IMDb RATING
5.7/10
3.2K
YOUR RATING
An unhappy wife orders a guy she meets over the Internet to kill her, but the two of them fall in love.An unhappy wife orders a guy she meets over the Internet to kill her, but the two of them fall in love.An unhappy wife orders a guy she meets over the Internet to kill her, but the two of them fall in love.
- Awards
- 2 wins & 3 nominations total
David Lawrence Brown
- Billy Ringel
- (as Dave Brown)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Featured reviews
The film has a different, thought-provoking and bold theme and this is a promising point. But choosing the subject of all cinema. This film has a problem with the narrative and this is a neural and superficial film. It is acceptable to show it at the Sundance Festival, but it is a question for me to be nominated for the jury and I would like to know the reason. This movie is based on the true story of Sharon Lopatka , who was killed in 1996. Belo has worked hard in the role of Nancy. In fact, the character of Nancy is based on the character of Sharon Lopatka which happened 12 years after that.
The title DownloadingNancy does nothing for this film, I wish the writer could have come up with something more polished because the title doesn't do the film any justice. That is literally the only thing wrong with this disturbing but excellent film.
Maria Bello is on top of her game as Nancy, a woman who is tormented by life, a woman who has given up hope of ever finding happiness, Bello has never been better than she is here, it's such a shame that this film went unnoticed because I'm sure she would've been a frontrunner for all of the big awards. She totally embodies this character, in saying that, Maria Bello is a tremendously watchable actress and no matter what kind of role she's in she always shines.
This film has a fascinating subject matter, the thought of someone being so unhappy in life that they would go to the extreme of paying someone to torture and kill them is truly sad. This film is loosely based in fact so it's not Luke we can just say " it's only a movie", also this is not just a one off thing, another film tackles the same subject, Grimm Love, starring Keri Russell also has the same story line, that movie is much more horrific and graphic but it deals with the same issue of people being unhappy in life.
This movie isn't something to cheer you up, it's most certainly not going to do that, but if you like movies that will divide a room and start a conversation then this is one for you.
I wish this movie had found a bigger audience because it's so deserving of a wide audience, I really hope Maria Bello gets more roles like this in the future. She's just excellent.
Maria Bello is on top of her game as Nancy, a woman who is tormented by life, a woman who has given up hope of ever finding happiness, Bello has never been better than she is here, it's such a shame that this film went unnoticed because I'm sure she would've been a frontrunner for all of the big awards. She totally embodies this character, in saying that, Maria Bello is a tremendously watchable actress and no matter what kind of role she's in she always shines.
This film has a fascinating subject matter, the thought of someone being so unhappy in life that they would go to the extreme of paying someone to torture and kill them is truly sad. This film is loosely based in fact so it's not Luke we can just say " it's only a movie", also this is not just a one off thing, another film tackles the same subject, Grimm Love, starring Keri Russell also has the same story line, that movie is much more horrific and graphic but it deals with the same issue of people being unhappy in life.
This movie isn't something to cheer you up, it's most certainly not going to do that, but if you like movies that will divide a room and start a conversation then this is one for you.
I wish this movie had found a bigger audience because it's so deserving of a wide audience, I really hope Maria Bello gets more roles like this in the future. She's just excellent.
Something dark looms over this movie: Nancy's plan. For a long time, we don't know what it is, but it can't be good. Nancy (Maria Bello) is a pain junkie, the self-destructive kind: no pain, no gain. Maria Bello, she's good. This is her movie. The way she carries herself, the way she walks and the way she talks all radiate defeat. Maria Bello has a nice, articulate voice. But when Nancy speaks in that same voice, it doesn't matter what she says. The way she says it says it all. Nancy rarely smiles, and it's a pretty desperate smile, mostly reserved for her luckless therapist. Against hope, I found myself hoping for better days, but they never break. Nancy takes off to Baltimore. "Who has friends in Baltimore?", her helpless husband finds himself wondering. He's right. Nobody does. Nancy doesn't. She doesn't have friends. Not in Baltimore, not anywhere. She's not the type. - The script jumps back and forth in time, to unsettling effect. If you liked "Chasing Sleep" or "Breaking the Waves", this might be for you, but I'm not sure it's for anyone. There's not a ray of light in it, but I guess that's what life is like for the likes of Nancy.
The masochist housewife Nancy (Maria Bello) is a physically and psychologically destroyed woman. She had been so violently abused by her uncle since she was seven years old that she can not have babies anymore. She is ignored by her selfish husband Albert (Rufus Sewell), who does not have sex with her or give any attention to her problems, dedicating his leisure time to play a virtual golf game in a special room in their fancy house. The psychoanalyst Carol (Amy Brenneman) unsuccessfully tries to help Nancy to resolve her emotional issues with therapy. When Nancy contacts the sick sadomasochist Louis (Jason Patrick) in internet, she schedules a meeting with him in Baltimore to release her from her painful life. They meet each other and have kinky sex, but along the days together, Louis falls in love for Nancy and tries to persuade her to stay alive.
