Stuart Bliss

This movie starts out with plot developments that are completely random, Stuart's wife leaving him, his coworkers behaving in obviously strange ways, the televangelist talking to him, etc. It then proceeds to make you think that there might be some strange mystery that will be revealed, only to leave you in confusion as to what actually happened. The acting in this film assures its place in a USA Up All Night marathon someday, with wooden and bizarre performances given by all. Stuart becomes paranoid about really normal things,ie getting mail and watching tv, but shows no response to the really odd events going on around him, such as people in lab coats walking around the neighborhood and his coworkers turning into survivalists. It dissolves into a non-coherent mess, and leaves you totally unsatisfied. Avoid the hour and half that this movie takes from your life.

To keep it short this movie is one of those 'you've seen it, you can't unsee it' type movies. A marvel of modern movie-making. I saw it a few years back and again yesterday and it's as fresh as it was when I first saw it. I find the surreal world is created by it's words, it's ideas and it's ideals. Strange and haunted but no more so than a dream. If you are the kind of person who can't understand James Bond movies, this is not for you. On the other hand, if you are smart intellectual and sexy, this movie will give you feverish dreams for Months. Listen to my advice, see this movie. If you don't like it, meh. But if you understand it, it will stay with you and influence you like Hollywood films never do. Everything I write, essays, novels, etc. Everything I say, has been effected by seeing this movie. Now what are you waiting for, go! Watch this movie!

Stuart Bliss is so funny, and in a very dark way. The filmmakers are especially successful because they weave the tail by planting these ideas early on that pay off later on and in totally believable ways. But they never let us off the hook. We are constantly wondering, are the things happening to Stuart really happening, or only in Stuart's mind. They mine the idea that perception is reality with hilarious implications. I recommend seeing STUART BLISS more than once in order to get all the subleties offered by the filmmakers. Great to see such an inventive, original movie.

This is a creepy and realistic vision of a man who is either a paranoid schizophrenic or a prophet. You will have to give the film about 30mins grace or more before it begins to keep you amazed, but it will. Fans of David Lynch and Donnie Darko should go for this.

I enjoyed the feel of the opening few minutes, but 20-minutes in I was liberally applying the fast-forward button. Far too many shots of Stewart (Michael Zelniker) walking from room to room, down hallways, through doors and down the street, and as many shots of him looking pensive and confused. Gave me the impression that the story had originally been meant as a short (20-30 minutes), and then stretched into a feature as a labour of love between director Grieve and star Zelniker (they co-wrote the screenplay).

It might have been more entertaining if any of the characters had anything to say that I hadn't heard said in many other films before, or if the ending wasn't - disappointingly - the one I had predicted three minutes into the film (atypical for an independent/smaller studio film). At least its heart was in the right place - it wasn't your standard formulaic Hollywood manipulative nonsense.