oh this was boring as hell i'm so so sorry
Jaw-droppingly intimate and sensitive. Be prepared to be wrecked - the whole theater was shaking with sobs at points.
Beautifully and specifically queer. I've never on screen seen gay sex that felt this much like gay sex. The texture of it. There's a brief, funny, inter-micro-generation terminology convo that if you are LGBTQ of a certain age, you've had. There are two coming out conversations with lines that I swear are plagiarized from my life. There's a delightful subversion, in an early scene, of cruising, that achieves a cocktail of funny and sweet and sad that returns throughout the film (most notably in a moment where a 48-year-old Adam climbs into bed with his parents wearing a 12-year-old's pajamas). The exploration of how things can be so much better than 1987 but still not fine, and the ways the not-okayness of 1987 is still with us, especially in the psyches of folks that were there… so relatable and such a rare and subtle theme.
There is a final twist that, while devastating, does some real damage to Adam's character and, in my opinion, the emotional impact of the movie. Investing incredibly deeply in a fantasy of a relationship with a neighbor that didn’t happen is creepy where imagining you can talk to your dead parents again is sweet and sad. We know early on that the interactions with Adam’s parents aren’t a part of conventional reality and that doesn’t diminish any of their emotional impact, but the romantic relationship being unreal cheapens it.
This last emotional gutting felt unnecessary and unearned to me: it makes me hesitant to recommend the movie, despite how much it affected me, despite the impeccable execution. A friend who saw the movie with me and didn’t personally relate to as many of the queer culture touchpoints felt emotionally manipulated, and I get that. But aside from the last few minutes, my experience of the movie was near-perfect.
I really expected to like this.. But I just could not connect with the story. I even fell asleep for a little bit.. Found it insanely dull.
Maybe I have watched just too many other 'queer' films.
The cinematography was beautiful, but it just was not enough to hook me into the story that felt a little over told.
I think if you've not watched many queer films, it may speak to you, but if you've maybe watched far too many, this may feel rather generic.
Directing & writing so intimate yet universally relevant to the human experience, four outstanding performances, beautiful crafts, an ending that’ll leave people to discuss & dissect, and countless tearjerking moments. A great film. Bravo to everyone involved.
I'm usually drawn to movies that challenge me to relate to a perspective that's different from my own, so this movie's theme and approach intrigued me right from the start. It's essentially a character study about a gay man who's trying to escape a life of loneliness and alienation explored through the relationship with his dead parents and a love interest played by Paul Mescal. All four of the performances are excellent, this will probably be the defining role of Andrew Scott's career and his performance being overlooked by the Academy doesn't sit well with me. There's so much authentic detail in his body language, manner of speech and eye movement that deserves to be recognized because it carries the entire film. I was really impressed by the scenes between him, Bell and Foy, illustrating that while times have changed for the better, his character is still an outsider to society. Those scenes probably won't work for everyone (you could call them out for being shallow as it's all a product of his imagination), but I was very moved by the eventual pay-off. The film's answer to its central question of alienation I found a little less satisfying, as it struck me as too obvious. The final shot and needle drop in particular spell things out too much, though the scene leading up to that moment pulls off a satisfying final twist. The technical aspects of the film are easily among its biggest selling points. It's a great vibe movie, one of the best I've seen in a while. The colour and lighting create a feeling of intimacy that sometimes leans in the direction of sensuality, while other times feeling more comforting or nostalgic. It's because of that approach that the film doesn't come off as dreary, the inherent sadness always feels understated. Aside from the aforementioned scene I think the music choices are all great (loved the use of Death of a Party by Blur), however the droning score was a little bland by comparison. It's the right kind of score given the kind of film that it is, but they could've done so much more with the textures. Still, this is a really good film that I expect to remembered as more people discover it. Its appeal might seem niche, but the emotion is universally relatable.
7.5/10
So, I caught "All of Us Strangers" over the weekend - Andrew Haigh's latest. And man, it's like everyone's been talking about this one. The whole vibe of the film, the way it looks and feels, it's just... there's something about it. And Andrew Scott, I mean, come on, the guy's a genius. From his days as Moriarty to now, he just nails it every time.
