Acensbart Excellent but underrated film

Forumrxes Yo, there's no way for me to review this film without saying, take your *insert ethnicity + "ass" here* to see this film,like now. You have to see it in order to know what you're really messing with.

Abbigail Bush what a terribly boring film. I'm sorry but this is absolutely not deserving of best picture and will be forgotten quickly. Entertaining and engaging cinema? No. Nothing performances with flat faces and mistaking silence for subtlety.

Scarlet The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

TheLittleSongbird Saw 'The Death and Life of Charlie St Cloud' as somebody who really liked the idea, has found that Zac Efron has grown as an actor and wanted to see how he would fare in one of the first roles to break from his 'High School Musical' image. There are some good, great and more even, tear-jerker films out there so there is hardly any bias against them.'The Death and Life of Charlie St Cloud' is definitely watchable and do not have regrets watching it. It has moments of genuine emotion, it is more than competently made with a few good performances and it does intrigue with its ideas on paper. Will admit conversely to wanting to like 'The Death and Life of Charlie St Cloud' much more, a case of great potential for the story that was under-cooked in execution and didn't do enough with its more interesting ideas. Efron gives a very commendable lead performance, it is a far cry from 'High School Musical' (thankfully) and he does command the screen and gives his role a good deal of heart. Charlie Tahan is appealing as his brother, and the fraternal bond is sweet and touching. Amanda Crew has moments of being a sympathetic love interest and, while his character is underused and quite strangely written, Ray Liotta's performance is heartfelt. It's a beautifully filmed film too and the locations are even more gorgeous to look at. The music is understated without being low key and soothing. There are sweet, poignant and intriguing moments here, especially at the beginning before and with the tragedy. The direction is suitably earnest.Not all the acting works however, though the sketchy and sometimes ambiguously written character writing works against them. Crew does have some very awkward dialogue too often and it shows that she is not completely comfortable with it. Kim Bassinger is even more underused than Liotta but doesn't have his presence to register, didn't even remember her involvement on the most part at all. Then there is Augustus Prew, who features too much and is pretty annoying with some misplaced and not funny humour.Chemistry between Efron and Crew is not as believable or as genuine as that between him and Tahan. It just feels very underdeveloped and contrived on the most part. A lot of the dialogue is cringe-worthy and lays it on too thick with the corn and schmaltz. The storytelling generally is very muddled and can be dull and unsubtly maudlin, with the aftermath of the tragedy and especially the supernatural elements rather under-explored, the latter generally not making much sense. The final twist doesn't work as a result, found it confusing and very silly.All in all, far from bad but didn't live up to its potential. 5/10 Bethany Cox

Kirpianuscus Good cinematography. inspired music. lovely location. Zac Efron decent work. and emotions. a film with precise target. not only/exactly a teen one but a public knowing the lost of beloved other, the significance of the second chance, the return to yourself, the map of a love story changing everything. sure, far to be a great film. because it is easy to critic it. but, maybe only in my case, the impression was far to be bad. maybe, an usefull film. sure, for a precise part of public.

studioAT Although he's made some odd/silly career choices of late I think Zac Efron is a better actor than people give him credit for, and this film is one he made during the transition from teen movies to leading man.It's not as good a film as it could've been however, and contains lots of elements that we have seen used better elsewhere, but that is not to take away from a good performance from Efron, who manages to find the balance between the romance/drama sides of the role effectively.This re-collaboration with his '17 Again' director, Burr Steers is a decent attempt at a grown up role.

mc_croucher Zac Efron delivered a magnificent performance. He is definitely more than just the guy who was in the High School Musical movies. The story took me off guard and touched my heart with his devotion to his brother. Coming from someone who has lost someone, this story made every emotion possible flutter to the surface: sadness, hope, love, anger at fate, and desire to move forward. The grief that Zac Efron portrayed in the story is so accurate and so beautifully acted out. The brother, Sam (played by Charlie Tahan), was so precious. This movie over all was a rewarding film to watch, and a definite keeper. Congratulations Zac and Charlie for a stellar performance.