Safety Not Guaranteed

Sad Professor

Oddball indie comedy. Great concept and early reviews are positive. Looks like a winner.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ve3pKug_Htc

Mickeroo

Looks good, trailer appears a bit too spoilery had to turn it off though.

Sad Professor

Don't worry. The trailer doesn't spoil the ending.

Mickeroo

Sad Professor wrote: »

Don't worry. The trailer doesn't spoil the ending.

Ah yeah I'm sure, its just when the started saying stuff like

he's really being followed

. It could be completely misleading I suppose.

Have you seen it?

Sad Professor

No, I haven't seen it.

I guess that bit is a spoiler, but a minor one since we don't know why. It's not necessarily because he's telling the truth. I doubt this is a film that hinges on a twist.

I wonder if the original person that posted the classified ad went back in time too.

Mickeroo

Sad Professor wrote: »

No, I haven't seen it.

I guess that bit is a spoiler, but a minor one since we don't know why. It's not necessarily because he's telling the truth. I doubt this is a film that hinges on a twist.

Yea I don't think there's a twist either, and I doubt he's really time travelling. I think its more a Lars and the Real Girl kind of situation if you know what I mean. Still the less I know about it going in the better

Hope it doesn't take an eternity getting out over here.

marknine

Looks fantastic. Looking forward to seeing this.

Skinfull

Deleted User wrote: »

I wonder if the original person that posted the classified ad went back in time too.

This. Though I wonder if he'll get a cut in the profits. I like the idea and it looks good with 2 male actors I have enjoyed in the past (though not carnally! ) so semi excited thumbs up from me

Basq

Looks good.. and has a promising cast in it too!

JP Liz V1

Basq wrote: »

Looks good.. and has a promising cast in it too!

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1862079/

Kristen Bell is also listed in the cast

aidan_walsh

Heard about this on a podcast, there was a showing at SxSW this year. Supposed to be funny. Looking forward to it.

Tallon

Just watched this tonight

Brilliant film!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73jSnAs7mq8

DaveNoCheese

Looks worth the watch,will add it to the list.

Skerries

aww that was a really great film, really enjoyed it

the whole thing with the dinosaurs was great

joking!

Or am I?

FortuneChip

Snap!
I've been waiting to watch this for ages.

I really enjoyed it.
I've never watched anything with Aubrey Plaza before, she's brilliant.
There was great chemistry between her and Duplass throughout the movie.
The plot was a little silly at time, but a great cast meant it didn't matter.

I'll be recommending this to friends

Aubrey Plaza is excellent in Parks and Recreation, so it's great to see her getting movie roles.

Sad Professor

Looks like this will be getting a theatrical release on Stephen's Day. About 6 months after the US, by which time everyone will have watched a rip of the US DVD. Distributors must lose a fortune to these staggered release dates.

gazzer

Watched this last night and I thought it was really good was very surprised

by the ending. Didnt think it would end like that. I just assumed it would be left pretty vague and there would be a note found in the box in the pick up truck.

gazzer

gazzer wrote: »

Watched this last night and I thought it was really good was very surprised

by the ending. Didnt think it would end like that. I just assumed it would be left pretty vague and there would be a note found in the box in the pick up truck.

Must admit that's what I thought too.

Loved the moment when they had their fists in the air as it was starting up and, when it vanished, they were shocked

Surprised by how good it actually was. From the premise to the trailer, I thought it was rubbish, but it was brilliant.

charlie_says

Will be watching this tonight. Looks fun

Watched it twice today and really loved it. It's just a wonderful film with so much warmth and heart that you can't just fall in love with it. It's a quirky, lo-fi, rom com that should for all intents and purposes be nothing more than a mild distraction but it all just works so well. The cast are great and the characters are well rounded and believable thanks to the strong script which goes places you really want it to but don't expect it. The underlying theme of how youthful dreams and ambitions fade over time is well handled and like everything the wonderfully talented Duplass brothers are involved it there's a sense of hope to it all.

Safety Not Guaranteed is just an infectiously wonderful piece of cinema that I can see myself revisiting every few months. Already have the Blu-Ray ordered and am looking forward to making everyone I know watch it.

