The Lobster (2015)

NachoBusiness

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z069ldsumxA

Has anyone else seen this yet?

Seen it last night and it's as mad as box of frogs. I loved parts, hated others. Was on the edge of my seat, yet close to walking out. Totally gripped at times, yet bored to tears in others. I have no idea how I feel about this film tbh. I might have to see it again. Which I have to say I'm dreading, but yet quite looking forward to.

jas376

NachoBusiness wrote: »

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z069ldsumxA

Has anyone else seen this yet?

Seen it last night and it's as mad as box of frogs. I loved parts, hated others. Was on the edge of my seat, yet close to walking out. Totally gripped at times, yet bored to tears in others. I have no idea how I feel about this film tbh. I might have to see it again. Which I have to say I'm dreading, but yet quite looking forward to.

I concur with the above review more or less. It's a very zany film, good in parts but not in others. Personally, I loved the start most of all and I was prepared to go along with the craziness of the film. However, I was disappointed with the direction it took towards the end which I regarded as overly sentimental and too long and drawn-out. Where was it filmed? I imagined I was looking at Scotland throughout the film but imagine my surprise when I saw that the final scenes were shot at Joel's restaurant, Naas Road, Dublin. There were also a lot of Irish actors involved, as evidenced by the accents. I must say that I thought that Colin Farrell was very good in this. He had a huge role to play and I think he did very well overall.

NachoBusiness

Yeah, noticed Joel's myself, primarily because I've always wanted to go in there and never have.

Thought Colin was great also. Léa Seydoux was fantastic too. Not as fanstastic as she was in Blue Is the Warmest Color (cough cough ..) but fantastic nonetheless.

Loved the scene where Colin's character offers to kick the little girl's shin to give her a limp like her father. Hilarious!

pq0n1ct4ve8zf5

A lot of it was shot in Kerry, I think.

Saw it last night and really enjoyed it. I had seen Dogtooth and loved it (have his middle film, Alps, lined up for tonight), so I knew and was eagerly anticipating the kind of humour and weirdness I was in for. I have seen a great many people complaining that this is one of the worst films they've ever seen, though. But you'll have that.

I did find the first half much stronger than the second though. I get why the film went that direction

showing that there's only really an obverse of the tyranny of the hotel rather than an escape, and lining things up for what I thought was actually quite a touching and uncynically presented romance

; but every character, every room, every shot in the first half felt like it had had such attention paid to it, and that, for me, tapered off quite noticeably, particularly in relation to the minor and supporting characters. Remains a quite beautifully framed and shot film throughout though.

There's a lot made about how 'weird' and 'dark' this is, which yeah, it is. But I think that's slightly overshadowing just how genuinely ball-breakingly funny it is in so many parts. Sight gags

I nearly had to leave when the pony with the blonde main was shown, I was giving myself a coughing fit laughing

, some very good physical comedy from people you wouldn't really expect it from (Wishaw, Weisz), and the stilted performance style yields some excellent laughs, particularly in the voice over.

Really liked the cast too. I can actually barely pay attention to Lea Seydoux's acting because she's so beautiful I want to cry but I'm pretty sure she was very good. And I'm always happy on for Colin Farrell on like, a weirdly personal level when he's good in something good. So yay Colin.

bkrangle

I saw this yesterday and really enjoyed it, was chuckling throughout the film. It features a very good performance from Colin Farrell too.

Having said that the absurdity of it all, combined with the intentionally stilted dialogue, mean that it's not going to be everyone's cup of tea.

Zaph

jas376 wrote: »

Where was it filmed?

The hotel in the film is Parknasilla in Kerry. It's near Sneem iirc.

e_e

Good one, everything I've liked about Lanthimos's movies to date but a little broader and more narratively focused. The only slight let down was too many similarities to

Dogtooth at the end. Dead animals, self-mutilation, character escaping an authoritarian system with its own weird rules. Check check check.

I think you can about justify it with Dogtooth, Alps and The Lobster forming a kind of trilogy but I'd like to see where he goes here. Especially with him gathering international casts.

Two lines I found weirdly funny:

She jumped from 180. There's blood and biscuits everywhere.

