Humaira Grant
It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.
Neive Bellamy
Excellent and certainly provocative... If nothing else, the film is a real conversation starter.
Fleur
Actress is magnificent and exudes a hypnotic screen presence in this affecting drama.
Straeng
The 'controversy' around this film did not faze me at all. The reason I am submitting such a low score is because I feel this film was just cruel, artlessly cruel, to all of it's characters. I've seen tragedies, sad films, that I've enjoyed or at least not completely disliked because I saw they were trying to do something with it, but I honestly came away from this film with the impression that everyone in the film suffered and that NOTHING was learned. I didn't take anything away from it. It doesn't tell you anything about humanity that you don't already know. I've seen dark and depressing films before that moved me, but all this film did was make me want to find who made it, punch them in the face and ask "WHY!? WHY DO YOU HATE PEOPLE SO MUCH!?"
william_mar95
Having only recently watched this, I am slightly torn as to what to make of it. On one hand, the cinematography - all eerie, snowy landscapes in palate tones and classic houses, is stunning, and the acting from all of the performers is incredibly executed and "real". Another thing that stood out for me from the start of the movie was the score, which is incredibly raw, organic and haunting but manages to stay somewhat uplifting. As a film in general, however, I felt that too many things were left unanswered or unclear. The inclusion of Sean's secret lover was a brilliant touch, and as pointed out by another review, was pivotal to the end of the film as one could argue that Sean was tricking Anna into thinking he was lying throughout the film about being her husband, because he was ashamed of the way that he lived in his previous life with her. Although this seems incredibly likely, it is left very much to the viewer to make this decision themselves, as the only hint is a one liner from Sean -"Don't tell Anna" when his lover comes to see him, implying that he knows who she is. This suggests that he really is a reincarnated Sean, which on a first view you would not see, as this hidden message is simply, too hidden. Another thing that struck me was that because the acting was so real, it seemed unlikely that Anna would of fallen for the boy, simply because he shows no character traits of Sean, except for memories such as knowing where and when they slept together, etc. In fact, other than that, the only "proof" Anna would have that the boy is Sean, is the fact that he tells her "I am Sean". The film seems more a character portrait of Anna, as you watch her slowly deteriorate from a level headed, relaxed and balanced woman from a privileged background (which makes the whole situation worse, as her prim family watch in disapproval as she falls for the boy claiming to be her husband), into a slightly unstable and confused character, who seems to simply want to believe that the boy really is Sean. All in all, a good film with a decent plot, excellent cinematography and a breathtaking score, but the anti-climax style ending could be a let down to viewers if they do not take in the fact that Sean may have been so embarrassed about cheating on Anna in his past life that he convinces her he was lying throughout the film.
huttd-1
Sadly even the start to the movie was a little disappointing. Sean is running in the park, and dies of a heart attack. Would have been better served with him being attacked in the park and killed. If it is his normal thing to go running in the park, then someone seemly in their 30s falling down dead with the heart attack is a crazy start.Nicole Kidman is excellent in her part especially the zoom in facial expressions while she is in the theatre. The attachment to the child who claims to be her deceased husband seem a bit crazy considering their dialog, the lack of sharing personal details, like the smell of her hair, special moments they had shared or just mannerism would have helped the story along.There were lots of opportunity to bring out the husbands characteristics, like when the boy is in the study and talking about working, if he remembers being Anna's husband then why not remember physics that he used to lecture.Also believing that Joseph and Anna's family would allow the child to stay was just too reaching.Even the ending felt like they got bored with the film and decided to finish. A film with so many possibilities, the boy could have left with Anna, the boy could have fallen and the spirit of Sean leaving the boy, Anna could have died and he left with the body of Anna. But sadly a very crap ending.
cameronmarcusk
I just saw this movie last night and I gotta say it's movies like these that make me fall even deeper in love with Nicole Kidman. She's such a gifted actress and this movie is most definitely a example of her prowess on screen. I'll keep the explanation of the plot short and just say The story is about a young widow from a prominent Manhattan-based family named Anna (played by Kidman) who slowly becomes convinced that her husband, Sean, who died ten years previously, has been reincarnated in the form of a 10-year-old boy also named Sean (Bright). At first Anna is skeptical, but Sean's intimate knowledge of their past makes her think twice. The directing is superb, the story and screenplay; amazing. If you enjoy good films, or just Nicole Kidman check out this movie as soon as you can, and while you're at it keep an eye out for her next film "Trespass", I just saw the trailer and it looks like it's gonna be pretty good. http://bitly.com/o7TwhG
