The Lobster

1

GreatMartinJun 3, 2016

At least 2-3 times a year I get suckered into seeing a movie from seeing a trailer or hearing that it got 5 star reviews, it has an Oscar nominated director, a solid cast lead by an A list actor, sounds and/or looks different or for manyAt least 2-3 times a year I get suckered into seeing a movie from seeing a trailer or hearing that it got 5 star reviews, it has an Oscar nominated director, a solid cast lead by an A list actor, sounds and/or looks different or for many various reasons. For some, if not all the reasons listed, I went, with Allen and Philippe to see "The Lobster".

Walking out of the movie the best part was overhearing the audience making comments and reading the cremarks they left on The Gateway Theatre audience comment board. Oh yes, and listening to what Philippe and Allen had to say. One of them hit it on the head when they said "It was weird!" Allen was trying to make it more or less a time of the world in the very far future but that didn't fit in with cars and trucks of today among other things.

The premise is that being coupled is better and safer than being single. A person who is single for any various reasons has 45 days to find a partner or be turned into an animal of their choice. After that you are on your own folks!

Should you be intolerant of animal cruelity stay away from this movie though human beings aren't spared either and most in the audience kept their eyes closed in the last scene.

(I'm blaming Allen for putting us through this 1 hour and 58 minutes movie as all he had to say was that we should see something else!)… Expand

6 of 9 users found this helpful63

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6

whatdafrakJun 2, 2016

This movie had me hooked from the beginning, but the tonal shifts and lack of empathy I had for the characters really put me off toward the end. A noble effort, and one day I may revisit and like it more, but not the homerun I was hoping forThis movie had me hooked from the beginning, but the tonal shifts and lack of empathy I had for the characters really put me off toward the end. A noble effort, and one day I may revisit and like it more, but not the homerun I was hoping for based on the trailer.… Expand

0 of 3 users found this helpful03

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9

guilhermefdiasMay 31, 2016

The movie has so many deep messages, about society and relationships.
All put in a strange way, but in a brilliant way too.
I'm not surprised a lot of people will not get these messages. But this movie is something else, much bigger thanThe movie has so many deep messages, about society and relationships.
All put in a strange way, but in a brilliant way too.

I'm not surprised a lot of people will not get these messages. But this movie is something else, much bigger than what meets the eye.… Expand

4 of 8 users found this helpful44

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4

GinaKMay 31, 2016

I read this was a very funny satire. It’s about as funny as the old 1984 film with John Hurt, except Hurt was not as lethargic as Colin Farrell’s David. Had anyone been laughing, I would have heard them. Not even a chuckle. But I am ratingI read this was a very funny satire. It’s about as funny as the old 1984 film with John Hurt, except Hurt was not as lethargic as Colin Farrell’s David. Had anyone been laughing, I would have heard them. Not even a chuckle. But I am rating this film low for one reason – it was much too long. Lanthimos is also not a very interesting director visually, which is probably why no one asks him to direct action films. Too many of the forest scenes, especially, were very “in your face,” although maybe it was so we could see the rabbits, who were all probably former humans, and which would then mean this was a joke about fecundity. Are you laughing? The performances were very good, and I guess we all got the point. After the screening, the theater invites you to leave a note about the film with a letter grade and a short comment. The funniest thing I saw all day was one of these notes, which read “Can’t wait for Lobster II.” Oh, God, no!… Expand

2 of 5 users found this helpful23

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9

foltsyMay 30, 2016

Strange, wonderful, and brutal, with sprinklings of dark humor. The Lobster speaks to the absurdities of human relationships and the molds that society drives them into. Much like The Road or Requiem for a Dream, this is a film you won't needStrange, wonderful, and brutal, with sprinklings of dark humor. The Lobster speaks to the absurdities of human relationships and the molds that society drives them into. Much like The Road or Requiem for a Dream, this is a film you won't need to see twice, nor would you want to.… Expand

4 of 7 users found this helpful43

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9

JoanZMay 29, 2016

Incredibly imaginative dystopian setting that truly is best described as absurdist. What bothers me about the mixed and unfavorable reviews is the literal reactions of "disturbing" scenes and 'weirdness". Somehow they are not in on the wholeIncredibly imaginative dystopian setting that truly is best described as absurdist. What bothers me about the mixed and unfavorable reviews is the literal reactions of "disturbing" scenes and 'weirdness". Somehow they are not in on the whole absurd joke, and are instead simply put off by the appearance of blood. I imagine these individuals prefer their violence in neat clean packages delivered by automatic weapons and zombies.… Expand