"Downloading Nancy" is a disturbing, powerful and heartbreaking movie with a story apparently based on a true event. Yesterday when I saw this film, I felt very uncomfortable with the dramatic story of Nancy, a woman destroyed by sexual abuses in the childhood and adolescence, and rejection and lack of love in her marriage. The gorgeous Maria Bello performing a character without any glamor gives a performance that should deserve a nomination to the Oscar, if this ridiculous institution were slightly honest and serious. Rufus Sewell is amazing in the role of a selfish man totally indifferent to the emotional problems of his needy wife. Jason Patrick is also excellent and there is one specific scene absolutely gruesome when he has sex with Nancy and a piece of glass. The non-linear screenplay makes the difference in this film, disclosing the drama of the lead character through flashbacks and intelligent dialogs. This mature movie is only recommended for very specific audiences and the DVD should have a warning in this regard. My vote is seven.
Title (Brazil): "Distúrbios do Prazer" ("Disturbs of the Pleasure")
"Downloading Nancy" is a disturbing, powerful and heartbreaking movie with a story apparently based on a true event. Yesterday when I saw this film, I felt very uncomfortable with the dramatic story of Nancy, a woman destroyed by sexual abuses in the childhood and adolescence, and rejection and lack of love in her marriage. The gorgeous Maria Bello performing a character without any glamor gives a performance that should deserve a nomination to the Oscar, if this ridiculous institution were slightly honest and serious. Rufus Sewell is amazing in the role of a selfish man totally indifferent to the emotional problems of his needy wife. Jason Patrick is also excellent and there is one specific scene absolutely gruesome when he has sex with Nancy and a piece of glass. The non-linear screenplay makes the difference in this film, disclosing the drama of the lead character through flashbacks and intelligent dialogs. This mature movie is only recommended for very specific audiences and the DVD should have a warning in this regard. My vote is seven.
Title (Brazil): "Distúrbios do Prazer" ("Disturbs of the Pleasure")
The question is, Is this film worth watching? Of course it is, if for nothing else but to see Maria Bello's Indy Award nominated performance. Don't let the fact that it went straight to video dissuade you.
It is not a pretty movie. Watching the effects of child sexual abuse never is. Watching someone engage in self-mutilation to mask the pain is, in a word, painful.
Bello (A History of Violence, The Cooler) was, of course, perfect for the role. Rufus Sewell played the husband, who was more of an enigma. It was never clear whether he was just a jerk who was obsessed with golf, or if 15 years of marriage to Nancy (Bello) just wore him down.
Nancy finds Louis (Jason Patric), someone on the Internet she wants to kill her. They end up having a relationship, if you want to call it that.
In the end, I am not sure whether he kills her or whether she kills herself. It really doesn't matter. It was a dark, twisted film with very little music and washed out cinematography. It set the mood, but it is easy to see why this film would get no buyers at Sundance.
People don't go to the movies to get more depressed, and this one will do just that.
It is not a pretty movie. Watching the effects of child sexual abuse never is. Watching someone engage in self-mutilation to mask the pain is, in a word, painful.
Bello (A History of Violence, The Cooler) was, of course, perfect for the role. Rufus Sewell played the husband, who was more of an enigma. It was never clear whether he was just a jerk who was obsessed with golf, or if 15 years of marriage to Nancy (Bello) just wore him down.
Nancy finds Louis (Jason Patric), someone on the Internet she wants to kill her. They end up having a relationship, if you want to call it that.
In the end, I am not sure whether he kills her or whether she kills herself. It really doesn't matter. It was a dark, twisted film with very little music and washed out cinematography. It set the mood, but it is easy to see why this film would get no buyers at Sundance.
People don't go to the movies to get more depressed, and this one will do just that.
Did you know
- TriviaHolly Hunter, William Hurt, Radha Mitchell and Stellan Skarsgård were originally attached to this project.
- Quotes
Carol: It is possible that our thoughts create patterns or pathways in our brain and after repeated negative thoughts then those pathways become attached, addicted to those repeated stimulations and those negative thoughts are very very hard to redirect.
Nancy: It's such a load of crap, you don't know what real pain is.
- ConnectionsReferenced in W.E. (2011)
- SoundtracksWhen A Man Loves A Woman
Performed by Michael Bolton
written by Andrew James Wright and Calvin Houston Lewis
Details
Box office
- Budget
- $3,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $22,282
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $10,324
- Jun 7, 2009
- Gross worldwide
- $22,282
- Runtime
- 1h 42m(102 min)
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
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