Buster's Mal Heart (2017)

Best movie of this year hands down!

If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

This is one of those films, you won't properly get the notion. Too random, surreal, but at the end somehow all connects. The narration has multiple layers, that's what confusing at the initial stage. Though I liked the character nicknamed, 'the last free man'. If I had watched this film successfully means, that's the main reason. But I felt they have under-used it or missed a great opportunity. Because it was a wonderful film character. Tens of stories can be created using such role. But why did they go for a dry story. In my opinion, it should have been in the line of 'Captain Fantastic'.Rami was okay. He did justify the role he had played. But not like a performance of the year. I understand why this film was very dark, and partially being a dark comedy. The overall storyline looked good. The man with ambition, and to meet that end, he had dedicated his life. But he did not know what he's becoming. It was like 'Split' meets 'Bad Santa'. From all, the boat scenes were a bit of out of context. Yet it brought distinct perspective to the character who was struggling with reality. A film for a few selected people. I feel bad for rating it such low, but I'm only being honest.3/10

Director Sarah Adina Smith crammed at least 3 films here and she tries to make it work but fails. There was too much going on. If I could pick among the jumbled 3 separate films in there, the best would have been this man's slow but steady descent to paranoia. The Y2K element also felt too shaky a ground to stand on as all these events and twists take place. I was curious to see Rami Malek in a different role and in some ways it was a pleasure, with his character being a dad and the segment with the couple in the cabin being my personal favorites. But his character is supposed to be Mexican (the film's script requiring him to speak a lot of Spanish even) and I hope I don't have to spell out why this is off-putting. I read that he was cast before Mr. Robot so opportunity-wise for Rami I get accepting this role before, however there's been some time to improve on this, and I'm disappointed at Malek but more on Smith for failing to do so. The element of wanting to see Rami Malek in a different film also gets mired by certain plot similarities to his other well-known work.

On the whole, there just wasn't enough happening in this film to keep it interesting. For the most part, the development of the story is slow on uneventful. As we plod through the aspects of Buster's life we see it unfold from two sometimes three perspectives. Most of what happens doesn't benefit the story in any way and really should have ended up on the cutting room floor.Even the premise that centres the story for our main character Buster is shaky and 'out there'. It's not explored, expanded or explained in any more depth than when it is initially encountered, so never really gains traction as a focal point for the film. Its really the story of a bum living on the edge because the pressure placed on him from trying to support a family in a difficult situation. There is plenty of meaningless symbolism, especially once you get two thirds in, that does little to shed any light on the story or provide any additional interest.I think this is yet another one of those self indulgent productions born from a good basic idea, that was under prepared, underdeveloped, and hastily assembled through lack of clarity and objectivity.One of the unfortunate developments of modern film making is that any idiot with a few bob and a HD camera can now make a film. Modern technology and the digital age has opened up the creative market such that many with little more than an ounce of self proclaimed talent can make a film. This is good in some ways as certainly those with potential have an avenue into film making that was previously open only to those with financial backing, contacts, or deep pockets. The flip side is that it opens the doors to wannabe film makers who have no business releasing half baked content. The checks and balances that kept such releases from swamping our screens have been replaced by a highway of freedom for every man and his dog to flood us with Sub par releases that aren't worth the devices they're filmed on... but I digress.The Acting is actually quite good, and the direction (I think) is also half decent. I think its maybe the producer/writer, who just hasn't really given the story enough meat to cover the bones of the production, which is a bit of a shame really because (as we so often hear) it has at least 'some' potential.That said, it isn't half bad. You could certainly do a lot worse with an hour and a half to spare.

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.