Plenty to Like, Plenty to Dislike

Memorable, crazy movie

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

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

This one is just a waste of time.This is not a mistery, or a thriller. It is a drama, and a bad one at that. There is nothing to spoil, because there is no surprise in the movie. Some of the reviews mention a big twist or a big reveal. Im not sure if i watched the same movie, because there is no surprise. It is a flat story.Clearly this movie was constructed basing the lead with an interesting past. However, it spends most of the time just with awkward silences, and scenes that do not make sense (i mean, they dont make sense to be put on screen).If you took this movie, and edit out all the silences, unneeded dialogs, and useless scenes... it would last 10 minutes. Including credits.That might be worth a watch.

No doubt this was wrongly labelled as an average film. The title, the story, the performances, all stood to my expectation. I jumped into it prepared for another boring film. Indeed, it was a slow narration, at least in the initial parts. That twist in the early mid sect unleashed the bright side of the tale. Not knowing what to expect, I thoroughly got entertained for the rest of the film.It all was a day event. In fact, most of the story happened on one night. Though for a brief moment in the opening, they have shown us events from the different timelines. Just to convince us. Alice, who befriended a man while in the lunch, decides to attend a birthday party of his friend with him. But that night the things change as some secrets about her was revealed. Then event takes a different path with different adventure revealing more about about her.Yeah, everybody saying they saw it for Shannon, but for me, Rachel Weisz the reason the film looked so good. It is one of the underrated film of the year. It was unique. Probably less familiarity compared to any film. So not easy to predict the story. The suspense made me so curious and kept my eyes wide open till the end. I would like to see the other side of the story, probably in another film/part/sequel. Seems that's a very interesting aspect. Don't consider what the film critics say, it's definitely worth a watch.7/10

(Flash Review)Ever try to be someone you aren't? Like telling a stranger you are a former professional athlete or doctor or specialized scientist? How long could you stretch the truth and make up stories on the fly? That is the crux of the protagonist as she wrestles with the constant need for change vs hanging on to certain things and people from her true life. The film is basically a dialog driven character study as the story just follows her as she connects with the one person from her real life with no typical plot objectives. An interesting concept yet it felt a bit uneven at times.

Maybe I was in the mood for it, but I found this little movie intriguing. It's certainly different. I didn't read anything too profound into it; I just think it was an interesting story beautifully played.It seems to have bored some people stiff and the critical response according to Wikipedia was mixed to negative - I guess they weren't in the mood for it.Alice (Rachel Weisz), a woman who disappeared years before, returns and meets her old boyfriend Tom (Michael Shannon). We learn that she has changed identities and occupations many times, acquiring new skills and friends, only to suddenly leave them all behind to adopt a totally new identity. This sort of thing usually has sinister undertones often involving serial killers and people held captive in cellars, but here there is nothing evil at all, only feelings of sadness for a lost relationship and Tom's sense of purposelessness in his life. There are a few more layers to it, and Alice's self indulgent philosophy is questioned. There is one telling sequence when Alice and Tom help an older couple played by Danny Glover and Kathy Bates. Tom is invited into Alice's world of identity changing almost like in theatre sports where the players are given a character and then have to improvise like crazy; it unlocks something repressed in Tom.As Alice's story unfolds I thought of that line in Kurt Vonnegut's "Mother Night" - "You must be careful what you pretend to be, because in the end you are what you pretend to be".The film has a seductive mood aided by an atmospheric score and doesn't outstay its welcome. I won't spoil the ending, but it felt right.I'm glad I didn't read the critics first - "Complete Unknown" was a complete surprise.