Contentar Best movie of this year hands down!

InformationRap This is one of the few movies I've ever seen where the whole audience broke into spontaneous, loud applause a third of the way in.

Bluebell Alcock Ok... Let's be honest. It cannot be the best movie but is quite enjoyable. The movie has the potential to develop a great plot for future movies

Frances Chung Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

OJT Talented filmmaking from director of Pianapple Express, with a disturbing underlying nerve right from the start. The story evolves around two brothers growing up in a poor, rural farming environment in the southern part of Georgia. Troubles comes when the convicted brother of the father of the boys turned up unexpectedly, looking for some hidden gold coins.It's a well told story, a southern tragedy, with great acting from the entire cast. The underlying terror of the past is haunting in this piece of good film making. The story is perfectly told, but if something's lacking here, it's the final pull of interest. But it's beautiful, sad and heart wrenching from a lesser fortunate part of USA.Well worth a watch, if you don't expect a masterpiece, but a good film.

edenney01 6.7 IMDb rating? Seriously? It must be getting one compulsory extra rating point for each A-List actor/actress that was in it, and half point for Kristin Stewart. This would definitely have a 4 - 4.5 rating without the cast boost. I also need to make a point of remembering the director, editor, and whoever did the score, so I can avoid their movies in the future. The movie somehow managed to keep my interest long enough to watch the whole thing, but only just barely.And what's with the totally bizarre ending?! Flashing back and forth between the boy in the hospital bed with his grandpa (with tons of rouge on his cheeks) talking about his grandmother's cooking, to his brother standing in the hallway in a rather odd stance and holding a green balloon for some reason, to boy #1 fully dressed and wading in the ocean. Then the brother pops his balloon for no particular reason, and has no visible reaction to popping it. Fade to black. Huh??? Would've made sense if it was just the grandfather talking to the boy or boys.

Wuchak After viewing David Gordon Green's awesome "Snow Angels" (2007), easily one of the greatest dramas ever filmed, I decided I'd better give his previous film "Undertow" another chance. I'm glad I did because 2004's "Undertow" is the type of film that gets better with repeat viewings.The story revolves around two boys living with their father in rural Georgia near Savannah (where the film was shot), trying to eke out a living off the land. Chris is about 16 and Tim around 10; both manifest their grief over their dead mother and the challenges of their destitute isolation in different ways: Chris gets in trouble with the law, while Tim strangely seems obsessed with consuming non-edible items. Their father's brother comes to visit and seems affable enough, but there's a wild, sinister glint in his eyes. No wonder since he's frothing with hostility and greed. Havoc ensues."Undertow" is a bit reminiscent of Terrence Malick's "Days of Heaven" (1978) in that both are realistic dramas focusing on youths in rural areas and both offer a dreamy viewing experience. Each try hard to enchant with their movie magic. Unlike "Days", however, "Undertow" is rooted in the Southern Gothic genre. Of the two, I favor "Undertow".It goes without saying that these types of arty films aren't for everyone. Those bred on modern "blockbusters" will likely find "Undertow" dull, meandering and pointless. And, I admit, I myself wasn't all that impressed the first time I watched it. I didn't hate it; I just didn't "get" it, if you know what I mean. I'm glad I gave it a second (and third) chance, however, because "Undertow" succeeded in pulling me in under its spell, so to speak. Maybe you just have to be in the right mode for a film of this ilk.The "dreamy" quality mentioned above is facilitated by Philip Glass's mesmerizing score. It's simple and repetitive, but greatly effective. Like the movie, it grows on you. In fact, I've gone to the closing credits a few times just to enjoy this brilliant composition.Being a Southern Gothic drama/thriller, "Undertow" has a cool Southern ambiance. Other films that are successful in this manner come to mind: "The General's Daughter", "Ode to Billy Joe", "I Walk the Line" (with Gregory Peck, 1970), "Mississippi Burning", "Squirm", "The Man in the Moon" and "The Skeleton Key". If you have a taste for these types of films (and "Days of Heaven") you'll likely appreciate "Undertow".Kristen Stewart has a small role in the first half hour.The film runs 108 minutes.FINAL WORD: It may not strike you on the first viewing but "Undertow" is a mesmerizing Southern Gothic drama/thriller; in some ways brilliant. I'm presently only giving it 8/10 because its point is elusive. What's it all mean? Regardless, "Undertow" is one of those films that gets better and better with each viewing, sort of like songs you didn't like at first but ultimately become all-time favorites. GRADE: B+

Joseph Sylvers Not quite the southern Gothic revival I was expecting from David Gordan Green after watching "George Washington" but not too bad anyway.Two brothers witness their Uncle kill their father, for a set of lost gold coins, and unable to turn to the police, are forced to escape cross country, and encounter many strange and symbolic characters along the way.All and all I wasn't as impressed with Green's stunner of a debut, his trademark writing style is still present "can I carve my smile in your face?", but it's used less here, to the movies detriment. There's some great cinematography as well, the same sense of the beautiful junkyards and backwoods, but the overall story feels kinda contrived. There are some fairy tale-esquire moments, which elevate this above a normal thriller, but a masterpiece this is not.I got the sense when watching this it might be better the next time, or it might be worse. Worth watching for Dave Gordon Green fans, and those interested in beautiful photography of the south, or thrillers in general, but overall it just didn't seem to connect all it threads.