The Congress

Discuss movies (including free films)
Post Reply
Message
Author
User avatar
Beate
The Modfather (& Three-Time Prediction Master!)
The Modfather (& Three-Time Prediction Master!)
Posts: 22013
Joined: Fri Jun 19, 2009 4:26 pm
Old post count: 6588
Preferred Cinemas: West India Quay, Greenwich, Surrey Quays + Central London (Vue Islington, Apollo, Odeon Covent Garden, Cine Haymarket, Leicester Sq/West End)
Location: London
Contact:
Contact Beate

The Congress

#1 Post by Beate » Sun Aug 10, 2014 1:37 pm

What the f... was that?

So I watched Being Robin Wright, sorry, The Congress at Vue Piccadilly Circus today. Went there in a rainstorm. That's a full morning I'll never get back.

It started intriguing enough but then it just descended into total weirdness. Everything that happened "20 years later" was completely bonkers, in psychedelic animation, and didn't interest me anymore. It's confusing, over-intellectual and wordy, a mess that tries to do too much at once, achieving little. Only perma-smiling Tom Cruise raised a slight titter.

Choices, Robin, choices. This might have been a bad one again.

4/10
:popcorn: Member No. 1 of the "100 free films in 2020" club. 7 seen :popcorn:
o/ Member No. 1 of the "100 free films in 2009 - 2019" clubs. 826 seen o/
Image Member No. 1 of the "104 free previews in 2008" club. 92 seen Image
Top
asamaic
The Sixth Sense
The Sixth Sense
Posts: 1863
Joined: Fri May 25, 2012 8:04 am
Old post count: 0
Preferred Cinemas: Vue West End, Cineworld Haymarket, Odeon West End, Odeon Leicester Square, Empire Leicester Square, Cineworld Shaftesbury Avenue, Odeon Panton Street - followed by anywhere in central(ish) London like Vue Islington.
Location: London

Re: The Congress

#2 Post by asamaic » Sun Aug 10, 2014 1:48 pm

Well, I adored it. I thought it was ok, then when it crossed into animation, it blew my mind. Everything I love about weird French and Japanese films all rolled up into one glorious explosion of WTH?

The guy to my right walked out quite far towards the end - if he was going to leave, he should have done so earlier. I mean, once you get that far through, you may as well see the payoff?

Definitely the best film I've seen since Si tu seras mon fils. I'd p*y go see it again.

PS nice to run into rawsalsa, pxc and LCN! o/
Preferred cinemas:
Vue West End, Cineworld Haymarket, Odeon West End, Odeon Leicester Square, Empire Leicester Square, Cineworld O2, Cineworld Shaftesbury Avenue and Odeon Panton Street, followed by anywhere in central(ish) London.
Top
User avatar
Beate
The Modfather (& Three-Time Prediction Master!)
The Modfather (& Three-Time Prediction Master!)
Posts: 22013
Joined: Fri Jun 19, 2009 4:26 pm
Old post count: 6588
Preferred Cinemas: West India Quay, Greenwich, Surrey Quays + Central London (Vue Islington, Apollo, Odeon Covent Garden, Cine Haymarket, Leicester Sq/West End)
Location: London
Contact:
Contact Beate

Re: The Congress

#3 Post by Beate » Sun Aug 10, 2014 2:23 pm

There was no payoff for me other than having had a bit of a snooze!
:popcorn: Member No. 1 of the "100 free films in 2020" club. 7 seen :popcorn:
o/ Member No. 1 of the "100 free films in 2009 - 2019" clubs. 826 seen o/
Image Member No. 1 of the "104 free previews in 2008" club. 92 seen Image
Top
asamaic
The Sixth Sense
The Sixth Sense
Posts: 1863
Joined: Fri May 25, 2012 8:04 am
Old post count: 0
Preferred Cinemas: Vue West End, Cineworld Haymarket, Odeon West End, Odeon Leicester Square, Empire Leicester Square, Cineworld Shaftesbury Avenue, Odeon Panton Street - followed by anywhere in central(ish) London like Vue Islington.
Location: London

Re: The Congress

#4 Post by asamaic » Sun Aug 10, 2014 2:34 pm

Beate wrote:There was no payoff for me other than having had a bit of a snooze!
It's a comfy cinema, I'll give you that. :p What time did you walk out, incidentally? I'm curious as to how much you saw.
Preferred cinemas:
Vue West End, Cineworld Haymarket, Odeon West End, Odeon Leicester Square, Empire Leicester Square, Cineworld O2, Cineworld Shaftesbury Avenue and Odeon Panton Street, followed by anywhere in central(ish) London.
Top
User avatar
LondonCityNights
Phase IV
Phase IV
Posts: 430
Joined: Wed May 23, 2012 2:59 pm
Old post count: 0

Re: The Congress

#5 Post by LondonCityNights » Sun Aug 10, 2014 2:59 pm

I absolutely adored this film! One of the most rewarding cinematic experiences I've had in a long time. I deeply respect a film that's willing to be aggressively confusing. It doesn't pander to conventional plotting or exposition - trusting that we're smart enough to go with the flow. Honestly one of the more beautiful films I've seen in years and for my money a stone cold classic.