6 of 10 users found this helpful64

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0

tennisman342May 29, 2016

This movie is absolutely horrible and very disturbing!!! I like quirky independent films, but there is no story here worth telling. It seems to try to come across as a dark drama/comedy set in the future where single people are looked downThis movie is absolutely horrible and very disturbing!!! I like quirky independent films, but there is no story here worth telling. It seems to try to come across as a dark drama/comedy set in the future where single people are looked down upon and must be coupled within 45 days, or be transformed into an animal of their choice. At first you think the movie is trying to point out the ridiculousness of this scenario, and society has gone so far astray to even allow this, with some sympathy directed to how single people may feel from time to time. The problem with this movie is that the humor is so dark and disturbing that it ceases to be funny. Once the movie is not funny, where it is supposed to be, you then try to figure out what it is going for. The story is not that interesting as a drama, the acting is very cardboard, and none of the characters you care about. As the movie progresses, you start itching more for a payoff to the sickening feeling you get from watching the dynamic among each of the characters unfold. After about an hour into the movie, it seems like these go on auto repeat in that the story to be told has been told, and now it is just going through variations of the same thing. I sat through it till around the end. I think it had maybe 10 to 15 minutes more to go, and I just could not take it anymore and me and my wife left. I did not care to see how it ended up. Typically, when I walk out of movies (and do this from time to time), I leave within the first hour. With this move, I kept thinking the end was near, as the running time is reported to be only 119 minutes, but when as things got worse the longer this move went on, I bailed out when it seemed it should have been over a long time ago (or I guess I wanted it to be over a long time ago). Again, one of the worst movies I have ever seen with no re-deeming value. Please save your money and avoid this one.… Expand

6 of 16 users found this helpful610

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0

ChigalabagalaMay 27, 2016

I stayed until the end of the film and agree with Urbanmagic: dreadful. Also disturbing. I don't mind being disturbed if there is a worthwhile point made and one can get invested in the characters (eg. Frank). But not here where theI stayed until the end of the film and agree with Urbanmagic: dreadful. Also disturbing. I don't mind being disturbed if there is a worthwhile point made and one can get invested in the characters (eg. Frank). But not here where the dialogue and characters are stylized and wooden. If the intent was to say that people are sheep and look for superficial similarities to establish a relationship, that was accomplished in the first 25 minutes. There is no need to see this film. She Her instead, if you haven't. It has much more to say about people and relationships.… Expand

12 of 15 users found this helpful123

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5

VonSeuxMay 27, 2016

"The lobster" is weird for the sake of being weird... not a movie I can easily recommend. Maybe would be better as a 40 minutes episode of Black Mirror.

1 of 9 users found this helpful18

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9

dolphindiddlerMay 27, 2016

As a dark comedy fan, this film more than satisfied my itch for absurdity. From beginning to end, I had absolutely no idea as to where the plot will take me. I'm sorry for anyone expecting a fun romp of a documentary about coruscations. ThatAs a dark comedy fan, this film more than satisfied my itch for absurdity. From beginning to end, I had absolutely no idea as to where the plot will take me. I'm sorry for anyone expecting a fun romp of a documentary about coruscations. That isn't to say that the title does not lend yet another branch of ambiguity.

Typically when it comes to this genre of film, the directors take a lot of creative liberty to the point that they're knocking you over the head with their idealism. This isn't the case for Yorgos Lanthimos, who has immense respect for the audience to come to their own conclusions on multiple aspects of the plot.

Yorgos also is brilliant at dropping you into this world with little explanation. I still have many questions as to how this world functions and why it is the way it is, but I think that way of thinking is pertinent when it comes to getting something out of a film (Sorry Michael Bay fans).

Colin Ferrell or as I called him "Fat Collin" is somber and soft spoken for the entirety of the film. The rest of the cast is delightfully quirky and intriguing. I got more out of the narrator than any other character in the film. This is an obvious nudge to the fact that this absurd world is the main character and the way its inhabitants interact with the circumstances is what defines its personality (if that makes any sense).

Although I won't suggest this film to most people, I highly implore giving it a watch if you enjoy confused belly laughs and absurd social commentary.… Expand

4 of 7 users found this helpful43

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3

Truth_TellerMay 27, 2016

Don't waste your time! This movie is very bizarre, it feels a lot like a Wes Anderson. For some reason critics always love these very long and boring movies. Maybe they are giving points for "originality" however even though the plot isDon't waste your time! This movie is very bizarre, it feels a lot like a Wes Anderson. For some reason critics always love these very long and boring movies. Maybe they are giving points for "originality" however even though the plot is certainly unique, it is fantasy that is made to be taken seriously. The tone doesn't make sense, the movie doesn't make sense. I came away thinking someone on drugs had made it.

All in all, I gave it a 3/10 for uniqueness, acting, and because I chuckled during one scene.… Expand

4 of 18 users found this helpful414

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8

Brent_MarchantMay 21, 2016

One of the most unusual -- and thought-provoking -- films to come along in quite a while. Its decidedly offbeat humor and wry symbolism work wonders in skewering everything from the current superficial state of courting rituals andOne of the most unusual -- and thought-provoking -- films to come along in quite a while. Its decidedly offbeat humor and wry symbolism work wonders in skewering everything from the current superficial state of courting rituals and relationship matters to the pressures of social conformity, regardless of which end of the polarized ideological spectrum one resides. The film admittedly becomes a little bogged down in the second hour, going off on tangents that could have easily been deleted, but, on balance, "The Lobster" represents a thoughtful, satirical look at where we stand as a society -- and, one hopes, where we'll resist the temptation to go.… Expand

3 of 6 users found this helpful33

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9

InglouriousAndyMay 17, 2016

"The Lobster" is wonderfully quirky and very funny. It has a ton of emotion and lots of style. It has a lot to say about the way society looks at relationships as well. A fantastic movie and one of the best films of the year.