There you go. You can limp like your dad now.

conorhal

It's been a while since I looked forward to a Colin Farrell fim but the trailer certiantly intregued me. There's an 'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind' kind of vibe to it, and I love that movie.

johnny_ultimate

I approach the first English-language films from international directors with caution. Too many otherwise brilliant directors have made their worst films - and in some cases been royally ****ed over - when making the transition.

It's considerable relief, then, that Yorgos Lanthimos has managed it so successfully. The comparison I would make is with Snowpiercer - not in terms of the content or indeed the quality (I loved that film, but I know many others didn't), but that in choosing an international co-production over a straight Hollywood studio affair, they feel like films where the directors did not have to compromise.

While there may not be quite as much explicit sex or violence here than his previous films - there's still plenty of both, mind, and they're giddily weird and uncomfortable - this is still a Lanthimos film through and through. The beyond deadpan delivery (a little more surreal in English-language). The understated, largely static cinematography and visual palette (albeit with some playful tinkering with colour at pivotal moments in the characters' journeys). The sudden shocks and almost constant trolling of the audience. The surreal setup that dances back and forth over the border between recognisable reality and abstract cartoon. And, thankfully, the wildly eccentric sense of humour.

It is broader than its predecessors, but not in a bad way (and I preferred it overall to Alps). The concept is delightfully deranged, although mostly utilised to engage in a playful deconstruction and/or satire of cinematic romance and societal convention alike. The general allegorical nature is never allowed overwhelm when there's an opportunity for a good laugh, even if the gags might provoke quite uneasy laughter from some viewers (

one woman at my screening found the 'dog kicked to death' sequence hilarious!

). If there's any criticism to be made, it probably is that it's almost too similar to the director's other work, right down to the

abrupt smash cut ending

right out of the Dogtooth playbook.

Lanthimos has tackled the prospect of a bigger budget and more recognisable cast with aplomb. It's quite refreshing to realise that a film that is tonally and stylistically akin with Dogtooth is now playing in multiplexes across the country. Let's hope that the trick can be landed a second time!

conorhal

conorhal wrote: »

It's been a while since I looked forward to a Colin Farrell fim but the trailer certiantly intregued me. There's an 'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind' kind of vibe to it, and I love that movie.

It was really awful and violent. Started off with promise then lost any coherency or plot or point after they tried hammering home their original point without any subtlety
Fans of this director seem to love his stuff so if you're familiar with it and into that, that's grand, but if you're going based off the trailer, don't

hawkwind23

Just back from seeing this.
As most reviewers have said it really does tail off toward the end , i was very close to walking out.

The deadpan dialogue really started to grate on me as did Colin Farrell delivering it , I had the feeling he sort of decided to copy Dougal from Father Ted, surely he can come up with better?

Never seen anything from the director before and was getting annoyed at the score at times esp the violin and the narration, i felt it was all stolen from Moonrise Kingdom.

Few laughs and intriguing first half but descends into tedium in the second half , the scene in the toilets and having a nosey inside Joels and watching the cars drive by really was the height of it and thats in the last five minutes.

Was hoping for so much more and felt very disappointed , after the initial intrigue it falls flat.

Cast was top drawer and nice to see the fat guy from The Office in it but none of them really stood out with all this monotone/deadpan delivery.

Colin Farrell, I thought he was awful at times and some of his timing and delivery was hopeless although the tone of the movie saved him, I don't think I would rush out to see him in a lead role again esp in this type of movie.

3/10 , too art-house at times and toward the end really struggled with direction and care for any of the characters , maybe this was supposed to be an imitation of marriage but i dont see the need to play that out for over an hour.

e_e

hawkwind23 wrote: »

i felt it was all stolen from Moonrise Kingdom.

The director's similar style in Dogtooth and Alps precedes that film.

I do think those criticisms are fair enough but I think the awkwardness of pacing, atmosphere and performance are pretty intentional. It's done to show how arbitrary the society's rules are and how unfeasible it is for humans to exist normally in, not just a stylistic affectation as I feel that Wes Anderson too often falls into.

Don't really get "too arthouse" as a criticism though, surely we all want something different from the norm by now? Not like there aren't a tonne of mainstream romantic comedies out there to enjoy already.

eternal

conorhal wrote: »

It's been a while since I looked forward to a Colin Farrell fim but the trailer certiantly intregued me. There's an 'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind' kind of vibe to it, and I love that movie.

