Passengers

If I had had the opportunity to attend the Mill Valley Film Festival, I would have gone there. I haven't seen Passengers "yet", but everything I read about this movie, in addition to all the comments posted on this website prior to mine, confirms that it is definitely worth viewing.

Yet, the story seems very simple : an ordinary couple, living an ordinary life, to whom something ordinary happens, that could happen to anyone of us, anytime in our life.

Some of us might have already experienced this very painful situation (after a divorce for instance) in which one figures out that it is possible to hate someone much more than one has loved them, and that one's life can collapse anytime… so why not after a few hours spent in a traffic jam… There's no word to explain and to express the complexities of the feelings which can unite or separate two persons. However, it seems that the very talented Michael Bond found the most adequate images to make these complexities live, helped by actors very talented too.

In a movie, very often "all is well that ends well". As I haven't seen Passengers, I don't know whether this is also the case in this movie. But I want to know ! This is the reason why I do wish that this movie will be released in France and in Europe, and that it will, here as well, get the success that it apparently deserves.

We all know the famous citation of French philosopher Blaise Pascal : "The heart has its reasons that reason knows nothing of". I'm sure that, if this man was still alive, he would be interested in this movie, and would probably find another citation to comment it. And no doubt that he would post it here !

Michael Bond has used the self-defined constraints of his script and budget to great advantage here. The confines of the major setting - the inside of a car on traffic-heavy L.A roads - only adds to the expanding depth of discovery that his characters go through on their journey through the city, and into their relationship. What could have been a problem for the film in the hands of a lesser director or less accomplished actors, is here a plus: it ratches up the tension kilometre by tortured kilometre, with a well-earned, yet still double-edged visual and dramatic rest in the middle. Highly recommended.

Who knew you could make such a compelling movie in a SUV? Great script, acting and directing made this a low budget pleasure. It's also encouraging to see a movie aimed at adults that isn't an 'adult' movie. Passengers is the type of movie the studios have given up making in favor of chasing 14 year old boys as an audience. This audience of boys is the same that is staying home and stealing studio content off the internet. This is collaborative film-making at its finest. Well done. Thanks for the mature feast. Let's see more of it. This bodes well for the future of independent film-making.

rick Stevenson

The only reason I am not giving Passengers a 10, is because there is room for myself to grow with it. I saw Passengers a few weeks ago for the first time ever, and I am still thinking about it. This is truly a treasure chest of a film. I began my series of renewed appreciations this morning. Passengers never ends ringing on the heart and mind. That is what a superior film does to you. What a dazzling piece of work Passengers is! I am still reflecting on the many magnitudes and layers that continue to come forth. It continues to impress me from every point and then in-between. Just when I think I have gained and understood all from the film that I will get out of it, something else rises to the surface for me to ponder and appreciate. Every thing from the very packed, believably delivered dialog to the visual brilliance is intertwined and carefully held together. It is just a fantastically created work from all aspects. No stone is left unturned in this masterfully created film, unless the viewer chooses not to turn it over. That is how I feel. And to think that it was done within the conditions it was born and grown! It amazes me how brilliant it turned out knowing that. To me, in this case, it brings definite and new meaning to the phrase "less is more". It really is more, and more. Now, more films by Michael Bond, please?

I was kept in a state of anticipation, drawn in by the excellent photography as well as the connection and then disconnection of the 2 characters. At times I felt I was in the car and experiencing their pain and frustrations. Great acting and great screenplay! Los Angeles was brought alive in the process of the drive experience. The story started with absolutely no idea as to who the characters were but one could guess they were "normal" and heading out for dinner; rushed, not entirely comfortable with the night's arrangements and yet on their way. How it unwound was both exciting and sad and at times too close for comfort. Was that me behind the wheel? Was that the end of the journey for them both or was it a repairable situation? One is left to create the future without a script. That in itself makes the film even more exciting. Great work by all involved!