Here's my full review:

http://www.londoncitynights.com/2014/08 ... olman.html

★★★★★
Member No. 18 of the "100 Free Films in 2014" club 122 seen 8O
Member No. 18 of the "100 Free Films in 2013" club 100 seen :sunglasses:
http://www.londoncitynights.com - in depth film (and theatre, art, music etc) reviews.
Top
User avatar
Beate
The Modfather (& Three-Time Prediction Master!)
The Modfather (& Three-Time Prediction Master!)
Posts: 22013
Joined: Fri Jun 19, 2009 4:26 pm
Old post count: 6588
Preferred Cinemas: West India Quay, Greenwich, Surrey Quays + Central London (Vue Islington, Apollo, Odeon Covent Garden, Cine Haymarket, Leicester Sq/West End)
Location: London
Contact:
Contact Beate

Re: The Congress

#6 Post by Beate » Sun Aug 10, 2014 5:43 pm

asamaic wrote:
Beate wrote:There was no payoff for me other than having had a bit of a snooze!
It's a comfy cinema, I'll give you that. :p What time did you walk out, incidentally? I'm curious as to how much you saw.
I never said I walked out - I didn't.
:popcorn: Member No. 1 of the "100 free films in 2020" club. 7 seen :popcorn:
o/ Member No. 1 of the "100 free films in 2009 - 2019" clubs. 826 seen o/
Image Member No. 1 of the "104 free previews in 2008" club. 92 seen Image
Top
asamaic
The Sixth Sense
The Sixth Sense
Posts: 1863
Joined: Fri May 25, 2012 8:04 am
Old post count: 0
Preferred Cinemas: Vue West End, Cineworld Haymarket, Odeon West End, Odeon Leicester Square, Empire Leicester Square, Cineworld Shaftesbury Avenue, Odeon Panton Street - followed by anywhere in central(ish) London like Vue Islington.
Location: London

Re: The Congress

#7 Post by asamaic » Sun Aug 10, 2014 7:53 pm

Beate wrote: I never said I walked out - I didn't.
Ah, sorry. I must have misheard pxc! The more I reflect on the film, the more I love it. I think it's the first time in a lonnnng while a Sunday morning screening has been worth getting up for.
Preferred cinemas:
Vue West End, Cineworld Haymarket, Odeon West End, Odeon Leicester Square, Empire Leicester Square, Cineworld O2, Cineworld Shaftesbury Avenue and Odeon Panton Street, followed by anywhere in central(ish) London.
Top
User avatar
prettyxcool
8 1/2
8 1/2
Posts: 9944
Joined: Tue Aug 25, 2009 11:37 pm
Old post count: 0
Preferred Cinemas: Prefer all Central London, then Islington, Notting Hill, Whiteleys, Shepherd's Bush, Westfield, Holloway, Swiss Cottage, Clapham, WIQ, Greenwich 02, Surrey Quays, Fulham.
Location: London

Re: The Congress

#8 Post by prettyxcool » Mon Aug 11, 2014 1:07 am

Weird sci-fi with live action and animation, but interesting story, and fascinating animation and fantasy. The imagery in both the live action and animation is stunning. A very thought provoking film. Another marmite film, my friends were split too. Made me forget my toothache! o/ 8/10

Lovely to bump into rawsalsa and asamaic afterwards. Sorry for the confusion, rawsalsa asked where was Beate, she thought she saw her, and I said yes, she has left now, she does not hang around once a film finishes :-)
Member No. 17 of the "100 free films in 2019" club. 50 seen so far
My Movie Scores click here

2018 - 100 seen (9 premieres/Press) Also 2 Opera, 1 Netfix, 15 theatres, 2 concerts, 1 ballet)
2017 - 106 seen
2016 - 116 seen
2015 - 120 seen (16 premieres, 2 Gala Screenings). Also 3 theatres/shows, 2 concerts
2014 - 132 seen (26 premieres and 7 Gala Screenings). Also 18 misc. free events/concerts
2013 - 115 Seen (12 premieres). Also 6 theatres/shows, 5 concerts
2012 - 118 seen (23 premieres). Also 12 theatres/shows.
2011 - 133 seen
2010 - 105 seen
Top
User avatar
umral
Air Force One
Air Force One
Posts: 36
Joined: Thu Jan 30, 2014 3:33 pm
Old post count: 0

Re: The Congress

#9 Post by umral » Mon Aug 11, 2014 5:42 pm

I enjoyed the live action scenes more than the animation, but it held my attention throughout. Teetered a little on Terrence Malick / Tree of Life territory (but with whales rather than dinosaurs). Overall, great to see a thoughtful, intelligent film that’s willing to take a few risks to make its point.
Top
User avatar
sikmansam
Phase IV
Phase IV
Posts: 275
Joined: Sat May 28, 2011 6:23 pm
Preferred Cinemas: Stratford Vue, Stratford Picturehouse, West india Quay Cineworld, Greenwich O2, Greenwich Odeon, Vue Islington, Whiteleys Odeon, Shepherds Bush Vue, Wimbledon Odeon
Location: London
Contact:
Contact sikmansam

Re: The Congress

#10 Post by sikmansam » Tue Aug 12, 2014 1:30 pm

The transition from live-action to animation isn't completely smooth, but I really enjoyed this. Robin Wright is terrific, the cartoon world is beautiful, and though there's so many big ideas floating around, Folman puts them together in a satisfying way.

8/10

My review:
Top
Post Reply

Return to “Film Discussion”