Sunday, March 8, 2015

Screaming Sunday - The Voices

By s. Sunday, March 8, 2015 ,
Movie rating - 72/100
Plot:  Jerry (Ryan Reynolds) is that chipper guy clocking the nine-to-five at a bathtub factory, with the offbeat charm of anyone who could use a few friends. With the help of his court-appointed psychiatrist, he pursues his office crush (Gemma Arterton). However, the relationship takes a sudden, murderous turn after she stands him up for a date. Guided by his evil talking cat and benevolent talking dog, Jerry must decide whether to keep striving for normalcy, or indulge in a much more sinister path.
The heroes: Jerry, who is a really nice guy. He just happens to kill people sometimes. Accidentally, you know.
The antagonists: The cat? No, no. The antagonist here is as much the mental illness as it is the horrible solitude that Jerry faces on daily basis
Best scene: The chase and the first kill
Oh-oh something's not right line: Did you fuck the bitch?
What makes it so great? Who would have thought Ryan Reynolds can act? He is really great here as Jerry and the film is worth seeing for his performance alone. But there's more here - some of the films elements, especially the cat talking with Irish accent, are really clever and funny and some of it are so saddening and depressing. The fact that Jerry refuses to take his medication because when he does he cannot hear his animals talking to him and he feels utterly lonely was such a depressing thing to witness.

It's rare when we see someone who does horrible things who is actually really innocent and sweet. That is one ballsy movie because you actually sympathize with Jerry and you want him to be fine in the end. The supporting cast is also really good - Jackie Weaver actually has something to do, Gemma Arterton puts on a hilarious caricature of an haughty English gal and Anna Kendrick is as adorable as ever as the co-worker who may be Jerry's only shot at happiness.

The film is also wonderfully shot and the imagery is great - the real world that Jerry experiences when he is on medication and the flashbacks to his childhood are really disturbing and bleak while the world where he succumbs to his delusions is bursting out with colors and wit.
Scare factor: - 4/5 evil pumpkins - the film doesn't have jump scares or monsters but it's very disturbing because Jerry is really likable and yet everything is going so wrong for him. Then there is the whole 'accidental kill' angle which is very tragic. The whole film is very witty and done with a lot of imagination but if you think about it there are people out there struggling as much as Jerry is and that is very saddening. Also the contrast of Jerry's worlds changing whether he is on or off meds is shattering.
Gore factor:- 2/5 bloody Leatherfaces - there is quite a bit of gore here but i don't think it's anything too disturbing. Some of it is done in dark comedy mode so it's not frightening.
Is there a twist? Not really, but the twist may be how this movie tells a really sad story under the pretense of dark, gory comedy
Unsuitable for: People dating their co-workers, psychiatrists, people who have conversations with their pets. What? We exist.
Repercussions: The next time you get laid? The first thing you do is gonna be checking what the guy you banged keeps in his fridge.

22 comments:

  1. The Voices sounds like a good movie. I'm not a fan of Reynolds but I think I'll give it a shot. Great review!

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    1. It's really worth seeing! He was really great here.

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  2. Just watched it. I think this was a particularly great, unorthodox film I've had the pleasure of seeing. Agree with all your points and laughed out loud at some points. Thanks for telling me about this film. Oh how I worry about my sanity sometimes when I laughed in this and Gone Girl a lot :)

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    1. I think my sanity is fairly gone, I laughed during those too :) Glad you enjoyed the movie!

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  3. You mean there are people who DON'T have conversations with their pets? Seriously?

    Great review! This sounds like it might be fun to watch. I can't imagine Ryan Reynolds in this kind of role. It might be worth a look just for that. :-)

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    1. I know, that's just crazy! :)

      Thank you! He really is very good in this

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  4. A wonderful review!

    I watched it and I enjoyed it so much I wish it was little longer. When he hit that deer with his car he and Fiona were both in panic but he still answered the question 'It was Lucifer'. I couldn't keep myself from laughing until he had to end the deer's suffering. But then he once had to do the same to his mother and then again to Fiona and it was all due to an unfortunate turn of events (it wasn't his fault his mother was a complete psycho) which is really sad.

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    1. Thank you!

      Yeah that movie was such a great mix of funny and sad, they did a really great job at making us feel for the lead character too. Really great little film.

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  5. I've heard so many good things about this, and I initially wrote it off after I saw the trailer (that, and I really don't care much for Reynolds), but you sold me. Can't wait to check this one out.

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    1. I hope you'll like it! It's really unique and I thought Reynolds gave very strong performance here

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  6. Nice review. I haven't heard of it. I will check it out. It sounds like a movie I wouldn't have pictured for Ryan Reynolds. He's one of my least favorite actors. I had no idea he could act. Good to know.

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    1. He's really good in this! I really haven't seen him act well prior to this movie either :)

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  7. I keep seeing posters for this one, but had no idea what it was about but will now have to give it a look. Personally I'm a big apologist for both Ryan Reynolds and Nicolas Cage, both actors I've never understood the flack they constantly seem to get, so be interesting to see a Reynolds film (outside of the egerly awaited Deadpool) were folks aren't giving him flack for a performance.

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    1. I always like Cage. Yeah his films are ridiculous, but damn, the guy is committed no matter what.

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  8. Great review! I don't think I've heard of this one, but Reynolds has impressed me in the past. I might have to check this one.

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    1. Thank you! It's definitely worth seeing!

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  9. I've never heard of this one either, but it sounds right up my alley. I've actually always found myself rooting for Reynold's as it seems he should be a bigger star. Oh, and Kendrick and Arteton are in this? SOLD.

    If only I can get my wife to watch it with me....hmm...

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    1. Arterton is crazy hot. You will not be disappointed :) It's a real good movie and maybe she fancies Reynolds enough to see it? I hear many women do :)

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  10. Glad you liked this! I really loved it. So funny but also really psychologically layered, disturbing and surprisingly emotional. Such a well-developed mixture of tones and Reynolds was incredible.

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    1. He really was! Hope he gets to show his talent more often

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  11. I need to check this one out. Have you seen Buried? Ryan Reynolds is also good in that. ;)

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    1. I haven't but my watchlist is so long I'll probably never get around to seeing this one :/

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