Have to see this so. Thanks be for student cinema discounts.

hawkwind23

e_e wrote: »

The director's similar style in Dogtooth and Alps precedes that film.

I do think those criticisms are fair enough but I think the awkwardness of pacing, atmosphere and performance are pretty intentional. It's done to show how arbitrary the society's rules are and how unfeasible it is for humans to exist normally in, not just a stylistic affectation as I feel that Wes Anderson too often falls into.

Don't really get "too arthouse" as a criticism though, surely we all want something different from the norm by now? Not like there aren't a tonne of mainstream romantic comedies out there to enjoy already.

To elaborate on "too art house" criticism.

The cast and the mainstream promotion of this film suggest an interesting and thoughtful film aimed at a general audience.
My criticism comes from the tedious pace of the second half of the film which clearly descends into art house.

I agree with your view on Wes Anderson but his craft keeps you interested in the characters and pacing whilst pandering to his own creativity.
I am of the opinion that Lanthimos completely lost his cast and his audience with his ostentatious direction in the second half.

I will cede on further reflection that the film does invoke deeper thought and can understand patrons wanting a second viewing , however , im not one of them.

Still 3/10

ancapailldorcha

This'd be the first film of his I'd see. Is it recommended then? Seems to be garnering a lot of negative comments here.

e_e

ancapailldorcha wrote: »

This'd be the first film of his I'd see. Is it recommended then? Seems to be garnering a lot of negative comments here.

It's a marmite movie if there ever was one, especially because it's rare for a movie of this type to get such a wide Irish release. I'd recommend watching the brilliant Dogtooth first if you can, it's a good primer for The Lobster.

zoobizoo

I really enjoyed it. There were a lot of laughs had in the Savoy on the night that I went to see it.

The second half of the film, like the latter years of a relationship, was slower after the initial butterflies of the former.

I left the cinema glad that I had seen it.

My only issue was that Colin seemed to be acting all 'Brendan Gleeson' in his delivery...

I'd recommend it.

Spoiler:

At what stage did they introduce that it was the law to be in a relationship? I don't think it was ever properly explained so for the first part of the movie I thought that they were in the hotel voluntarily

ancapailldorcha

e_e wrote: »

It's a marmite movie if there ever was one, especially because it's rare for a movie of this type to get such a wide Irish release. I'd recommend watching the brilliant Dogtooth first if you can, it's a good primer for The Lobster.

Just watched it. Weirdest thing I've ever seen!!

fin12

just saw it today, thought it was crap but can anyone tell me please is the road where they are walking a lot, iis it the road when you pass Glenbeigh and you are going on to kells and going on to Cahirsiveen co.Kerry, I go to Glenbeigh alot but just drove from glenbeigh to cahirsiveen last month and I'm pretty sure that is the road that they shot in the film.

Raoul

Agree with everything Hawkwind said. I actually think he was being too nice and fair in his review.

2/10 for me.

NachoBusiness

Some of the criticisms of Colin Farrell seem way off to me. I suspect it may be because he as a person jars with some, more than that there was anything terribly amiss with his performance.

I thought he was excellent in it...

Particularly the scene were his was trying to hide his grief for his dog / brother.

Seen it again this past weekend and there were a few walkouts.

One were the Limping Man breaks his nose on the table and the other after the scene showing the dead dog.

I think I liked it more the second time than I did the first.

I usually dislike more films like this than like, as I feel they can be quite preachy and attempt to shove a message down your throat but I really didn't get a sense of that with this film. It's not pompous in that regard and so for me it has a likability factor which many similar films do not.

I think I'd like to see again before it's run ends.

e_e

https://twitter.com/robbiereviews/status/664059002687459328

hawkwind23

e_e wrote: »

https://twitter.com/robbiereviews/status/664059002687459328

Wouldnt have anything to do with the money behind the media promotion?
Graham Norton show for example with the two leads?

Hardly "word of mouth"

Dots1982

Who was the blonde actress with the irish accent

who got turned into a pony.

