Just perfect...

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

Each character in this movie — down to the smallest one — is an individual rather than a type, prone to spontaneous changes of mood and sometimes amusing outbursts of pettiness or ill humor.

There are moments that feel comical, some horrific, and some downright inspiring but the tonal shifts hardly matter as the end results come to a film that's perfect for this time.

An all-star cast shine a little light on the true story of the internal power struggle in the days following the death of Soviet Union leader Joseph Stalin.It all starts innocently enough - after the first shots of a broken Janet (Thomas) pointing a gun at the camera - with vol-au-vents in the oven. The titular party is meant to celebrate her rise to be the Government minister for an unnamed political opposition, but her husband Bill (Spall) doesn't seem to be himself as he sits in the living room nursing a glass of red wine. As more guests arrive to join the festivities, long kept secrets begin to tumble into the light culminating in an ending that will leave you laughing over the end credits.And that's what surprised me the most; it's a comedy, I was expecting that, but I wasn't expecting it to be as funny as it was knowing it's also an ultimately tragic story. The stinging one-liners and friendly barbs coming from her guests (who happen to work for her rival, politically speaking) hide the bile and baggage they have each brought to this once-jovial event. Even the host has secrets of her own which she keeps well-hidden (at least from her guests) until the gut-busting closing scenes.The whole film takes place in a house and its tiny patio garden, meaning the audience feel as trapped in the goldfish bowl of upper-middle class pomp as the guests do by the time the third or fourth revelation is revealed. Throughout the hour-long ordeal (for it is only 71 minutes including credits) Bill is constantly fidgeting with his record player, swapping a jazz LP for a bluesy vinyl, thereby giving the soundtrack to the film as the drama unfolds on screen in real time.The Party is a film which some will like and some will loath, depending on whether you can sit through a 'talky piece' and pick out the wittiness. The cast is superb, the comedy is handled well among the dramatic moments, and the entire film culminates at the end to leave the audience reeling from the final reveal ... with a gasp and a laugh.Best Quote: "Tickle an aromatherapist and you find a fascist."

A film very different from what we're used to watching. It talks about all those problems or stupid secrets that we have and never want to share, so it brings troubles. Once we stop being so weird everything will be fine.

One for Cilian Murphy completists only tbh. Good twist though.

I am not sure if the title is intentionally ambiguous because in the story "the party" may also be taken to refer to the official opposition party (slightly left-leaning) which has just bestowed on the protagonist Janet (Kristin Scott Thomas) with the honor of a shadow cabinet minister. The title celebrating party, held in a London apartment, is attended by four pairs but with only 3.5 on screen. The hosts are Janet and Bill (Timothy Spall). Of the guests the most affluent couple is unscrupulous banker Tom (Cillian Murphy) and gorgeous Marianne, "queen of spin", who never appears on screen. Martha (Cherry Jones) and Jinny (Emily Mortimer) is a couple who is at a crossroad as Jinny is pregnant with triplets. Martha perceives this event as turning their relationship from a couple to a "collective" while Jinny would prefer to use the term "family". The above three couples (two and a half on screen, remember) are prone to break out in violence, initially verbally, then even physically. The fourth couple to complete the party serves as the voice of mediation, from two different angles. Gottfried (Bruno Ganz) is a "life coach and healer". April's (Patricia Clarkson), by contrast, is all reason and pragmatism. These two have just separated but are on civil terms with each other. The occurrences unfold in real time of just over an hour utilizing various part of the apartment as stage - living room, kitchen, bathroom, backyard. Shot in reminiscently retro black-and-white (with some scene taking full advantage of the blazing white-hot glare of enhance atmosphere) this wittily entertaining. While I won't exactly say that it signifies nothing, as my summary line might have suggested, it does not really say much. Quite a few trendy hot topics are thrown in largely to provide this amazing assembly of top-notch actors to showcase their talent. Lots of spoilers from here on.The movie opens with Janet, in obvious agitation, opening the apartment door and pointing a pistol directly at the viewers who stand proxy for the visitor at the door. Then, it rewinds to the beginning with Janet busy at the kitchen and Bill's lifeless existence in his armchair. Immediately obvious, through Janet's telephone conversation with a mysterious caller, is that she is having an affair. As the guests continual to arrive, conversations take place, separately and in group, from which bits and piece of information are shared with the audience. Tom explains that Marianne is delayed and will probably join them for dessert. Then he takes frequent retreats to "the washroom" (which April corrects - "the toilet") sniffing substance. While not at that, he tries to dispose of a piece of firearm in the garbage bin in the backyard. While Tom is not there, Martha and Jinny use the backyard to hackle about the latter's pregnancy. When the men are together by themselves in the living room they discuss protecting themselves from "so much negative female energy". The first shocker is Bill announcing that the latest verdict from his doctor tantamount to a sentence of death, but it is not clear how much longer he has. This, needless to say, brings various reactions from various people. Janet gallantly declares that she will give up her political career to care for her husband, mentioning the time when he gave up professorship at Harvard ("Yale", he quickly corrects her).Then comes the big bombshell. Bill is having an affair with Marianne, who chooses "love and ideas" over her worldly husband who reeks with money. Adding insult to injury, he has been doing it in Martha's apartment (Bill and Martha are old friends, even slept with each other once, way back when). All hell breaks loose and Janet slaps Bill a couple of times, and not too gently, then tries to "eat herself" (biting down on her own hand) to control her violence. An inevitable confrontation leads to Tom punching Bill, sending him flat on the floor, possibly dead. The delicious ending comes with a ring at the door and someone suggesting "Marianne". Then we are back to the opening scene with Janet pointing her firearm at the newcomer, except that this time, the camera stays long enough for us to hear what she has to say "You told me you loved me. Me! Traitor". I have to watch the movie again to see Kristin Scott Thomas's performance.