Flatliners

1990 "Some lines shouldn't be crossed."
6.5| 1h55m| R| en
Details

Five medical students want to find out if there is life after death. They plan to stop one of their hearts for a few seconds, thus simulating death, and then bring the person back to life.

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Reviews

VeteranLight I don't have all the words right now but this film is a work of art.
Intcatinfo A Masterpiece!
Curapedi I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.
Dana An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.
B.J. Rice OK this movie is not brilliant and it is no Citizen Kane but that's fine and I don't care. It was really entertaining and scary and original. The remake is kind of a turkey but this one had a great cast and was just really fun to watch, especially with friends. Seriously look at how famous the main cast are now! Kiefer Sutherland is great in this, and I loved Platt too.
tamosoeka The basic storyline was to deliver something good. The film couldn't make it.After a few shots, it became clear what the rest of the film was going to be. Then it got slow. I lost the interest after the first half.It's a tiresome watch. But yes, you can watch it.
James As probably the last person (and certainly the last sci-fi-loving person) in the world to see "Flatliners", I am compelled to conclude, not merely that this film has failed to age well, but also that it may never have been that great. And this despite what seems from today's perspective a stellar cast.Put simply, it was hardly worth waiting all this time for.While the makers do eventually pull together a more or less coherent explanation for what happens to young student-doctors so cocksure that they think they can play about with death itself, this understanding is a long time coming, and on the way we get rather few scares, precious little enlightenment, a dubious artistic/aesthetic experience, and not much fun of any kind. To cap that, when we finally do gain insight, that moderately satisfying near-end moment is followed by a cheesefest of a very ending.Much of the film has a melodramatic, mad-scientist, Frankenstein look about it, which might be OK, were it not sandwiched between slices of ordinary medical-student life that seem to take us nowhere at all, despite the fact that they obviously need to be present - these are real people after all, aren't they? Aren't they? Certainly we need to philosophise about life after death and so on, but that needs to be put in the hands of believable characters that we care about. Kevin Bacon's character David comes closest to this, and it's nice to seem him here as the second-least villainous and wrong-headed of the protagonists (after Oliver Platt as Randy Steckle, who does the job well-enough then, as now ... which may not be exactly a compliment to his career, if one really thinks about it).The principal flaw (doubtless more so when seen from today looking back) is that makers and cast alike were probably too convinced they were on to a groundbreaking winner, and it made them lazy.Individuals within this small group of people are prepared to have their colleagues electric-shock and drug them into death for several minutes, also leaving the revival process entirely in their hands. And yet, when they come round, they are totally secretive about what they experience subsequently. Question: in what possible circumstance does that ring true? Answer: in none! Beyond that, we have some almost absurdly grandiose Chicago settings in which all of the study, the crazy experimentation and even the residing takes place (given the absolutely palatial surroundings in which some of our young medicos live). What seems impressive for the first 10 minutes later becomes oppressive and then simply ludicrous. Buildings subject to renovation are not guarded, and are accessible, not only to our interloping "heroes", but also to crowds of Halloween-partying students. Hadn't Health and Safety been invented in 1990? And Chicago seems to have shifted up to the North Pole, since in October there are so many hours of darkness that it hardly ever seems to get light! Thus, much as one would like to present "Flatliners" as a golden oldie, pioneer trendsetter and launchpad for some pretty good acting talent, it doesn't really come over that way for a new viewer in 2016.
Mr. Media I'd just like to start this by saying that I enjoyed this movie very much. I watched it after a recommendation from my dad and I was impressed. But, while I was impressed, I could definitely see some problems with it.First off, the good. The plot is INCREDIBLY unique for a thriller, having the main characters trying to find out if there is an afterlife by "killing" and reviving themselves. The cinematography is outstanding, bringing forth an unsettling atmosphere every thriller needs.And now, the bad. While the plot is good, it takes forever to get started! Until about halfway through the movie, the cast just talk about the process of reviving themselves after "death" without any real actions being caused. Then after that, the plot gets started as they realize their sins have traveled back to Earth with them as they come back to life. The first half is really the only boring part of the movie, with long talks and repeating (and kinda confusing) methods of suspended animation.However, besides the first half, the last half is definitely worth the price of admission. I'm very glad to have seen this movie, and I know you will be too!