Tyler Aikens
7Mar12
Too vague? I thought it read loud and clear. Paranoia will follow her where ever she goes. Whether or not the car they pass is the cult-mobile is not what is important.
Wall
Displaying wall posts 31 - 60 of 149 in total
Anders Bergstrom
25Jul12
Frightening and unnerving, this film lingers with you. Fascinating look at the way belief systems enculturate us in various ways. While the film in no way condones the cult or its leader Patrick (John Hawkes is great here) it pulls at some of the weak points in mainstream Western capitalist culture that make such alternate belief systems so attractive.
Ulrich Jarløv.dk
28Jun12
Impressive as hell. Great camerawork, those long takes, creeping and moving, quietly; great choice. And the long zoom-ins killed me, slowly. Great performances- Olsen and Hawkes has gotten all of the attention and they were really good but Sarah Paulson was even better. Great use of music and sound. Disturbing. And the flash back structure was utilized to maximum effect. Sean Durkin may be American Film's savior..
Winrit
27Jun12
Great lead performance. Good interplay between between present and past that strengthens both sides of the story and adds to the ominous feel.
Lindsay likes this
Dorin Moldoveanu
15May12
Patrick is a very weak alpha male. I don't understand how he gathered all those people around him.
Flying Dutchman likes this
Effendi Ben Smith-Malick
10May12
"I can't dislike you, but I will say this to you: you haven't got long before you are all going to kill yourselves, because you are all crazy. And you can project it back at me, but I am only what lives inside each and every one of you." - Charles Manson
ramosbarajas
8May12
The performance by Olsen is very good. The characterization, for the most part, is very well written. Dancy's character seems a bit of a cliche, but it works. The story works well, and I feel the ending is fitting. I liked it, even if many think that it's underwhelming.
Mr. Arkadin
27Apr12
In addition to seconding the comment immediately below, I'd also say: If the film could've sustained more moments like that last scene/shot, when the outcome of both the film and of M.'s sanity is suspended in so much doubt (i.e., *is* it the cult leader in the SUV following them or isn't it?), then I'd have found the film more remarkable.
Sean P and Matt Reddick like this
HKFanatic
20Apr12
A strong performance here from Elizabeth Olsen, but if you know the premise of the film and have read the tagline on the poster then the movie itself will hold no surprises for you. The less you know going in, the more I think you will enjoy "Martha Marcy May Marlene." Otherwise it's 110 minutes of a rather repetitive structure that takes you exactly where you suspect it will.
Mr. Arkadin likes this
wolfmansRazor
11Apr12
The intentionally disorienting edits mirror Martha's traumatized psyche. Some of the characterizations were of the stock variety (particularly Hugh Dancy's rich asshole husband), but that was more than made up for by the intense yet subtle tension. At its best, it recalls the slow burn of a Haneke or a Polanski.
pivic
10Apr12
A film with a cult-tinge that tricks the viewer into feeling that the film was made without any notion of strain or effort while treating you to intelligent conversation: finally! Miraculously directed, written, photographed and acted, I think the film points the finger at the individual, the cult and the non-cult family all the same. More, please.
Neo-Gloom
7Apr12
More a portrait of a shattered woman than anything else. The film sets an increasingly anxious mood and plays some decent head games which make for adequate homages to its influences (Polanski, Hitchcock.) However these are two filmmakers who were often defined by their powerful and revelatory climaxes, something this film definitely lacks. It unfortunately never hits that peak, and was thus slightly underwhelming.
lasttimeisaw
7Apr12
a good indie with a powerful performance, a 6/10 my review: http://lasttimeisawdotcom.wordpress.com/2012/04/07/last-film-i-saw-martha-marcy-may-marlene/
William Low
28Mar12
Pretty good psychological drama with great acting from Olsen. The ending is haunting
Ciprian Ailenei
24Mar12
I saw this one during the Bucharest International Film Festival and I've really enjoyed it. The film was introduced to us as being somewhere between Polanski and Bergman. I think that's too pretentious, although there is a grain of truth in that statement. Watch it, at least for its well-crafted non-linear storytelling.
Westley
22Mar12
Really good film. I loved how the film subtly draws parallels between the cult life and the life of Martha's "normal" sister and brother-in-law, exposing how the sister and brother-in-law's life structure and behavior towards Martha is almost as bad as the cult's was.
PatriciaFlorrick likes this
sea-of-ether
19Mar12
Loved, loved, loved this film. Scared me so much. Elizabeth Olsen is incredible.
Bijoux Alexanderplatz likes this
VIOLHAINE LARSEN
11Mar12
J'ai apprécié les images et les sous-entendus mais je n'arrive pas à savoir si j'en attendais plus ou non, si la fin me satisfait ou non, s'il manque quelque chose ou non.
Brian Padian
9Mar12
amazing debut. visual design and sound design top-notch. left me a little breathless
Ryan Clark
27Feb12
Despite a stunning performance by Elizabeth Olsen and an immense feeling of dread, this film really could have used a rewrite. It might have been a powerful statement with a tighter script, but ultimately it feels pointless because the ending is too vague and there's no payoff of any kind. It's frustrating, because the potential for greatness is definitely there.
mannequinlegs and 3 others like this
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Ryan Clark
10Mar12
The ending would be fine if the entire movie didn't feel like it was building up to something that never happens.
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