Tallon

So was the girlfriend really dead?

He said she must have been alive because the mission was a success therefore he was able to leave her and start over with the new girl?

Also, the ear was so funny considering it had nothing to do with the film :P

Jimdagym

I am really hoping there's not a spoiler there Mr Tallon!

Tallon

Jimdagym wrote: »

I am really hoping there's not a spoiler there Mr Tallon!

Yeah, a little bit

Just watch it

Jimdagym

Tallon wrote: »

Yeah, a little bit

Just watch it

Ha, I am hoping to tonight. Dont know why I keep tormenting myself with these threads untill I do!!!

Tallon

Jimdagym wrote: »

Ha, I am hoping to tonight. Dont know why I keep tormenting myself with these threads untill I do!!!

What I said won't make sense if you've already read it anyway

Might watch it myself again tonight as the gf wasn't happy I did without her :P

Basq

Absolutely loved this!

Cast was all top-notch but the chemistry between Duplass and Plaza was really fantastic.

Am hoping Plaza gets more roles... yes, she basically plays April from Parks and Rec, but it's not necessarily a bad thing since she's great at deadpan sarcasm.

Jake Johnston was superb as well.. but he's also top-notch in New Girl.

You know - we need more understated rom-com's with elements of sci-fi!

Can't recommend it enough!

Reall hope that everyone who downloaded the film will pay for it at some stage. It was made for peanuts and it's theatrical run was mediocre. It really deserves to be much bigger that it has been.

Goldstein

This was far, far better and more enjoyable than it has any right to be on paper. Definitely a case of the outcome exceeding the component parts. Mentally flicking back over the memorable parts of the film you have to make quite a few stops along the way such is the variety of charming yet simple scenes enhanced by the excellent cast.

There's an honesty there and a laying bare of the facts of life, the incessant march of time, the transience of youth and woven into all the longing for a meaningful connection to another soul. The subtlety and apparent effortlessness with which this is acomplished in the relatively simple framework of the film's narrative will make this one a native of many a DVD shelf. Loved the playful, uncontrived sincerety of this one I must admit.

johnny_ultimate

Old fashioned soul that I am, I shall be waiting for the cinema release or legal equivalent even if the distributors have done little to earn such stubborn generosity.

I'm glad to see Mark Duplass getting some attention though - one of the most charming, likeable and unpretentious actors currently working on the American independent scene. His everyman shtick allows you to almost instantly warm to the individuals he portrays. A solid writer / director too, but he's been graced with excellent roles by others, especially under the direction of Ms. Lynn Shelton.

Basq

As an aside - am not a fan of Duplass as a director to be honest.. I somewhat enjoyed Cyrus but everyone else I've seen from the Duplass Brothers veered between overwrought and a tad pretentious.

He is absolutely excellent in this though!

johnny_ultimate

Baghead is the best film the brothers have made by a distance (but have heard positive things about The Do-Deca-Pentathlon). While I like most of their films - although was left cold by Jeff, Who Lives at Home - I would only cautiously praise their directorial output. I do think he has a great screen presence, however. He was excellent in My Sister's Sister earlier this year - himself, Emily Blunt and Rosemarie DeWitt made what should have been a contrived, disposable rom-com something much more endearing.

AnonoBoy

Is this out on the auld DVD yet?

Basq

AnonoBoy wrote: »

Is this out on the auld DVD yet?

Nope, it's not even out in cinemas over here til St Stephens Day.

The Region 1 DVD is out at the end of the month.

Skinfull

Skinfull wrote: »

This. Though I wonder if he'll get a cut in the profits. I like the idea and it looks good with 2 male actors I have enjoyed in the past (though not carnally! ) so semi excited thumbs up from me

Quite brilliantly he actually has a cameo in the movie and is credited as "time travel consultant". The ad was originally placed as a last minute filler for a magazine he worked in.

AnonoBoy

Basq wrote: »

Nope, it's not even out in cinemas over here til St Stephens Day.