But, okay, here's the thing. The whole storyline with the protagonist's parents being gone from the get-go... it kind of just set this tone, you know? Like, you could see where it was headed, and it sort of took the wind out of the sails for me. Even when Paul Mescal's character took that dark turn, I wasn't shocked. It felt like the movie was laying it on thick with the whole trauma angle, without giving us that light at the end of the tunnel kind of vibe.
Now, don't get me wrong, the acting across the board was top-notch. Critics have been saying the same, pointing out how everyone in this film just brings their A-game, making these really intense emotions feel super real. And the whole thing about Adam trying to connect with his past, with his parents, I get that it's deep, it's moving. But for me, it was like, where's the hope, you know? After everything, you kind of want to see a glimmer of something good on the horizon.
So, yeah, it's a beautiful film, no doubt. The colors, the shots, the performances, especially Scott – it's all there. But by the end, I was left feeling a bit... I don't know, empty? Like we went through all these emotions, but for what?
Rating it? I'd say a solid 6 out of 10. It's worth watching for the performances alone, and there's definitely something haunting about it that sticks with you. But just be ready for that heavy vibe, without much to lift you up by the end.
Not really my cup of tea.
8/10 great
Now this isn’t everyone’s cup of tea and this will be for a number of reasons, be it the sexuality or the holding on to the past and love ones that have gone.
But this is a very clever and intriguing movie that plays out at its own speed and you just have to go along with it and wait to see where it’s going to end up.
I have to say I didn’t see the ending coming and I’m normally very good at this, plus to have the table turned on you twice in the last few moments is ingenious.
The very ending, we’re the song tells you the meaning of the whole storyline is again very clever.
It’s not a highbrow movie, but you have to be able to think out of the box and to be able to interpret what your seeing and read into what’s being shown to you.
As I said this won’t be for everyone, especially those that have to have it spelt out to them.
I definitely will revisit this movie in the future and probably will get even more from it the next time round.
Everyone Else: Thoughtful Film Discourse
Me: Paul Mescal licking Andrew Scott's spunk off his chest > Barry Keoghan drinking Jacob Elordi's bathwater
Like lemon peels in a bin behind the bar: All of Us Strangers is recycled muck with a twist.
A gay screenwriter and director writes and directs a movie about a gay screenwriter's youth and sex life. It's skillfully filmed and beautifully acted S.E.P. (Someone Else's Psychotherapy).
Another gay tragedy -_-
I'm gay and tired of this
Another depressing gay ending. Ground breaking. :disappointed:
As a movie about loneliness, loss, and love, “All of Us Strangers” is very effective. Leading man Andrew Scott, in particular, gives his all, and I understand why his name was mentioned repeatedly in the Oscar debate. Personally, however, I found the movie too melancholic and depressing overall, both on a visual level and with regard to the music. I certainly recognize the artistic value behind it, but I can't hide the fact that I was a little bored while watching it. But because Scott is so strong, the movie did ultimately move me on an emotional level in one or two scenes. Still, it's not really my kind of movie overall.
Despite the themes related to homosexuality being effectively at the core, I found "All of Us Strangers" to offer a harrowing and poignant portrayal of the profound sense of loneliness and isolation that pervades our society across generations and sexual orientation. While the film incorporates familiar elements already seen in other works, they are reworked and reimagined with remarkable elegance. Although I must admit that, in numerous instances, it resonated with me intellectually and artistically rather than eliciting a raw emotional response (not necessarily a bad thing).
Having a good idea is not enough if you overtalked it and add a few unnecessary threads...
I love Paul Mescal, and I loved this movie as well even if I didn’t understand it at the start.
This movie is so emotional and very intense.
I wish I would have a love story like that one day.
Not at all what I expected but still a very good film. Emotional story and brilliantly acted. That ending scene though…so powerful.
