Birth
2004 Directed by Jonathan Glazer
Synopsis
Careful what you wish for.
Anna is a young widow who is finally getting on with her life after the death of her husband, Sean. Now engaged to be married, Anna meets a ten-year-old boy who tells her he is Sean reincarnated. Though his story is both unsettling and absurd, Anna can't get the boy out of her mind.
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Jonathan Glazer's second film Birth could easily be dismissed as being overly ambiguous and unesscarily vague. In order to avoid dismissing this film as such, I think taking in mind a quote from one of my favourite high school teacher is benificial. Whenever said high school teacher didn't know the answer to a question (or didn't feel an answer was nesscary) he would point to quote above the whiteboard that read "enjoy the mystery". It is this reason, the mysteries contained in the film, all the unanswered questions, that make Birth such a memorable experience. Well the mysteries, and the fact that Birth showcases mastery of the cinematic craft in every possible area.
Birth is not out to answer any…
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One of the greatest studies of love and loss I have ever seen. There is a scene about 25 minutes into the film, where Kidman (playing Anna) and her fiancée are at the symphony, shortly after an encounter with the ten year old claiming to be her ten years dead husband. The music ebbs and swells as the camera stays fixated on Anna's face and does not move for around two minutes. We see disbelief, grief, love, and hope run through her over this two minutes and that beautiful scene really encompasses the entire film for me. At that point the film, and Kidman specifically, took hold of me and those hooks never left me until the final frame.
There…
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It had been a few years since I last saw "Birth", and I watched it again last night on a whim. What a powerful mindfuck of a film. It leaves its viewer with more questions than it answers and begs to be discussed, at length, afterward. How did Nicole Kidman not get an Oscar nomination for this? Seriously. Easily some of the best work I've seen from her. And the rest of the cast is tremendous- not just Cameron Bright, who received well-deserved acclaim for his difficult role. Lauren Bacall, Danny Huston, Anne Heche and Peter Stormare are all pitch perfect in their various ways. In fact, Danny Huston's role was quite difficult and in the hands of another actor,…
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So the first 5 minutes of this movie is absolutely amazing. Over blackness we hear a guy talk about how he doesn't believe in re-incarnation and says he is going on a run. Then we follow him run for about 4 minutes in Central Park with snow on the ground. It's a beautiful shot. Then we watch him die. And it cuts to a baby being born and the title hits. And then it cuts to his wife ten years later at his gravestone. It's a brilliant way to start a movie and sets up the tone and feel perfectly.
First of all someone needs to pick up the rights to this and give it a proper transfer, maybe even…
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This film blew me away. It is crazy to think this slow, graceful and glacial slow-burn drama was directed my a music video director. I associate music video and MTV directors with stuff like the Friday the 13th remake.
This takes a fairly far-fetched premise and sees it through. As it goes on the tension builds, as does the intrigue and I became more and more unsettled. It's hard to find a film that really moves you or gets to you in one way or another and Birth definitely did that.I cannot wait to go back and watch this again, as I think this will only get better with more viewings.
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Everything about this film works for me. The acting by the ensemble cast is stellar. And Nicole Kidman has never been more invested in a role . Hard to describe. A film of quiet emotions and bizarre plot twists. The kid in it Cameron Bright is a real discovery. And while the plot might be a little far-fetched, if you go with it and put yourself in her shoes it is a tragic, yet rewarding experience that will make you ponder the characters various nefarious machinations till your brain hurts! haha. The soundtrack by A. Desplat also adds to the chilly winter atmosphere of the whole piece and works really well. A modern classic really. There is one scene with Kidman in a theater watching an opera where the camera is a slow zoom on her face that is so amazing...I've re-watched this one a few times and still it withholds it's mystery from me.
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A beautifully shot film, with acting true the roof!
This movie has always stuck to me.And I think two of the reasons are the gazes of Nicole Kidman and young Cameron Bright true-out the entire movie.
This movie has a sort of filter over it and not only in the photography but also in the atmosphere, you never really know what to believe or who to trust. This makes for an exciting 90minutes!
"I guess we'll meet in another life."
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I found this film was very dry and boring unlike what it said on the DVD case. Sounded exciting but no!!!
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Impeccably shot/scored/framed, it's an aesthetic success, but less elegiacal than Glazer intends. Savides MVP. #see
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This review reportedly contains spoilers. I can handle the truth.
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Fraco.
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Everyone remembers the controversy surrounding this film when it was first released. Nicole Kidman nude in a tub with a minor?! People, get a grip, as crazy as Hollywood is, it does still have to abide by the laws of the land. Birth presents an interesting and somewhat disturbing concept in a very classy way. Yes, there are some moments when you are biting your lip going "I can't believe they just did that". But, it is never done in a grotesque way. High praise and credit has to go around to cast and crew alike. Strong performances, beautiful directing and wonderfully shot.
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2.0/10
Some very good performances and a wonderful visual style that helped to establish a fantastic atmosphere throughout most of the film were completely ruined by its extremely awful direction and its pathetic ending. Birth is a film that cheated itself; had they played the supernatural card with more conviction, it might have been actually an interesting movie but overall it was very bad and highly disappointing.
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So the first 5 minutes of this movie is absolutely amazing. Over blackness we hear a guy talk about how he doesn't believe in re-incarnation and says he is going on a run. Then we follow him run for about 4 minutes in Central Park with snow on the ground. It's a beautiful shot. Then we watch him die. And it cuts to a baby being born and the title hits. And then it cuts to his wife ten years later at his gravestone. It's a brilliant way to start a movie and sets up the tone and feel perfectly.
First of all someone needs to pick up the rights to this and give it a proper transfer, maybe even…
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78/100