Wish You Were Here (2013)

the audience applauded

Powerful

The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

Alice Flannery (Felicity Price) is pregnant with husband Dave (Joel Edgerton) and two kids. Her sister Steph McKinney (Teresa Palmer) has new boyfriend Jeremy King and suggests going on vacation to southern Cambodia. Jeremy has a drug connection and disappears one night. Alice and Dave return to Australia. Steph returns later after the authorities give up on the search. Dave and Steph reveal to Alice that they slept together but it's not the only secret that night.This is a marginally compelling mystery. Edgerton can turn a few different ways and the ending leaves him a little disappointing. The reveal is not shocking enough. Edgerton becomes pathetic which is well within his range but not that appealing as a characteristic. Felicity Price is good. This is a functional first world cautionary tale.

It's difficult to like a movie where the majority of the main characters are complete dim-wits. Take case in point, Australian movie "Wish you were here" directed by Kieran Darcy-Smith. As has often become the case the actors seem competent and believable in their emotions and reactions. However script and filmmakers have the lead triangle of characters, especially Joel Edgerton's "Dave" as getting what they deserve. Are we supposed to feel sympathy for tourists who fail to protect themselves in foreign lands. Late in the movie, Edgerton is trying to vent his sadness, he wails and sobs to his wife, but merits nothing but disgust. He is solely to blame and a complete fool. Anyway, additionally soundtrack music was obtrusive and grating. This is another lost story that had potential. Not recommended 5/10

"Something happened the night of the party, after you went to sleep." Steph McKinney (Palmer) and her boyfriend Jeremy go on a vacation to Cambodia with her sister and her husband Dave (Edgerton). They are having a good time laying on the beach and relaxing. When they return home only three of them make the trip. Now all three are trying to figure out where Jeremy is and why he didn't come back. Only one person knows the truth. This is another perfect example of a movie where the idea is much more exciting then the actual movie. While the movie isn't that bad it is pretty slow moving up until the last 20 min. Until then the movie jumps around a bit and makes it a little hard to follow for the first half. The acting is very good but nothing really seemed to happen for most of the movie. Again, the last quarter is good but getting to that point is a little bit of a struggle. Overall, a movie that starts off very slow but worth sticking with to see the ending. I give it a B-.

Saw this recently on a flight from Bangkok and although it was only on the incredibly small screen, I think it was about the right size for the story. It was a very simple tale, with not too much drama and fairly predictable narrative wrapped around a very obvious dialogue. The main lead acted well and that in my mind magnified the shortcomings of the story.There were obvious gaps in the story that the actors tried to fill with raw emotion but that didn't quite gel with me and there was the willing suspension of disbelief with regard to the final scenes that were meant to sum up so much but instead left you feeling that the tale had been dragged out somewhat.