This is simply a love story between two people who are facing their worst nightmare, the test for their marriage.
I initially came to cinema only to see how Ale and Anya being portrayed by nation's best actor and actress. I was not really fond of the book, but gladly the movie turned out to be astonishing (seriously, the trailer alone was captivating!). I'm still amazed by its breathtaking cinematography and I love every scene in New York. It beautifully captures the honeymoon phase of Ale and Anya's journey.
I was overwhelmed by the sizzling chemistry between the main leads. I knew they would be great but I didn't expect them to be that amazing. They indeed have done a brilliant job there. Every little detail they showed through their body languages during their exchanges like the touch, the glances, the deep gaze, and the hugs convinced me they're truly a newlywed couple and very much in love. Not to mention they looked so good together. Every scene of them being together was pure gold, and it left good impression to my watching experience.
That aside, although the heartbreaking scenes were done right, there was something unsettling which affected my overall opinion about the movie. I felt there's something that took big part in driving the characters' actions but it was never shown. That important detail like how Ale being 'different' according to Anya's claim was just being told when the couple were arguing. Was that presented subtly? Did I miss that one out? All I could get as the root of the conflict are both were dealing with grief differently, Ale couldn't shut his mouth, and Anya kept her inner struggle within herself without trying to share it to her husband. However, not sure if I was just insensitive while I was watching it, but I honestly found it extremely difficult to relate to them. I watched this twice only to understand the characters better but the impression is still the same. Thanks to the casts' interview clips and the book, I got much more depth about the characters so I appreciate the movie more. To conclude, Critical Eleven could be a hit or a miss. Without trying to discredit the production team (who already did amazing job), I think the main casts, Reza and Adinia, made the movie more appealing in a whole new level rather than the story itself. That said, if you look for a romance drama movie flooded with beautiful view(s), heart-wrenching scenes, and best chemistry, this one is definitely for you.
