Other People

Didn't have high hopes since this film was available on iTunes before or at the same time as it was in theaters (was it even IN theaters?) but holy heck this was GOOD.

Shannon and Plemmons performances are amazing. Both so convincing in their respective role. Plemmons plays the insecure, unsure, chubby gay man perfectly. And Molly Shannon, who is rarely called upon for nuance, delivers her role as a cancer-stricken woman with such realistic subtlety that you'd be hard-pressed to say she'd never gone through it herself.

Is the concept maudlin? I suppose. It's not new ground, but it's a completely unique take on the situation with a subtext and performances that propel it to greatness. The opening scene is sad, but the end of the film is so much more sad. I can't say more without posting a spoiler, but when you see it you'll realize it's a testament to the directorial approach, script and performances.

With regard to performances, this film probably doesn't have the promotional machine behind it to ever be considered for awards, but if all things were equal and films were judged solely on themselves, I think both Plemmons and Shannon would be recognized for their exceptional performances.

Definitely worth the rental price. And I'm sure it will be free to view soon on some streaming site. Settle in and watch this fabulous, nuance-filled film.

This is not an easy movie to watch if you recently lost a family member to cancer. Then again, that probably says something about just how true the storytelling is here. Anybody who's gone back home under tough circumstances or claimed to be fine when they aren't or lost a loved one or found the humor in the most tragic moments possible (so basically anyone) will watch this movie and nod their head. It misses the mark at moments, but it also hits it more often than not, party thanks to amazing performances by Shannon and Plemons. And that's how we ended up chuckling through tears. Which seems pretty appropriate for us this year, honestly.

This film tells the story of a young writer who goes back home to take care of his gravely ill mother.

I have the misconception that it is a comedy because Jesse Plemons is in it. The first half of the film is quite funny in a morbid way, and then the second half of the film is just very depressing. The story is very engaging because all the main characters are well crafted and the story telling is excellent. There are no filler scenes at all. I particularly care for the writer and his mother. I feel their pain. I just never expected this film to be so so good.

Brilliant little movie that is sad and funny and seems almost improvised. A collage of the last year in the life of the "matriarch" of a family. Jesse Plemons plays David, a son who is having the worse year of his life. His dreams of being a comedy writer are not coming true, he's broken up with his boyfriend of five years, his father won't acknowledge he's gay even after ten years, and his mother is dying, Sounds pretty dreary, huh?

And it is so sad to watch Molly Shannon as the mother as she slowly dies and deals with the ravages of chemotherapy and the depression that life is going on on on without out her.

And yet this little gem is out-standing. There are so many little moments that say so much about life, growing, family, acceptance, reaching out, discovery, and more. One scene after another that tells the story *of* life. From beautiful to silly to painful to triumphant.

The short short scene where David tries to order three medium chocolate shakes without whipped cream—and then you have to be paying attention to see him sit down with his parents with three shakes—with whipped cream. This movie really is something I will have to watch again. The final shot is what gave me hope—that life, no matter what, does go on, and maybe, just maybe, it will be okay.

Be careful - this film might just break your heart ! It took me a while to warm to this, totally unspectacular and unpolished as it first appears. It just observes a family's interactions as the mother is slowly dying from cancer, with the focus on the young gay son who has come back home to help look after her. At times it feels hardly like a 'movie', there is such a sense of simple observation. There were moments where it almost seemed to be a documentary and I felt like I was eavesdropping on a real family's real pain and grief. Increasingly I became aware of the film being rich with ever-so-subtle elements, easily missed, gradually deepening an atmosphere of great authenticity. It is a sad film, but also (astonishingly) with a wonderful sense of wry humour and real warmth. A million miles away from Hollywood, this gem could be easily overlooked. Don't !