Stuart Bliss

I saw this movie at the Northampton Film Festival in 1998. It deservedly won the Best Film Award. I'm very happy to see it's coming out on video & DVD starting November 20, 2001. This is one of those low budget movies that deserves to be seen.

The filmmakers did an incredible job telling the story about a regular guy going mad in a world gone mad. It pokes fun, in subtle and believable ways, at all the paranoia that emerged around Y2K. The performances are really outstanding! Especially Michael Zelniker in the title role; Dea Lawrence playing

two roles very cleverly; and Derek McGrath as Stuart's nemesis.

I recommend Stuart Bliss to everyone. Especially people who like unusual, original movies. I wish there were more movies out there like it.

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!

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.

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.