and it is hard to think of anyone else playing that part. A real surprise.