Notre ami

This is an absolutely wonderful movie and deserves a plethora of Oscar nominations (including for all three lead actors). Why in the world did this sit unreleased since premiering at the 2019 Toronto Film Festival? And why/how did a major distributer (Paramount, Fox-Searchlight, Netflix!) NOT pick it up? I'm stumped. And depressed. Maybe it's even worse out there for non-franchise/comic book movies than even I thought it was.

Family friend Dane (Jason Segel) moves into the home of the Teague family to support dad Matthew (Casey Affleck) when mom Nicole (Dakota Johnson) is diagnosed with terminal cancer. This based-on-a-true-story account is heartfelt, sincere and well-acted, even if director Gabriela Cowperthwaite chooses a somewhat annoying narrative technique of several weakly defined timelines, arguably in an attempt to infuse a sense of peaks and valleys into a rather straightforward story. Perhaps she should have trusted the story itself and gone for a more linear approach, or at least fewer timelines. At any rate, the platonic love triangle has a fine balance between mystique and graciousness. There's an openness in the material which is attractive, and which works as a counterweight to the inevitable finiteness of Nicole's downward spiral. Thematically and emotionally, the film reaches its zenith in a segment towards the end when the wonderful Cherry Jones comes in to resuscitate Dane and Matthew - and help them lay Nicole to rest. Our Friend makes an impression, perhaps even a lasting one.

Beautifully written and amazing performances by all. Easily one of the best movies I have seen these last 2-3 years.

I particularly loved the non linear leaps, backwards and forwards, to break-up what would have been a very sad and predictable timeline.

What's truly astonishing is that this story really happened. Stories like these need to be voiced and felt. We should be lucky to have a 'Dane' in our lives.

Parts are difficult watch, but absolutely worth it!.. Keep a box of Kleenex close by.

Must watch.

The movie is an authentic, beautiful and deeply powerful ode to the importance of life,friends and relationships. It has a powerhouse trio I didn't know I needed- flex their maturity as actors in such poignant, nuanced performances. Exactly what we need right now. And these type of movie deserve more recognition.

Greetings from Lithuania.

"Our Friend" (2019) is a sweet, sincere, heartbreaking and heartwarming movie. Its based on a true story, but to be honest, there are tons of stories like these were cancer is involved - its not what makes this movie good. What makes it good is solid directing, good writing, and terrific acting from all three main characters. Casey Affleck and Jason Segel were very good in this movie, but its Dakota Johnson's career performance so far - she was amazing in a hard to watch performance because of the subject matter,

Overall, "Our Friend" is not about the cancer but rather about love, family, friendship and caring about each other. Good movie.