Visioneers (2008)

You won't be disappointed!

hyped garbage

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

It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties. It's a feast for the eyes. But what really makes this dramedy work is the acting.

This quite a good film and it is very unfortunate that it's been so underrated and not well known. The film revolves around the efforts of a very mediocre, average and silent man to avoid being overcome by stress. To make things even more "stressful" the film takes place in an alternate universe where people literally explode when they are unhappy and stressed. Things such as having dreams and being different are discouraged, since scientists don't know what exactly leads to spontaneous explosions but they suspect that these are underlying causes. In fact, if you have dreams, it's advised to visit a doctor immediately.The film tries to impress the message of how disgustingly repressing and sad are our lives in a corporate capitalist system such as exists in the US today, how marriages that shouldn't have happened for the sake of marrying someone and that lack communication are basically uncomfortable space sharing, how driving an expensive boat and car is meaningless and how therapy sessions, books and TV shows that try to teach you how to be happy are poor prescriptions to tolerable living.The film also shows how the opposition of this lifestyle as exists today is not a rebellion but a mere conformity. The film argues that people who try to live alternative lifestyles, such as hippies, are nothing more than people trying to escape the system by alternative forms of entertainment, other than just watching TV like the rest of the "normal" people do. In essence, they are doing nothing to fix the situation, but they merely try to make it tolerable to themselves by pretending to be children again.There is also a comment to be made about the urbanization of the countryside and natural environment.The main message of the film is the death of dreams and emotions that we suffer in order to enter this kind of society and how the human psyche is tormented to the point of numbing itself and thinking that things such as money, success in the workplace and attractiveness are the symbol of happiness. A human in this system becomes so twisted that he desperately tries to convert anyone not in the system to follow this repressing lifestyle.I did not expect such an excellent film by these two young creators. Also Zach Galifanakis is excellent in his role. It might seem quite easy to act like he does, but the feeling of sadness and repression he conveys is absolutely spot-on. Indeed, a great film if you are in the mood for some philosophical cinema.

If you made a movie about the abuses of a meat packing industry and your audience was the owners of several meat packing firms, you wouldn't get good reviews. That mostly explains the unusually low score for this movie. Its not likely to bring glee to the eyes of those that usually adorn the walls of the local multiplex.The film is pretty good satire. Its satire not only comes from the situation, but the foreboding mood that lurks throughout the film. It takes on multiple dysfunctions in American life. These would include corporations, Oprah Winfrey, Junk Food, Televangelists, Suburban Households, Materialism, etc.The film does this all pretty well. There are some occasional flat notes; this would include Zach Galifianakis going into overly long star offs. Most of the staring he does is within bounds, but sometimes he crosses the line. Some of the satire was lacking any subtlety; I'm thinking of the life coach who tries to cure Zach.Many people have compared this to Brazil, its a fair comparison. In terms of quality, this movie is light years away from Brazil; that is very important however. The one plot point that greatly diverges with Brazil is the ending. I liked the ending to this and thought it fit very well with the rest of the movie. If it ended another way, the film may have come off to much as a wet rag.

The movie has a lot of solid points, zach throws in some of his well known physical comedy, but also shows that he has some chops in the movie. Overall I really enjoyed the movie, if it wasn't for his dreams... I would have rated the movie at least an 8.5. The last scene was ruined, I acknowledge that it was a comedy, but they had a chance to make a really good ending, but they tainted it with some goof ball scenes that were absolutely unnecessary. Change the ending, and the movie becomes fantastic.I did however like the whole premise of the movie (the main premise, not the dreams etc...). A political satire of sorts, and Judy Greer has some really good lines at the end, after doing virtually nothing all movie.

A Jeffers salute to all of you! Visioneers opens with a stale, lifeless office environment on the 3rd level of the Jeffers corporation, which is the "friendliest and most profitable corporation" ever. The story follow George Washington Winsterhammerman (Zach G.) as he floats through his day-to-day life without any real passion, all the while trying to avoid "exploding," which the world around him continually claims to be able to prevent by following various self-help books, buying the latest gadget or toy, and staying productive; basically, not truly living in any real sense. None of this stuff truly works for George; he has dreams, but he is afraid to follow them, because he is lead to believe that if he does he will definitely explode.The almost-too-subtle tone and style of the film can be hard to interpret at times, especially if you're trying too hard to understand it, but I believe it suits the film well and allows for a truly contemplative cinematic experience. I don't believe the film carries any one particular agenda, although it takes several shots at America and capitalism in general, there are also a couple of scenes that show the "hippie" response to that way of life and how it is also flawed in many ways. There are so many underlying themes and messages about life at the heart of this film that it is impossible to list them all here, and I don't know if I even could, because I probably missed a few of them the first couple of times I watched it. Turn the negative, cynical and egotistical part of your brain off before you sit down to watch Visioneers and you will truly appreciate the message of the film. Yes, it has a few flaws here and there, and may also seem preachy and pretentious at times, but that could very well have been intentional; meant to convey the message of the film in a different way.It wrestles with what it truly means to be alive! I won't spoil the conclusion for anyone, because if you truly grasp it while watching it, there is so much more to be had from it. Go ahead and make some popcorn, grab a soda and your loved one (or a buddy) and really dive into this film. It may just change your life.