A raw story about loss, difficult and silent childhoods, loneliness, and support networks. It does not fail to show the protagonist's constant nightmare, which never seems to end, linking trauma after trauma. With the second protagonist, it also tackles a subject that is not often dealt with: how difficult it is to ask for help when you are spending your life helping other people. As a point against, it is very confusing all the time, I know it is a resource to reflect the protagonist's mind, but as a viewer it takes you out sometimes.
An intimate and hard film, but beautiful in a way.
I am not sure what to say. The trailer and synopsis kind of spoilers some things but generally it was a really good movie. Cinematography was really great. The story was immensely sad though, and so much drama and so dark. It was almost too much for me.
Male loneliness. It's an epidemic.
For every second that passed by this just kept growing and growing on me.
There was a moment where I thought I was watching a remake of 'Weekend', a movie I really didn't gel with, but fortunately it then becomes something different, something grander.
I do think the magical realism was overdone but this is important as fuck for today.
Loved the bold ending! The power of love from above.
If you think - why gay theme? I don't see how it is possible to write this story otherwise.
Fantastic idea of meeting you parents. Especially when you reach their age as in the movie. But it's unbearably sad. Like, don't watch if you are lonely.
I wonder if this kind of story could be told not from lonely people, and focus more on relationship between past and present.
The film showcased Andrew Scott's brilliant acting skills; however, its repetitive and sluggish pace ultimately hindered its potential and failed to captivate the audience.
What can I say? It was a rollercoaster. For me, it was a mental rollercoaster, because I don't usually cry at the movies. Neither did I this time. But I don't remember when was the last time I had so many thoughts during the movie. I usually go to the cinema after a work day, to get my mind off everyday things, just to get my mind blank in the dark room where you are not allowed to use your phone. This time my brain did more work than during the workday.
Apparently "All of Us Strangers" is based on a book. I've never read it. Never heard of the author. Don't think I've ever seen anything with two main leads Andrew Scott and Paul Mescal. Didn't even read the little description of the movie properly. I had no expectations.
The movie started out really slow and I wondered, if I had made the right choice. It felt bleak. Then it got creepy; after that awkward, yet sweet; then strange and in the end, sad.
When Harry met Adam or Adam met Harry: their first meeting was creepy. I kept thinking, how did Harry know that Adam was gay. They've never met, Adam looked like a regular bloke. I wouldn't have let him in, either. Yet, somehow they found their way to each other. I've only seen one gay movie before that one, so I don't know how accurately the relationship was depicted. For me, it felt realistic in that sense, that it was normally awkward and they didn't really know what they were doing with each other. I think it's normal, that having sex for the first time, people don't know each other well enough to have that perfect sync. It takes time to find your groove, so to speak.
Strange things that kept my mind alert: Adam's parents. I was clueless when Adam first met his parents. When he bumped into his father in the store, I thought that they were exes or something. No, it was the father. Then they went to see the mother. And all I could think was: "Why are they so young?". I mean, Adam had the cutest creases around the eyes, yet neither of the parents had barely any creases. How can that be? Then Adam said to Harry that his parents are dead. I really thought he just lied to Harry. I couldn't understand why, if he just went to see his parents. Later, when Adam met his mother alone, the mother was very creepy. Didn't leave the room when he was getting the wet clothes off. I thought that we are unfolding some childhood drama (abuse or something). He had a nice little talk with his father later. I didn't know what to suspect, but it felt strange somehow.
Adam and Harry went to party and Adam got high. Now I was starting to suspect, that we are going to get some kind of twist. When his parents said something in the line of "you're not supposed to be here yet" or something like that, I thought that his parents are really dead and Adam overdosed or something and is now in the brink of death, but it's not his time yet. Then Harry was there and I don't know, I just tried to make sense of it all. When Adam told Harry about his parents' death and then took Harry to see his parents, I thought Adam had really lost it and had schizophrenia or something. At least he got to say goodbye to his parents.
If the emotional goodbye wasn't hard enough, Adam went to look Harry. But here's the biggest plot twist, Harry had been dead in his apartment for a while. It was all in Adam's head. And it's sad that poor broken soul ended up all alone in the end. I felt sad for him. Didn't cry, because I don't cry easily. If I did, I would've needed a lot of napkins.
