Before I Go

Wonderfully mature and well-acted movie. I've always enjoyed Annabella Sciorra, and I think this is her best performance to date. The material is darkly comedic and quite moving. Definitely an emotional experience-funny in ways I haven't seen many other movies be, and uniquely touching too. Seek it out if you can, I really don't think you'll be disappointed.

My attention was caught at the very first screen when the quote from The Guest House was displayed, and I quickly settled in when she confronted the guy in the grocery store. This is a wonderful movie about life; how our perception of it affects how we respond in the world and the impact positive and negative words and actions have on those around us.

In the wrong hands, heavy handed hands, this plot could have been played as soap, as hackneyed, as a total bore. But the director, with help from a very fine cast, presented pieces of a life without going over the top or insulting the audience by hammering in the point. This was a fine movie marked by fine performances. Nothing blew up, and there were no bad guys.

Annabella Sciorra is a one woman show here. Samantha has hit a wall, and can't decide whether to give up, or try to go over it, or if she should even care either way. This film gently explores what happens when we forget the point of living. It's a beautiful meditation on coming to an understanding with ourselves. Manhattan is as much a character here as it is the setting, but instead of representing existential angst as in so many films, it's a comfortable oasis of familiarity for Samantha - her natural element. Watching this film, I felt like I was looking into someone's real life rather than seeing a movie. I get it.

This movie is really good. It ebbs and flows. I laughed so hard at one part my son came in to see what was wrong. Because I couldn't stop laughing. There is a lull toward the end that kinda dragged but once it gets there it all comes together in the end. Highly recommend. Annabella Scioro was FANTASTIC. She was so good the viewer can totally get where she is coming from. Well worth your time to watch.