The Scientist

I'm surprised that so many people hated this movie, and yet I'm also not surprised. It's obvious that the director was going for an art house vibe, but, judging by the reviews here, I think that people were expecting Michael Bay or Roland Emmerich, instead of Stanley Kubrick. The people who'd ordinarily like art house movies were turned off by the pro-life message at the end. The name of the movie is called The Scientist, yet there's no actual science involved here -- just metaphysics and quantum mysticism. At one point, the titular scientist even delivers an anti-science rant, where he calls Einstein a fraud. If the rationalists weren't alienated by all the metaphysical mumbo jumbo beforehand, they're definitely ready to get up and leave now.

Luckily, it takes more than artistic pretensions, slow pacing, metaphysical mumbo jumbo, or a preachy pro-life message to drive me away from a movie. However, what I find a bit off-putting was the way the director ripped off 2001: A Space Odyssey, though I suppose you could call it an homage, if you were feeling kind. Though it lacks some of the more surreal or symbolic elements of 2001, I got this continual feeling that the director was doing his best to channel Kubrick into every single scene. There were also obvious influences from Solaris. Now, I'm as big a fan of 2001 and Solaris as the next pretentious film snob, but, really, there comes a time when you need to stop studying those movies and move on with your life, so that you can develop your own style, independent from them. Unfortunately, it seems as though this director hasn't quite reached that point yet, though I'll say that he's got good taste in cinema.

The pro-life message and mystical mumbo jumbo are a bit annoying, but I think they're forgivable. I find much to admire in Romanticism, but when it becomes this reactionary, irrational, and sentimental, I quickly lose interest. If you're into that sort of thing, though, I'm sure this movie will resonate with you. However, for those rationalists out there, I'd probably suggest you skip this. It's a gigantic middle finger to you and your beliefs. Of course, as in all wish fulfillment scenarios, the metaphysical beliefs of the titular scientist are proved correct, and once the imperialist asshole imposes his beliefs on his neighbors, their lives are magically transformed into a fairy tale romance, bringing them back from the brink of divorce. Come on. That's just over-the-top. Nonetheless, it's artsy enough to score some points with me, making up for the didacticism and errant philosophy.

Among all the other recent movies uncreatively named after the professions of their main characters, this one is the least descriptive. This movie could have equally well been called "The Artist," "The Carpenter," or even "The Housekeeper," and it would have lost nothing. The story has nothing to do with science or scientists, except that it happens that the protagonist used to be one. Even calling it science fiction is a stretch: at best, it's a hackneyed drama with some mystical overtones. Throw in some irrelevant side-plot about his new neighbour's wife, and that's about the long and short of it.

It's not all bad, of course: The acting, cinematography, and music are all well done, but the pacing is so painfully slow and the story so jumbled and ill-conceived that this is not worth watching.

Lovely weird. That's my description. Rarely have I seen a movie, that has no stunning grand visuals, yet relies so little on dialog. It is refreshing that there are still directors out there, who can tell a story in such an opaque way, that the audience is left with no choice but to think about it. That's very nice.

It's not 100% clear cut what's going on here. It would seem, that our main character is looking for a way to reconnect with his dead wife and daughter. Perhaps trying to bring their consciousness back or extend his own? I don't know, what the main character is planning exactly. It's never told, and this is part of then charm of the movie. This is where you have to start interpreting.

A previous reviewer spoke of an intend to create a machine to elevate consciousness to a higher level through manipulation of psychic energy. Well, that would be one interpretation. But I must remark, that at no point does the word psychic appear in this movie.

So, if a delicate subject is so delicately told, why only 5 stars out of 10? Well, the ending is predicable and must be considered the low point of the movie in quality of directing as well as acting. Sorry, but that should be changed, if possible. There are shining points through out, but not enough. That, and the storyline next door. It is totally ignored in the end. Maybe we are shown too much, since I actually started to care for her. But in the end, it was just segway into showing his final transformation.

In the end, Bill Sage's acting skills were what I applauded, wholeheartedly.

So, thank you for making this movie. Now take the subject to the next level, and give us something more breathtaking.

From the first line in the film it's clear that its trying to give its audience a DEEP metaphysical cerebral experience. The film starts with the actors looking serious, and spooning out deep dialogue about life the world and everything. The kind of stuff stoned first year philosophy students belch out on a Saturday night. As the film progresses we see the actors looking even more serious. The climax of the film is every actor looking serious even the birds seem to have a deep introspective stare. Lets not forget the little whirring machine that appears to be at the heart of it all. I don't know what it does, its never explained, but its DEEP and its serious so that should enough also it spins and whirrs, and that is about as scientific as the film gets.

If you're looking for a film where actors stare a lot and look serious, no plot and incomprehensible dialogue, then you've found the perfect film. Personally for me watching paint dry seems like a roller coaster ride compared to watching this. Oh by the way its go nothing to do with science, the guy is a scientist but might as well be a Russian acrobat.

According to the article below; the sole purpose of this movie was to scam the Iowa film board. Iowa gave among the most generous tax incentives to have movies made in the state. This one certainly didn't help anyone in Iowa. The people involved were prosecuted.

The site is io9.com The article is the biggest science fiction movie hoaxes and scams of all time.

I only watched a few minutes of this movie then checked out the reviews. The article from IO9.com explained why someone would even bother to make this.

Don't waste any time on this.