Something to watch over the Christmas then. Cheers.

charlie_says

I just finished it a few minutes ago.

A bit of a let down really, I thought it was going to be an offbeat sci fi but it turned out to be a bit hipster romantic comedy with a small side portion of sci fi.

A few funny parts but nothing special for me. 6/10 but I don't like romantic comedies myself.

NinjaK

saw it last night, it was ok, the ending part was the best:)

Psychedelic

Watched this last night, thought it was a lovely feel-good film. All the characters are likeable, it's funny in places, and overall it's charming.

It's not a time travel movie like Back to the Future, and not a major head-scratcher filled with paradoxes, but it leaves you with a few things left to think about afterwards. There is scope for a sequel if they really wanted to but it works just fine as it is.

The music is nice, especially one song in particular toward the end. There are some really heart-warming scenes but I didn't feel it was overly sentimental or melodramatic, it just touched the right balance for me. It's nicely paced and doesn't drag on, with just an 85 minute runtime.

It's not going to blow you away but it's a really nice film, highly recommend it.

Psychedelic

Psychedelic wrote: »

Watched this last night, thought it was a lovely feel-good film. All the characters are likeable, it's funny in places, and overall it's charming.

It's not a time travel movie like Back to the Future, and not a major head-scratcher filled with paradoxes, but it leaves you with a few things left to think about afterwards. There is scope for a sequel if they really wanted to but it works just fine as it is.

The music is nice, especially one song in particular toward the end. There are some really heart-warming scenes but I didn't feel it was overly sentimental or melodramatic, it just touched the right balance for me. It's nicely paced and doesn't drag on, with just an 85 minute runtime.

It's not going to blow you away but it's a really nice film, highly recommend it.

I liked that there was essentially one paradox, with regards to the girlfriend dying - even though it was left a bit up in the air. Time travel movies get bogged down in these and it was nice to see one that didn't

Staedtler

charlie_says wrote: »

I just finished it a few minutes ago.

A bit of a let down really, I thought it was going to be an offbeat sci fi but it turned out to be a bit hipster romantic comedy with a small side portion of sci fi.

A few funny parts but nothing special for me. 6/10 but I don't like romantic comedies myself.

Preconceptions and all that . . . .

I don't think I'd like anyone who dislikes this movie.

johnny_ultimate

On a Parks & Recreations binge at the moment, and being won over by Plaza's deadbeat stylings, I caved and decided to watch this tonight (legitimately, as films of this scale deserve).

Thoroughly enjoyed it. It's simple and hugely effective. The opening worried me a bit, with its quirky wide-angled visuals and incessantly chirpy soundtrack (easily the film's weakest point). Such concern was unwarranted. All the cast are wonderful. Plaza and Duplass - both of whom I admittedly was already a fan of - are great. Plaza's sincerity and increasing emotional involvement to the project is endearing, while Duplass works wonders with his eccentric but convincingly troubled protagonist. Like all great romances, you can't help but root for them. Was less sure of the Johnson's subplot at first, but ultimately it resonates with the core story in surprisingly subtle and insightful ways. Most of the characters in the film are dealing with and attempting to right some sort of loss, and Jeff's story illustrates that

some things in life are oftentimes unfixable and doomed to an unhappy ending

. It all moves along amiably to a pitch perfect finale.

Short and sweet is a cliché, but it's appropriate here. Its typical indie film quirks are ably countered by a powerful charm offensive, and this film is feelgood in the most wonderful way. Modest and unpretentious, only the hardiest of cynics will fail to crack a smile.

Sad Professor

I loved it! One of the most refreshing and vibrant offbeat comedies of recent years. Laugh-out-loud hilarious and yet totally endearing with heartfelt performances from all, though it's Plaza who makes the biggest impression. I can't recommend it enough.

johnny_ultimate

Went to see it in the cinema today, and it certainly holds up on viewing two. It's a perfectly enjoyable, straightforward story on its own terms and that ending is just ****ing terrific. But there's also layers of ambiguity to it, and leaves a lot of the film's deeper implications and resonances up to the viewer to work out.

