Blind Date (2009)

Don't listen to the Hype. It's awful

Funny, strange, confrontational and subversive, this is one of the most interesting experiences you'll have at the cinema this year.

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

It's a good bad... and worth a popcorn matinée. While it's easy to lament what could have been...

1st watched 12/4/2011 – 4 out of 10(Dir-Stanley Tucci): Artsy, sad and somewhat pretentious movie made by Stanley Tucci about a couple who play games that consist of one of them putting in a personal ad – the other answering it, and then each play the parts displayed in the ad. Stanley's character is a magician who appears to own his own bar and the woman, played by Patricia Clarkson, is the troubled wife. The story is narrated by their daughter, who we find out later died in a car crash where the couple was at fault. The games they are playing are supposed to be therapy to help them handle their problems they have had since the daughter's death. Some of the role-playing just doesn't make sense – some of it has some funny bits, but mostly it's the two of them not really making much progress and wasting their time together. The movie is based on another movie but was re-written by Tucci and David Schechter. The movie feels like Tucci's attempt to make a foreign movie, but here's the problem – Tucci and Clarkson are Americans, and the movie just doesn't come across very genuine. Sometimes actors are just not suppose to write or direct and maybe this is the case for this well-known actor. Sorry, this is just the way I see it after viewing Tucci's failed attempt at an art-house type film.

I discovered the this movie on On Demand and was delighted. Yes, it deals with potentially depressing content, but its beauty is a testament to the depths of human emotion. I think this is a stunning film. Tucci's character is complex. He engenders pathos as well as being a bit off-putting at times. Patricia Clarkson does a grand job of portraying the subtleties in each of the personae her character takes on. Both actors area achingly beautiful in this movie. I liked the mise en scene created by the shabbily elegant club that evokes the early decades of the 20th century. The score/music is haunting. The movie is rather like a play, but with the bonus of close-ups add immeasurably to the experience. Tucci knows tragedy, and it certainly shows here. I feel fortunate to have found this gem.

This film plays out like an acting exercise by two very capable, well-established actors. What holds the simple plot together, along with the series of vignettes showcasing the actors' skills, are two things: the personal ads introducing each segment, and the narration by the characters' deceased daughter.Blind Date is probably more valuable as a teaching tool in a professional acting class than it would be as a night at the cinema for the general public.Excerpts from Blind Date will doubtless appear in retrospectives of Clarkson's and Tucci's acting careers, as illustrating examples of their work. That Tucci also directed likely strengthens the focus of the film in terms of his and his co-star's portrayals.

Blind Date is a movie I came across, many times every time I have entered the video store. Due to the lack of comments on the IMDb page, I decided to leave it alone. The temptation began to be too much however, and I decided to give it a look after all. It's one of the most original movies I have ever seen, but there isn't really any happy moments to be had, after I finished viewing it, I became pretty depressed. Blind Date is very cheap looking, but the incredible performances of Stanley Tucci and Patricia Clarkson is what really make the movie. The pain and suffering they are obviously going through, is quite heartbreaking. Most of it is set in an old fashioned, fancy type looking bar, I thought it was great, and really set the mood for the movie. The only problem I had with the movie, was the deliberate slow pace. It was never boring, it just seemed to drag on at certain points, and the different blind dates, did get a little old after a while. I did appreciate the effort on the low budget it had, and it was quite a thought provoking film, when all was said and done.Performances. Stanley Tucci is remarkable. Filming this must have been very hard, and it shows on his face. To be depressed in almost every scene, was quite the feat. His chemistry with Patricia is amazing. Patricia Clarkson is wonderful. Her pain saddened me, and I was really rooting for her and Stanley to pull themselves together.Bottom line. Blind Date is an interesting film, despite being extremely depressing, is worthy when all is said and done. Make sure your in the mood for this though, because it may tend to ruin your day, if your not.7/10