Disclaimer -

Please take every movie i recommend take it with a pinch of salt yeah haha. Oh and what i enjoy, may not translate to what you term enjoyment as well. These are personal favourites anyhow, it may or may not agree with you entirely. After all, there are so many different expectations we all have when we step into a movie theatre/rent/download a movie. Also my review isn't like any professional ones online or anything, rather amateurish stuff really. It's just general information and nothing much, and don't worry, no spoilers (or at least I don't intentionally give it up). Haha, So here goes.

First up,

Stay

Released: Oct 21, 2005
Starring : Ewan McGregor, Naomi Watts, Elizabeth Reaser, Ryan Gosling, Bob Hoskins
Director : Marc Foster (also directed Monster's Ball and Finding Neverland)

Side note : I watched this show on TV during my Japan trip. Anyhow, it was on HD as well! In japan they have certain HD channels for free haha. Damn I miss that place.

This film is about a psychologist (Ewan McGregor) trying to convince a man bent on suicide (Ryan Gosling) that life is worth living. Ryan gives Ewan 3 days to convince him. The movie starts out like a medical drama, as one would expect; just another day in the shoes of a psychologist whom leads a rather normal life with his wife (Naomi Watts).

However "Stay" soon twists into mystery wrapped with surreality and dreams. Normal scenes get distorted and what Ewan McGregor sees isn't really reality anymore. Everything becomes anything else really ; a skyscraper transforms almost immediately into a chess piece in one moment, spiral staircases last forever, and time repeats itself in a scene where the same conversations happen again, much to Ewan's disbelief. From here on, the plot takes multiple twists and turns, and you'll be racking your brains on this one, that's for sure.

There are many haunting scenes and some really disturbing ones as well. For instance, Ryan Goslings ability to predict what Ewan is saying, or him being able to cure a blind man in another scene.

Marc Forster's directing and filming is really state of the art here, and even though you don't know/can't comprehend what's unfolding in front of your eyes (believe me, it gets really confusing and bewildering), it's really beautiful. Forster fuses scenes with visual tricks and effects meant to displace viewers and the actors are basically puppets in this dream world.

Every scene is very intricate and if your attentive you'll spot many anomalies and details and really breath taking stuff as well. On a whole the effects and filming and all is top notch. A feast for the eyes, this film would definitely intrigue those into filmatography photography digital art/media/design etc.

Acting on a whole is really awesome as well, very intense stuff. Ewan McGregor constant disbelief and confusion really translates to the audience. Naomi Watts plays her part well and Ryan Gosling is really intense and powerful. You'll never peel your eyes off them.

The music fits the movie perfectly as well. Fast intense beats for the action packed moments and the melancholic depressing strings for the sad, moody ones. Notably I spotted Hamlet references, though knowledge of Shakespeare's play isn't required at all haha.

Thus, "Stay" is a film meant to challenge and provoke. It rewards attention and analysis on the viewers part. It may turn off the casual movie goer and for many it'll definitely frustrate because of its (supposed) non-linearity. The vivid, colourful and lucid nature of the film gives room for endless possibilities and interpretations. What the director wishes for you is to sit back, enjoy and embrace whatever is coming at you, even if it defies common notion and logic. Generally, it's not your typical point A to point B film, if you get my drift.

Personally I found my own meaning to the film, I'm not sure whether it is the correct one or not, but definitely I'm satisfied with what I've come up with. If you have doubts about the movie you could always chat with me hahaha I can't promise much but we could have a fruitful discussion.

Shawn's Rating : 3/5

More tomorrow guys!