Lars and the Real Girl (DVD)
Newest Review: ... as expected, his friend is a plastic sex doll. Lars believes that she is real and even talks to her and listens to her responses. He intro... more
It Won't Leave You Deflated
Lars and the Real Girl (DVD)
Member Name: lisa2062
Product:
Lars and the Real Girl (DVD)
Date: 14/09/08
Rating:
Advantages: Endearing storyline, believable characters, and stunning scenery.
Disadvantages: For once none!
Lars Lindstrom is an introvert, and is very uncomfortable around people including his own family. Instead of living with his older brother Gus (Paul Schneider) and sister-in Law Karin (Emily Mortimer) , Lars lives in the run down shed to the side of the house.
Understandably when Lars announces the arrival of internet friend Bianca, his family are shocked, but relived that he finally seems to be embracing life. Lars informs them that Bianca was a missionary from Brazil, who's now on a sabbatical so she can experience the world. Oh by the way, Bianca is a life size anatomically corrected life-size doll.
Believing him to be nuts, his family turn to their family doctor in the hope that she can help. Rather surprisingly Doctor Dagmar (Patricia Clarkson) advises them to go long with it. Enlisting the help of their local community, Gus and Karin just pray that Lars will eventually dump the doll in favour of real people.
Released in the UK in March this year, Lars and the Real Girl was in out of the cinemas in the blink of an eye. Many critics slated it for it's lack of realism, and others were put off by the 'relationship' between a man, and a doll. Please don't let this put you off watching this, as I for one loved every 102 minutes of it.
On the offset the film sounds as if it belongs on the top shelf of a seedy porno shop. However this film comes with a 12 certificate, so don't expect any scenes of a sexual nature. There is one hilarious scene though where Karin's curiosity gets the better of her, as she wants to see what exactly is under Bianca's dress. That scene alone is worth getting hold of this film.
Lars and the Real Girl is Director Craig Gillespie's, and writer Nancy Oliver's first film project. If this film is a sign of things to come, then I shall one will be keeping an eye out for future projects of theirs.
The film covers so many issues from relationships, to mental illness, to religious tolerance, and each one is dealt with in a sensitive manner. While we currently live in such broken society, this film is a reminder of how we should be living.
While neither of them in no way mocks people with a mental illness, there are many lighter moments in the film that will have you in stitches. While many would have struggled to get the balance just right, this film is prove that it can be done .
Yet again Ryan Gosling puts it a truly believable, and heart warming performance as the dysfunctional Lars. Throughout the film I just wanted to hug him, and routed for him just hoping that at the end he would be a more confident person. Don't miss this opportunity to hear Gosling sing, it's a performance and a half to say the least.
The supporting cast equally put in top notch performances, each of them making their characters someone we can all relate to. Paul Schneider who played Lars's older brother was the one I could relate to the most, as like him I'd find it hard to pretend that everything was normal, while at the same time wanting to help.
Emily Mortimer shows once again in this film what a versatile actress she is. I could really feel her character's pain watching Lars slip further away from life.
Patricia Clarkson is equally as memorable as the troubled doctor who tries to help Lars, and Kelli Garner who I've never seen before was very endearing as the possible love interest for Lars.
Simply breathtaking is one of many words I could use to describe the film's setting, as well as being a very appropriate backdrop.
I have never come across a film which uses a location so well to represent it's story, and a characters long emotional journey. The beautiful soundtrack was equally as fitting, and I defy you to not be able to hum/whistle the tune that keeps playing long after the film has finished.
To sum up, I hope by now you get a good idea of how much I love everything about this film. It's not often I'm so excited about seeing a film that I pre-order it's DVD release, but I just couldn't wait to see it. I've been disappointed on so many occasions when a film never lives up to it's promising trailer, but then most of know they're designed to make a film look good, and reel you in. This film is one of those rare gems that I knew 5 minutes in that this one was going to be a keeper.
I'd recommended this to fans of indie films, and to those of you that like a story with real heart.
The DVD is available to rent/purchase, and hmv currently have it in stock for £12.99. It's worth every penny!
Understandably when Lars announces the arrival of internet friend Bianca, his family are shocked, but relived that he finally seems to be embracing life. Lars informs them that Bianca was a missionary from Brazil, who's now on a sabbatical so she can experience the world. Oh by the way, Bianca is a life size anatomically corrected life-size doll.
Believing him to be nuts, his family turn to their family doctor in the hope that she can help. Rather surprisingly Doctor Dagmar (Patricia Clarkson) advises them to go long with it. Enlisting the help of their local community, Gus and Karin just pray that Lars will eventually dump the doll in favour of real people.
Released in the UK in March this year, Lars and the Real Girl was in out of the cinemas in the blink of an eye. Many critics slated it for it's lack of realism, and others were put off by the 'relationship' between a man, and a doll. Please don't let this put you off watching this, as I for one loved every 102 minutes of it.
On the offset the film sounds as if it belongs on the top shelf of a seedy porno shop. However this film comes with a 12 certificate, so don't expect any scenes of a sexual nature. There is one hilarious scene though where Karin's curiosity gets the better of her, as she wants to see what exactly is under Bianca's dress. That scene alone is worth getting hold of this film.
Lars and the Real Girl is Director Craig Gillespie's, and writer Nancy Oliver's first film project. If this film is a sign of things to come, then I shall one will be keeping an eye out for future projects of theirs.
The film covers so many issues from relationships, to mental illness, to religious tolerance, and each one is dealt with in a sensitive manner. While we currently live in such broken society, this film is a reminder of how we should be living.
While neither of them in no way mocks people with a mental illness, there are many lighter moments in the film that will have you in stitches. While many would have struggled to get the balance just right, this film is prove that it can be done .
Yet again Ryan Gosling puts it a truly believable, and heart warming performance as the dysfunctional Lars. Throughout the film I just wanted to hug him, and routed for him just hoping that at the end he would be a more confident person. Don't miss this opportunity to hear Gosling sing, it's a performance and a half to say the least.
The supporting cast equally put in top notch performances, each of them making their characters someone we can all relate to. Paul Schneider who played Lars's older brother was the one I could relate to the most, as like him I'd find it hard to pretend that everything was normal, while at the same time wanting to help.
Emily Mortimer shows once again in this film what a versatile actress she is. I could really feel her character's pain watching Lars slip further away from life.
Patricia Clarkson is equally as memorable as the troubled doctor who tries to help Lars, and Kelli Garner who I've never seen before was very endearing as the possible love interest for Lars.
Simply breathtaking is one of many words I could use to describe the film's setting, as well as being a very appropriate backdrop.
I have never come across a film which uses a location so well to represent it's story, and a characters long emotional journey. The beautiful soundtrack was equally as fitting, and I defy you to not be able to hum/whistle the tune that keeps playing long after the film has finished.
To sum up, I hope by now you get a good idea of how much I love everything about this film. It's not often I'm so excited about seeing a film that I pre-order it's DVD release, but I just couldn't wait to see it. I've been disappointed on so many occasions when a film never lives up to it's promising trailer, but then most of know they're designed to make a film look good, and reel you in. This film is one of those rare gems that I knew 5 minutes in that this one was going to be a keeper.
I'd recommended this to fans of indie films, and to those of you that like a story with real heart.
The DVD is available to rent/purchase, and hmv currently have it in stock for £12.99. It's worth every penny!
Summary: A refreshing change