5 of 9 users found this helpful54

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0

urbanmagicMay 15, 2016

This film is dreadful! Ponderous and pretentious beyond measure. The exodus from the screening I attended began at around 30 minutes in. If we'd been wise, we'd have left then. As it is, we stayed another torturous 30 minutes until it wasThis film is dreadful! Ponderous and pretentious beyond measure. The exodus from the screening I attended began at around 30 minutes in. If we'd been wise, we'd have left then. As it is, we stayed another torturous 30 minutes until it was utterly clear just how insufferable this poor excuse for a movie was. I can only assume that the critics all got together and smoked a huge quantity of crack before they saw this thing and wrote a good review of it. Nothing else can explain their confusing film student shocks as profundity. This rates as one of the worst films I have ever seen. I urge you to not even enter a theatre where it's playing.… Expand

8 of 15 users found this helpful87

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7

LeZeeMay 14, 2016

Another peculiar dystopian tale set in the future.

From the director of the Oscars nominated movie 'Dogtooth'. If you are familiar with his signature movie, you will find it so good. This is not the best movie I had seen that set in theAnother peculiar dystopian tale set in the future.

From the director of the Oscars nominated movie 'Dogtooth'. If you are familiar with his signature movie, you will find it so good. This is not the best movie I had seen that set in the future, but like any other it was another dystopian tale. A black comedy-romance with a decent storyline, performances and overall a nice entertainer.

The pace was very depressing, but I kept hooked to it for its frequent unpredictable scenes. The first act took place in a hotel which is the introduction to the odd world and the situation where the plot opens. When it moved to the 2nd half, especially after Rachel Weisz come into the frame, the entire scenario changed to atypical romance mode and kept that way till the last with a simple twist in the finale.

Colin Ferrell's character was something like the one from the movie 'Her'. But not the same movie, or the theme, except the combination of the genres. It was a good movie, I enjoyed it, but not as much as others say they did. IMPO, it is a one time watch movie for its peculiarness.

7/10… Expand

0 of 4 users found this helpful04

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8

meyersccaMay 13, 2016

Beautiful cinematography, almost felt a bit Wes Anderson-y. The dark humour was great. It slowed down quite a bit towards the end but still kept you intrigued nonetheless.

0 of 3 users found this helpful03

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7

SpangleMay 13, 2016

The Lobster has laid immediate claim to being one of the weirdest films I have ever seen. Wowzers this one is an odd little flick, yet is certainly brilliant at times. Colin Farrell and Rachel Weisz are phenomenal in both emotionally intimateThe Lobster has laid immediate claim to being one of the weirdest films I have ever seen. Wowzers this one is an odd little flick, yet is certainly brilliant at times. Colin Farrell and Rachel Weisz are phenomenal in both emotionally intimate and distant roles (you have to see to understand), while the direction from Yorgos Lanthimos is assured and very good. Under the watch of a lesser talent, The Lobster would be a complete mess. Under Lanthimos, however, it is a fantastically enjoying film. From being a great look at romance in the modern era, being truly funny, and moving, The Lobster's only sin is the great amount of violence against animals. This is not really a cinematic critique, but I do not really appreciate that amount of violence against animals, particularly dogs. Call me a prude, but not my thing. Regardless, The Lobster is still a great film that is wildly entertaining and shows just how quirky and downright weird film can get.… Expand

2 of 5 users found this helpful23

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3

NerdConsultantMay 13, 2016

The first english speaking film from Greek Director Yorgos Lanthimos and based on the reception i heard from my friends in Greece i was hyped for it, sadly it's not good, whilst this film did have some decent performances in it, it doesn’tThe first english speaking film from Greek Director Yorgos Lanthimos and based on the reception i heard from my friends in Greece i was hyped for it, sadly it's not good, whilst this film did have some decent performances in it, it doesn’t change the fact that this is one of the most pretentious pieces of twaddle that had everyone laughing in the cinema despite the fact that it was meant to be taken 100 percent seriously, the premise is the actors couple off or face being turned into animals, yes, seriously we have to take this 100% seriously , and they have to speak some horrifically awful dialogue. it's a movie that's thinks it's saying more than it really is. I just wanted out of the cinema!… Expand

5 of 18 users found this helpful513

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8

shoulderoforionMay 13, 2016

I liked this movie alot, thought it was going to be some way out there eurotrash but ended up feeling that it was great. Best movie I'd seen Colin Farrell in since In Bruges & Rachel Weisz and Olivia Coleman are always the best.

5 of 9 users found this helpful54

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The Lobster

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