The Party's Just Beginning

The Party's Just Beginning... well after watching it there wasn't any party on my couch. The movie was pretty boring to watch, senseless, with a story not interesting enough to keep you on the edge of your seat. It's a story about depressed people, but not even a good one. The acting of Karen Gillan and the rest of the cast isn't bad, far from it, but if you have a lame story it doesn't matter how good you act, it still remains a lame movie. It's one of those movies I watched once and that I will never watch again as there are thousands and thousands better movies.

This movie is not for everyone. It is about those of us who are outsiders that often feel so dead on the inside we give up on life or seek self destructive behavior to feel alive or human, whether that be through drugs, sex, abusive relationships, risking one's life, intentional infliction of pain, or whatever else makes us feel alive for a moment, or a combination of all of the above, and the devastation it can leave behind. As someone that deals with depression and addiction to self-destructive behavioral patterns, I can tell you this movie was dead on in capturing what it truly feels like, and the impact it has on us and those around us.

For those that don't have such feelings, or know people plagued with them, I am not sure if they will get it. For those of us that do, it is hard not to view this movie as a masterpiece. It was not judgmental, overacted, or built on false assumptions. Rather, it was a brilliant showing of understanding and awareness for those of us that do not often feel understood or valued.

You will not feel good or happy leaving this movie. In fact, it was so realistic and on point it brought me straight to my dark place. However, for a change, I did not feel alone in my blackness, but felt like I was with friends that understood and wanted me to make better choices in life. For that I am grateful this important movie was made.

Absolutely exceptional. And again, I thank all of those involved for taking this so seriously.

I have no idea why IMDB has this movie listed as a comedy. It is a dark movie about depression, emptiness and suicide.

24 year old Liusaidh (Karen Gillan) lives an aimless life in Inverness. She works at the cheese counter in a supermarket. She gets drunk in bars, screws random strangers, and eats chips to finish the nights. She watches a guy jump off a bridge and seems uneffected. She sees a neighbor hang himself. Her best friend Alistair is struggling with his homosexuality. She encounters Dale (Lee Pace) intent on committing suicide from the same bridge.

This is Karen Gillan's theatrical directing and writing debut. The intention is interesting. In more skilled hands, the back and forth in time would be better handled. A veteran filmmaker would have some definitive physical identifiers to differentiate the two timelines. It leaves the structure of the movie a little confused. At first, I thought she may be Sixth Sensing. Otherwise, this is an effective performance of self-destruction. It's also an interesting first stab. It's not mind blowing but it shows some promise.

If you've ever read the book or seen "Trainspotting" the film, you know that it gives an unfiltered look at what heroin addiction is and its effect on people, all through the eyes of the main character Mark Renton. In a very similar fashion, "The Party's Just Beginning" gives you a glimpse into the hellish world of depression.

Karen Gillan did an amazing job writing and directing this film, which is especially surprising (and awesome) because it's her first. As a directorial debut it's a hit, but even from a seasoned director this would easily be a winner. Like any film that deals with such a specific and supremely dark subject matter (and being so bleak as it is), it's certainly not going to win everybody's heart. However it's that bleakness that Karen managed to capture which really resonated with me, and is portrayed so well, both in the film's characters and its substance.

In fairness, I must admit to some bias, as I've always found Karen gobsmackingly beautiful. With that said, if you've ever struggled with depression, this is likely to resonate with you. And if you're like me, it's going to leave you crying and writing good reviews. Finally worth mentioning is that the last film I gave a 9/10 to was "Pulp Fiction"; indeed, I liked it that much, and I can't say enough good things about it.

It's certainly not a comedy, even coming from NE Scotland. It's really engaging!! It's not obvious where the story is leading or how it should turn out.

Karen is amazing and her cast is very well chosen. Think of it as more real life... not cliche'd... Eastenders (over dramatised).

Enjoy it!!!

Ps i love the fact the reviews are honest for once!