The whole time travel aspect is handled particularly well - it raises lots of intriguing questions that are fun to discuss afterwards. Was the mission ultimately a success, and what exactly did they change? Did Belinda actually die? What were the specifics of Kenneth's first trip back?

The film also impressively doesn't condescend or spell out exactly how the different story strands resonate with each other thematically or otherwise.

Not sure how much scrutiny some of the more ambiguous plot notes warrant

(it is a member of that infamously paradoxical genre that is the time travel movie, after all)

but they add a fun extra layer to a film that is already terrific fun when taken at face value as a crowdpleasing comedy-drama.

Also: Aubrey Plaza needs more roles ASAP.

pixelburp

Maybe it was the fact I did an overdose of Parks & Rec in the last couple of weeks (absolutely top-drawer comedy btw, post season 1), but I wasn't as won over by Plazas performance as others: it just seemed like a slightly more sentimental version of her character April from the TV show. She has a definite skill at the deadpan, but there didn't seem to be a whole lot else going on.

The movie itself was nice, meant in the nicest possible way. It was sweet & big-hearted, without being overly sentimental, the comedy wasn't overwrought &

given the plotting minefield that is time-travel, it was nice that they kept things simple (relatively speaking, hoho) rather than try to tangle the script with potential paradoxes - though it's obvious enough they did actually go back in time; the flashy SFX was clue enough

My only real grumble might be that it felt like Jeffs storyline lacked any kind of closure: there were obvious parallels drawn between his desperate attempt to relive his student days & Kenneths experiment, but that storyline just seemed to sputter out to nothing.

Sleepy

Really enjoyed this movie.

It's one of those films that often makes me think there should be a donatetofilms.com where viewers could contribute something towards movies they've downloaded and enjoyed. Sort of a crowd-funding after the fact.

It wouldn't be hard to see a model which would allow the site to be self-financing (small cut of every donation type thing) but I'd wonder would the studios cut their nose off to spite their faces and subpoena the personal information of those who were donating (and admitting to having downloaded the movie).

Sad Professor

If you want to support the film you could always, you know, buy a cinema ticket. Safety Not Guaranteed is still showing in the IFI and the Lighthouse. Or buy the Blu-ray when it comes out.

johnny_ultimate

Yep, plenty of ways to support the filmmakers if you so wish. The easiest way is not to download it in the first place. The film has been available on Region 1 DVD or iTunes US for months, for example, which are easily accessible with a minimum of effort. Yes, the cinema release over here was poorly judged - am I correct in saying it only received a two-screen release months and months after its US release? - but there are always legal alternatives for supporting small films like this.

Sad Professor

Yeah, it only went out on 2 cinemas - the IFI and Lighthouse. I was surprised Cineworld at least didn't have it. Lousy release! Another Earth (which came out in December of last year) got a better release (4 or 5 cinemas I think) and it was far less commercial. Distributor just didn't push this enough, I guess.

However, the Lighthouse and the IFI are both showing it until the 10th. And the Lighthouse will often squeeze in extra showings of popular films for several weeks after. So anyone in Dublin who wants to see this theatrically really has no excuse.

Sleepy

I don't have the time, finances or inclination to visit the the cinema to see every film I want to watch and don't see any point to physical media in a digital world.

What I'm suggesting is a way of ensuring those who create the content would be justly rewarded for it and those other industries (retail, distribution, packaging, pressing, owners of the codecs/formats IPetc.) wouldn't get to inflate the cost of that output. In the music world Radiohead showed that a "pay what you want" model resulted in far higher returns to the band than a physical release. I'd wager you'd see similar in the film world if it weren't for the studios trying to protect their subsidiary companies involved in these redundant functions.

Of course, Hollywood seems to have little interest in alternative business models than the antiquated ones they're using at present. I do go to the cinema (just brought the family at the weekend in fact - a shade under €50 for a family of four and snacks for the kids!) and used to buy DVD's until Bluray started being pushed and I realised that it, never mind DVD, was a dead technology costs.

Yes, I could buy a ticket for a show I won't attend or I could pay for the DVD and simply bin it but in either case, how much would the film-makers see?