Personal Effects (2009)

Touches You

Nice effects though.

I really wanted to like this movie. I feel terribly cynical trashing it, and that's why I'm giving it a middling 5. Actually, I'm giving it a 5 because there were some superb performances.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

Walter (Ashton Kutcher) quits wrestling and is bitterly dealing with his sister Annie's brutal murder. He and his mother (Kathy Bates) attend a support group. He has a dead-end job dressed as a chicken, and grows frustrated at the trial for his sister's murder. He is taken with single mom Linda (Michelle Pfeiffer) raising her troubled deaf teen son Clay. She's also often at the courthouse attending her murdered husband's trial.The material is dark but the movie seems intent on making a rom-com. It wants to be a feel-good triumph over personal demons quirky indie but the clashing tones don't work. The kid threatens another kid with a gun and all he gets is a talking to. I appreciate Kutcher trying something deeper but the movie has these odd unfunny quirkiness like the chicken suit. The material demands a darker and more disturbing film.

I have to admit, I started with a prejudice against Ashton Kutcher. I should have learned from my initial unsubstantiated dislike of Brad Pitt. He is one of those handsome young men whose movie credentials haven't been impressive. I wonder if perhaps that stems from lack of opportunity. I see a film like this as a transitional one where we can see his acting ability. He does a nice job with the angst and anger brought about by the utter unfairness of life. Bad things happen and justice isn't done and we shouldn't pass judgment on a life if we don't have some real knowledge of that person. I liked the chemistry between the two leads. The relationship with the deaf son was a bit of a reach. There's no reason they communicated so badly. There is written speech, lip reading, and other forms of communication; even the most basic elements of sign language. It makes Kutcher's character seem rather shallow to think that he would spend so much time with this boy and still not literally understand him. Things do get a bit contrived at the end (I won't spoil it), but if you want to take away a single thing from this film. realize the pain that is life and the possibilities that those painful things can hand you.

I have just returned from the theater and I must share my thoughts. I was – still am – incredibly moved by this movie. It has been a while since I saw anything that touched me so deeply. This movie is a treasure that has found its way to the audience in the era of thrillers and romcoms. The story is about people left behind after their loved ones have been violently taken away from them. They are trying to find their way back into life, but it is not easy. Each one of them is looking for something that would give the support or direction for this new life that they have to make now. For one person it is a new love that gives sense back to her existence. For the other person it is a hope of justice. Yet another one finds peace in a self actualization.The movie has an incredibly melancholy and soulful tone to it. It is very quiet in spite of the intense suffering that it depicts. There are no loud manifestations or long intense monologues. There are just these people. They look at you through the screen and you can feel their pain and sorrow. These people have lost something irreplaceable, something that, in a way, was a part of their being. How to cope with a loss like that? The world depicted in the movie is a reflection of the human emotions. It highlights the melancholy atmosphere of the movie. There are dark clouds and rain constantly present. The world is grey and joyless, just as the people in it. All in all, I feel that the movie is perfect in its sadness. Still, it shows that there is hope even when you don't see any. The actors gave an excellent performance. Michelle Pfeiffer is wonderful and charming as usual. I must praise Ashton Kutcher. I like his comedies where he usually gets to play handsome romantic fellows, but guess what! There is more to him than meets the eye! Well, there have been movies, like The Butterfly Effect and The Guardian, where it was noticeable that he has a serious drama actor potential. Then there was Spread, which was something new and interesting. This movie, however, brings a whole new level out in him. There was no sign of the boisterous, self confident good-looking young man that he always plays. There was just this sad young man with these incredibly soulful eyes and no apparent aim in the future. Excellent performance! There was, however, one minus. I believe there is a great deal of those who would agree with me on the point. The movie has all the makings of a real drama - in all the senses of the word. It depicts real people in the real world with just as real problems. There are no particular surprises or twists in the story, which in this case I don't consider to be a flaw. It is about the feeling that it brings. Usually I am a fan of happy endings, but in this case I felt a bit cheated. I could see the shooting approaching, but I was still shocked and desperate when it happened. The following scene softened this blow and ultimately spoiled the movie a bit. I suppose that changing the ending of the movie might have resulted in the change of its general message as well, but I feel that it would have suited better.

I Don't Know Why This Movie Got Such Low Ranking Here.I Think The Story Was Interesting And Original. Rhe Plot Is A Bit Simple, But It Is More About People, And Relationships.The Acting Was Good, And It Was Nice To Sea That Michelle Pfeiffer Still Looking Great To Her Age, And I Also Liked Her Acting.I Think This Is Typically A Movie That Women Would Like To Watch, Probably Older Women, However Since It's Not The Typical Hollywood Romantic Comedy Silly Movie, And Has A Strong Male Character (Ashton Kutcher) Other People Will Find It Also Apealling.I Thought The Ending Was A Lirle Bit Predictable And Forced, But It Is Still Holiwood Movie.