Buster's Mal Heart

This film is more than just a film. It is an experience, and it has you from start to finish in its seemingly quiet way. Then it comes to you in your dreams too, in your conversations about it, and your will for others to see it too. The characters, the world, the scenarios, all bring to light a new perspective. I loved the storytelling and it's fresh, funny, and dramatic.

I often find that I am not so moved by newer films, that they aren't succeeding in providing me with new insight or actual cinema or unique stories. I have no issue with walking out and never needing to look back. This is a movie I want to see again. And I will find new revelations there.

I wish many more films would aspire to this, which succeeds in what it does.

This is a visually striking film with an amazing plot. It took some time for me to fully understand this film but once you understand it, it will stick with you for a long time. Rami Malek's performance is flawless and minimalistic. If you're obsessed with filmmaking and cinematography you will appreciate this to its full potential.

After a first watch, it's difficult to characterise or rate this movie. Certainly intriguing and engaging, the viewing experience is mind-bending. The atmosphere is a weird mix of claustrophobia, psychedelia and human drama. The movie explores ideas around sanity, reality, imprisonment and the quest for freedom. It comes over as sensitive and real on a human level, alternately touching, tragic, funny, sad, depressing, chilling, and strangely inspiring. The main character gives a brilliant portrayal of an altered state of consciousness. The meaning and story of the movie are expressed in a very unconventional way; non-linear, disorientating and confusing - which I'm sure was intentional. The experience is rather psychedelic, and there isn't quite enough logical substance to really carry the viewer to a satisfactory conclusion, but this might change with a rewatch, when the rating might go up.

Superb acting from all 3 main characters. The story just drags along. There's no real explanation of some of the events that take place. Sort of like a lower scale Lighthouse version.

One figures out soon that the main character is not right and is not at all surprised of the twist fifteen minutes prior to the film ending.

An ok movie, just lacked drive.

There are definitely different ways to approach this film. It can be darkly comic, but at its core, it's a tragedy with one actor at the center of it who is ready to give it his all. Malek has become a star due to his TV series, Mr. Robot, and here he gets an opportunity to shine even further. The lead character is a tricky one, balancing different story lines and timelines and personality traits while still having to be consistent in characterization. It's not hard to see why Malek was cast here. He has such a bubbling intensity and forceful acting style that comes across natural while leaving a lasting impression, and that's exactly what he does here.