You can in fact give a 1/2 star review.

=]

Carry on...

I actually related a lot to the main character, an akward man who just doesn't seem to want to be involved with anything. Would just prefere to live in obscurity and be left alone. However he gets the joy of having the restless souls of New York trying to get his attention so they can settle thier unfinished business. While the character seemed a but calouse, and uncaring, it was actually believeable. I mean if a gorup of strangers started walking up to you and asking you for help just because you had, um... a cell phone and they didn't, wouldn't you be annoyed? Now factor in that those people just happen to be able to walk through walls...

Everyone's interaction was pretty believeable. Everyone was trying to force everyone else into their expectatoin of normal. That's what shined out above and beyond all as the theme. Everyone thinks they know what's right for everyone else, so long as they get what they want.

Excellent craftsmanship, minimal stages, but the details and timing played signifficant roles. You didn't have arbitrairy day changes and such without reason. But there was enough circumstantial incidents that framed the general flow of the film, weather, wardrobe, clutter(Like the sets weren't made from the pottery barn catalogue).

Idk having done so many movie reviews now, and actually having to ask my friends during previews "What movie we watching again?" it's nice to see a movie that's 'made' well.

The only star this loses is that it could be watched snuggled up with your loved one on the couch. There's no real reason to see it in the theater, the sound system is not utilized, and while the environments are actually shot in "life size" if you're in a movie theater, a comedy-drama isn't the species of movie I feel needs that.

The Coen Brothers are masters at bringing to the screen what would happen if people acted in public, how they do in private. There's a General aloofness that pervades thier films, I really can't put my finger on it, but it could be best described as "Light Hearted Sociopathy".

Everyone in this film is brilliant, and the allusions plentiful. Not once is anything important seen or said, it's all left to the viewer to fill in the gaps; brilliant writing, mainly because I'm sure the picture the audience paints in thier head is a lot worse that anythign they could show on screen.. Except for two scenes, I don't think even I could have pictured that one on my own without having it layed out for me. (A scene in particular involving John Malkovich and his um... "Extra Set of Keys"...) But since the rest of the scenes were layed out in the way they were, it really stood out.

It's been a long time since I seen a good live action film with depth. Coincidentally, I think the Coen Brothers wrote the last one too...

My only ding on this flick was the stale camera work. The environments were chosen well, but the shots were really bland.