An Invisible Sign (2010)

Memorable, crazy movie

Fresh and Exciting

A great movie, one of the best of this year. There was a bit of confusion at one point in the plot, but nothing serious.

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

I found this one on Netflix streaming movies. It is quite quirky in places, which may turn off some who enjoy conventional narratives, but in total it is a very nice little story. Jessica Alba is the adult, 20-something Mona Gray. As a small girl she loved her dad, ran with him, did "numbers" with him, and overall became somewhat fascinated with numbers. But as she grew up her dad developed a mental problem, he could no longer function normally, and as a 10-yr-old Mona thought if she did certain things, for example if she denied herself of things she enjoyed, her dad would get better. All this caused Mona to grow up with development challenges, and she became very shy and unwilling to experience normal friendships, not to mention a love relationship. But one day, to help her, mom found out the local elementary math teacher had run off to Paraguay to join the revolutionaries and Mona was to be the new math teacher. Never mind that she never finished college!So Mona jumps in there, does the best she can, has difficulty controlling the students. But she meets Science teacher, Chris Messina as Ben Smith. he is pretty much the opposite of Mona, outgoing and not overly worrying about anything. He takes a liking to Mona but finds her shell very difficult to penetrate.J.K. Simmons is interesting as the neighbor Mr. Jones, who had taught math to Mona as a child, and who now runs the local hardware store. Her confused dad is John Shea as Dad. And Sonia Braga is her mom, still attractive at just past 60. I first saw her years ago in the 1983 movie "Gabriella" where in her early 20s played a sultry cook and lover. Interesting career arc!Anyway it is a nice movie, and therapeutic for Mona, as she eventually finds a way out of her shell. I have enjoyed Jessica Alba since her days as "Dark Angel" on the TV series, and I like her here.

i will have to cast my vote with the crowd disappointed with this movie. i just couldn't figure out where this story was going. Alba has too many issues. The Simmons character is sort of mysterious and odd (who would leave their store unlocked and just go home). The boy friend is sort of mean. And on and on I could go ....The message I got out of this story is that life cannot be understood or explained via a mathematical equation and words do hurt people. But who doesn't already know this? The movie is way too complex just for this simple message. And (in my opinion) the ending has nothing to do with what happens throughout the entire film. Alba is confused and alone then suddenly she give into the Messina characters advances - which she avoided all along.I want to like this movie but i can't.

This film is a strange one but i would have to rate it higher than most. The main character is a more realistic version of what someone would actually be that had insecurity issues. I really enjoyed this film because I can relate the main character and what she feels like sometimes. There aren't many films that do focus on this aspect on life in such a real way, which many of us go through. that is why i had to give it such a high rating. As well as this Jessica Alba plays a really innocent cute character, something a little different from her usualThe film is funny, sad, inspiring, and a bit weird. If you enjoy indie films you will most probably like this. If you are lonely and have social issues you will probably like this.

Cute, nice movie of the paternal and filial love. There is a girl who can not grow up unable to integrate into the adult world of his father's mental degradation because of this has gained in childhood trauma is still unable to process.The trailer already I think a bit misleading, because it is much more serious than what the film suggests... the film is not really an easy mood. In addition, the film has a charm that is hard to describe... rather not try it, must see.Jessica Alba is perhaps the best films of the hosts next to Robert Rodriguez. It was very good finally see a drama, a film which does not carry the beauty of those who underwent surgery. Anyway, just had time for such a role, although as you read this, thanks also to America Ferrera :)