The Roommate (2011)

Very well executed

Powerful

Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

In the dictionary, there's a word called ugly; the context includes various things such as being unpleasant, repulsive, suggestive, causing disquiet, and furthermore being totally unattractive. There's also another word called misguided, disappointing, disjointed, downgraded, boring and moronic.These words perfectly describes this film as something that had potential to be engaging, unjustly entertaining, and possibly raw. But unfortunately it was presented with flawed material that merely descended into repetitive nonsense. Within the abyss of this disaster, there's elements that would've improved the storytelling significantly if it followed a less linear and unenthusiastic approach.The major problem in this film isn't just the writing but the rating. It's a soulless PG-13 experience that either doesn't push boundaries when it teases it or fulfills the experience for the viewers when it loosely attempts. It's a boring drama with no emotions. A psychological thriller with no excitement or scares. A predictable and irresponsible romance with no believable, thoughtful, or even slightly less dreadful compassion. It couldn't be erotic or sensual without deliberately detracting itself.If this film was a human, it would be a roommate with no standards.

More went into this than the average reviewer here cares to think about. Good ingredients but the cake... well, it doesn't exactly fall flat, this movie is watchable, don't be put off by the negativity. But there are some seriously corny stupid scenes that should have been reworked.(1) Matt Lanter's death scene. Looks like a fake orgasm. Jeez, a guy giving a fake orgasm scene! (2) Leighton Meester's Rebecca is not dead that first time round, we all knew that, it is such a tawdry wasteful scene, the epitome of crass corniness. The creepy 'second death' should have been the only bit used.Certainly those that I have mentioned are very valid cases, but even if improved on, the 'charcoal-tinted lens' (as aptly described by a reviewer whose offering isn't very popular) makes student life seem so dismal that I find it hard to accept. Crowded nightclubs yeah, but did everything have to be so dark? The whole movie is permeated with the general feeling THIS IS KIND OF SUBSTANDARD. Like it's riding along in the wrong gear.You have an inanely-named Danish director. I've gone through his commentary on the DVD and the guy is kinda... well, he'd laugh at things I would not find funny. He doesn't sound like an up-to-it director at all, rather more like a marionette to studio bigwigs' every desire.I am not criticizing performances. Leighton Meester was damned good, actually. A professional review on Wikipedia mentions her smile being the perfect balance between a grin and a snarl. Another that it is clear that Leighton is wasting her time here, she deserves better. Minka's part is not as demanding as Leighton's, but she did great.Other great things about the movie: (1) Nina Dobrev as Marie. A single scene, with a highly memorable girl. VAMPIRE DIARIES, here I come! (2) two of the songs are especially good, "Surrender" during the lovemaking scene between Minka and Cam, and the one I'll refer to as "Not Real" during the end titles. Two days later and the latter is still playing in my mind (delightfully, and most welcome! ) By the way, the Richard Price painting of the nurse was supposed to be found creepy? It's not. The best painting, however, is the one Rebecca made of Maria, in Rebecca's bedroom, up against the wall. That's simply beautiful!And all the fuss about Cuddles? What are the people on about? It's a story, and I notice you're not weeping about the actual on-screen gross-fest of the GOSSIP GIRL star getting slaughtered. And the nastiest CATfight in vivid detail, but you just wanna sob your heart out about Cuddles? Nothing is shown on the DVD past the cat being put in the dryer. (It is not an oven, for crying out loud, poor misguided Other Reviewer!) Anyway, Cuddles is the cutest screen kitten ever. and I'm sure he/she inspired people in droves to go adopt a kitty!Could have been better. Which is why I am penalizing it severely. But by the way, SINGLE WHITE FEMALE? Not even nearly Bridget Fonda's best performance, in fact, kinda lame by what she was capable of. In response to Another Reviewer, I think these two DID bring their A- game, just not to an A-script, or A-director.

The Roommate (2011): Dir: Christian E. Christiansen / Cast: Leighton Meester, Minka Kelly, Cam Gigandet, Alyson Michalka, Danneel Harris: One wonders who will share space within their walk of life but whoever it is, hopefully they will write better screenplays than this ripoff of the superior Single White Female. The simple plot sees Minka Kelly arriving for college and dealing with an overly possessive roommate, played by Leighton Meester. Director Christian E. Christiansen is dealing with a budget that would have been better spent in a snack machine. Meester was the one interesting performance in the disappointing Country Strong but here she is too forceful and over the top as the roommate. Minka Kelly is basically ignorant to any complaints given towards her roommate until she meets the parents. The difference between this garbage and Single White Female is that the other film had a more detailed and gradual buildup plus it had two leads that played off each other effectively right down to the twin haircuts. With Kelly and Meester the premise is rushed and met mainly with laughter. Cam Gigandet plays the typical horror film boyfriend who spills beer on Kelly and then continues to be about as interesting as the cracks in the sidewalk outside their dorm window. Alyson Michalka plays Kelly unreliable party friend whom Meester will attack and threaten in a shower. Danneel Harris ends up bound and gagged to a bed perhaps to keep her from fleeing the set. Forget a message about strangers. This film is about cheap thrills deserving of a quick trip to the trash can. Score: 2 / 10

"The Roommate" is a thriller made for teenagers so it might generate some moderate thrills for its target audience… but only because there's a chance they haven't seen this story done before and done better. I bet you can guess what the entire plot of this wannabe tension generator is based solely on the title. OK? Go! "Our heroine (Minka Kelly) is a young woman attending college, probably for the first time and one day gets a new roomie (Leighton Meester). This young woman is awesome at first, getting her out of jams, standing up for her in times of trouble, etc. Eventually, it becomes obvious that The Roommate is crazy and obsessed with her new best friend. If there's a pet it'll be killed as a warm-up to a human being getting murdered, there's going to be a pseudo lesbian aspect and …" Well let's cut it off there shall we? We don't want to give everything away without actually seeing the movie!I can't believe my rating for this movie is two stars out of five. The thrills are mild, with a story that's stale by now, the scares are non-existent (or non-sensical, as a girl who gets stalked in the communal shower room just goes back to washing her hair after she hears something spooky going on) and the movie doesn't really have any teeth. The very idea that the new roommate would be capable of intimidating everyone she meets and that she has the ability to create so much fear in her peers that they forget all about the option of calling the police or going to a higher authority and asking for help is absolutely ludicrous. While there are a few interesting bits where the setting of a college campus is taken advantage of, it never really tries to be original and that makes it forgettable. While the performances are decent, there are many plot holes and some elements are introduced and dropped very quickly, making them feel more like padding than actual material to flesh out or develop the characters and story. Had the plot been more non-sensical or the rating been more adult (allowing for more hanky-panky and gore) this could have at least been "so bad it's good" but there isn't anything here for you if you're older than 16 and even then you would be better off catching another entry in this genre. In it's defense, I didn't hate the movie or find it offensive, I just thought it was run-of-the-mill bad. (On DVD, October 27, 2012)