The Event (2003)
Manhattan prosecutor Nick is charged with looking into the untimely death of city resident Matt, a musician who had AIDS. As she questions Matt's loyal family members -mother Lila and sister Dana- she comes to learn that his closest pal, health-care worker Brian, is an ardent believer in assisted suicide and that he threw Matt a big party before his death. This presents a dilemma for the humane but dutiful Nick.
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the audience applauded
Purely Joyful Movie!
Absolutely the worst movie.
The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.
When I went to see The Event. I cried. I as a parent realized that this story could be my child my friend or someone close to me. I really wish that they had advertising money to advertise this movie properly. The cast was amazing. The movie kept you entertained the whole time. I would really recommend watching it. I bought the DVD in Block Buster and watched it for a second time and learned things I didn't catch the first time. I am a harsh critic on movies. I would say the footage was a little choppy but on the whole the story was great and bring your tissues to the screen when you watch it. Olympia played a wonderful Jewish Mother with love and compassion. The Movie was suspenseful and it made you think of many different ways the whole thing occurred.
This is not the kind of thing that attracts me: simple drama. Straight ahead, grinding humanity.Why would people invest in watching something like this? For engagement, I suppose.There's engagement in the story, for sure, if you need it. But there is a higher level of engagement in knowing that these players are pouring out their hearts for us.Sarah Polley is extraordinary, just extraordinary. Olympia has a grace that matters. Parker is less open than usual until the end.Coming to the event, the man's sister and mother talk about Shirley McLain's performance in "Tears of Endearment." The whole movie revolves around that line, that notion.The thing is constructed so that there is a movie within the movie a movie of the event. Something clever.Ted's Evaluation -- 2 of 3: Has some interesting elements.
I came to this film via Thom Fitzgerald's earlier work, the mostly comic pseudo-documentary "Beefcake," so I was unprepared for the many-layered drama of "The Event." There have been a lot of films about gay men with AIDS, most of which are earnest and predictable, but "The Event" is definitely surprising in its story. It is easy to identify with the various points of view in the film, and that raises the viewer's stakes considerably. And what an indie dream of a cast! I viewed this DVD via NETFLIX which inexplicably -- considering their trove of Grade Z films about gay people -- doesn't stock "Beefcake." Thom Fitzgerald doesn't do the same old same old -- for which, hats off and Thanks!
Thom Fitzgerald has done a wonderful job directing this film. By twenty minutes into the movie I cared about the characters. There's nothing pretentious or annoying about this movie, however the ending shocked me totally. I was not prepared for the ending. I heard sniffles when the credits rolled and when I walked out on to the sidewalk after leaving the theatre I felt stunned. I had no idea that local actor Walter Borden was in the movie -- a definite added attraction. But I don't want to say who does a better job in acting than others as I totally believe the movie is superb just the way it is.This is a movie I would prefer to attend alone so no one will talk to me throughout the film. Without sounding like an owl, the ending shocked the pants off me. I thought I figured it out, but was w-a-y off. Thom Fitzgerald: take a bow.