Watching this movie, you have to constantly think to make sense of it all. In the end you know that nothing makes sense :laughing:. People who tend to cry during emotional scenes, should definitely be prepared to have enough napkins ready.
"It doesn't take much to make you feel the way you felt back there again."
Get the tissue box out for this one. All of Us Strangers wrecked me emotionally on five occasions for different reasons (dad/son, christmas tree, bed, restaurant and ending) it's so genuine, intimate and strangely relatable. Essentially two separate storylines that eventually merge into one on levels that aren't so obvious to me yet but I can safely say I loved both storylines. One of the best takes on loneliness i've seen. Fear, regret, hope and forgiveness are also in the picture.
Compelling characters, a very strong character study, intriguing story and four amazing performances. Andrew Scott is at the center of course but I think all four actors carried the movie on their shoulders. Beautifully shot, the whole thing felt like a surreal dream sequence. Perfect needle drops, the Death of a Party sequence is so freakin good. Great use of lighting, I love the drastic change between the two main sets it makes things even more compelling.
At first I thought the final twist wasn't necessary but on a rewatch it adds a lot to the previous scenes and I love the twist now. I can only see this movie getting better with every rewatch. Who's going to pay for my therapy??
I'm confused and sad. Great acting!
All of Us Strangers feels like a spiritual follow-up to last year's Aftersun. Not only because it features Paul Mescal dancing in a club, but also because it tries to bridge that unknowable bridge between child and parent. However, whereas Aftersun feels like it almost puts a mirror up to the viewer, asking them to paint in the emotional crevasses of the movie themselves, All of Us Strangers seems to be a much more specific experience centered around queerness and loneliness revolving around Andrew Scott's character. Personally speaking, this experience is one that does not resonate as strongly with me, so the pathos and punches in the movie don't always land as strongly for me. Regardless, there is a strong intimacy to this movie, developed through phenomenal acting from our main 4 cast members, and what will probably stick with me are some of the beautiful scene transitions, even if I think overall the movie is not as compelling for me as I think it will be for those whose life experiences parallel the character's more closely.
Beautiful story, good soundtrack and amazing acting. I still have trouble figuring out the timeline between events though.
A very raw, freeflow and tender film. I was hit by Harry's lamentation that he has drifted to the edge of the family, and coming out as gay only put a name to this situation that’s meant to be. So sad a situation, and confronted by many LGBT person at the early stages of their lives.
The most interesting thing about All of Us Strangers is actually the way it’s billed in the fantasy genre, because there’s a very obvious second interpretation that has nothing to do with the supernatural, and if I hadn’t seen the “fantasy” label then I genuinely wouldn’t have known that it’s intended to be watched as such.
That makes it a very interesting film to watch because you’re constantly confronting yourself throughout that you’re trying to watch it through a scientific lens, and maybe you shouldn’t be. At the end of the day I still can’t say for sure which way the pendulum swings, but I don’t really have a problem with that.
The story itself feels like it leans more into psychology than fantasy; All of Us Strangers visualizes a manifestation of grief and processing, and whatever the brain needs to do to get through that. For all intents and purposes, it is incredibly human.
Andrew Scott and Paul Mescal portrayed their characters beautifully and with such vulnerability, I have nothing but praise for them.
A modern fairy tale. Thought-provoking and emotional with excellent performances all round. Makes a beautiful companion piece to "Still Lives". The train to Croydon has rarely seemed so magical!
Very well made and well acted. Has a lot going for it but almost goes too far with the devastation.
Shout by faggurgleBlockedParent2024-03-30T23:35:35Z
It baffles me seeing people dismiss this film as "another gay drama/tragedy".
Adam being gay is important to the story? Absolutely. But the narrative is not only about him being gay. It's also about a person who never really grew up because they never had the chance to; It's about someone who's miserably lonely because they cling too much to the past and can't look forward to the future; it's about dealing with unprocessed trauma and moving on in the modern world. And not only that, it's also very original and masterfully crafted. It's beautiful.
It could easily be adapted into a story of the contemporary lonely straight man starring Ryan Gosling and people would lose it.