She doesn't seem to be credited on imdb.

zoobizoo

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3878680/?ref_=ttfc_fc_cl_t28

Emma Edel O'Shea

Looper007

e_e wrote: »

It's a marmite movie if there ever was one, especially because it's rare for a movie of this type to get such a wide Irish release. I'd recommend watching the brilliant Dogtooth first if you can, it's a good primer for The Lobster.

It only got a one week release then was pulled from Cineworld. This isn't in the same class as Dogtooth for me, I think it's half a great film (the first half is top notch) I wished the whole film was based around the hotel. Colin Farrell was excellent (I think he's far better when he stays away from blockbusters). John C Reilly and Olivia Coleman were also great.

The 2nd half in the forest, the film started to lose me sadly. the stuff with Rachel Weisz and Lea Seydoux left me cold and somewhat bored. Not a awful film but a good half of one.

conorhal

Looper007 wrote: »

It only got a one week release then was pulled from Cineworld. This isn't in the same class as Dogtooth for me, I think it's half a great film (the first half is top notch) I wished the whole film was based around the hotel. Colin Farrell was excellent (I think he's far better when he stays away from blockbusters). John C Reilly and Olivia Coleman were also great.

The 2nd half in the forest, the film started to lose me sadly. the stuff with Rachel Weisz and Lea Seydoux left me cold and somewhat bored. Not a awful film but a good half of one.

I have to agree with that assessment, the film had something interesting to say in the first half about loneliness and relationships but it just sort of fizzles out and limps to a pretty limp ending

ancapailldorcha

Looper007 wrote: »

It only got a one week release then was pulled from Cineworld. This isn't in the same class as Dogtooth for me, I think it's half a great film (the first half is top notch) I wished the whole film was based around the hotel. Colin Farrell was excellent (I think he's far better when he stays away from blockbusters). John C Reilly and Olivia Coleman were also great.

The 2nd half in the forest, the film started to lose me sadly. the stuff with Rachel Weisz and Lea Seydoux left me cold and somewhat bored. Not a awful film but a good half of one.

Well said. The second half was just unnecessary IMO. When the hotel is removed, the interesting and compelling aspects of the film go with it. A shame as Olivia Coleman was fantastic as the manager and the setting was wonderfully weird and surreal.

Psychedelic

One of the worst films I've ever seen. 1/10

TerrorFirmer

Just saw this last night and thought it was utterly absurd....and absolutely brilliant. Not sure if the fact that I had no idea what it was about before I watched it was a good or bad thing, could see how people wouldn't like it.

AnonoBoy

The last two posts on this thread couldn't be further apart in their views. I think I'm going to really like this one when I see it!

Frank O. Pinion

Easily the best film of 2015, a true masterpiece. I wonder if the people who say things like, "one of the worst films I've ever seen", are the same people who complain about too many Hollywood remakes and sequels. I would guess there's some overlap.

claiva

I watched this last night and really enjoyed the absolute absurdity of it. Colin Farrell was brilliant in it. He delivered his lines like Brendan Grace's Fr Fintan Stack in Father Ted which I really enjoyed and thought was perfect for the role. I think the move away from the Hotel was a little jarring as the Hotel was such an amazing backdrop and vehicle for the story. I had to rewind it a couple of times because I thought I had missed something. I think I will have to watch it again to appreciate it fully. The cast were fantastic if a little underused. I wish more films like this were made.

Outkast_IRE

claiva wrote: »

I watched this last night and really enjoyed the absolute absurdity of it. Colin Farrell was brilliant in it. He delivered his lines like Brendan Grace's Fr Fintan Stack in Father Ted which I really enjoyed and thought was perfect for the role. I think the move away from the Hotel was a little jarring as the Hotel was such an amazing backdrop and vehicle for the story. I had to rewind it a couple of times because I thought I had missed something. I think I will have to watch it again to appreciate it fully. The cast were fantastic if a little underused. I wish more films like this were made.

Fully agree, its a great film, but it certainly has some rough edges.

leakyboots

Watched this last night... mad film. Didn't know what to make of it - some genuinely hilarious laugh-out-loud moments the whole way through... but all three of us were somewhat bored towards the end and wondering how long was left.

Just a bit.... confused by it all. Maybe that was the point.

2smiggy

me and my friend watched it a few months ago, we still joke about it !! one of the worst films i have ever endured