It always sucks when a documentary with such a fascinating subject chooses to not tell it any interesting way. That said, Some Kind of Heaven is nooothing like that.

This is playful and introspective in all the right ways. But so bleak too. I like to brush off the misery in this as a “you’re in Florida” thing but it’s made pretty clear this is universally felt.  A lot like Squidville, ya know?

I loved this. Florida is a truly absurdist state, but it is uniquely over-simplified with the “Florida Man” dumb ass dumb unfunny novelty napkin bullshit you all dispel!!! YOU! This movie is a much keener examination into the uncanny but undeniably human energy that haunts this swamp.

A hell of a drug watching this in Central Florida with my Floridian parents a year or so away from retirement. Dad kept going to his phone to give us facts about The Villages (“nine dog parks”) to avoid the labor of emotional engagement. Mom, who has a handful of friends living in The Villages, related a concerning amount to the troubled wife, Anne. They both said they’d have liked to have seen the film focus on a more normal couple living in the villages who are having a nice time. They just want to have a nice time!

both comforting and unsettling in equal measure, and gorgeously shot so those feelings were amplified even more. i didn’t know much about this strange florida community until checking this out and it packs a lot of interesting information in while thankfully staying super personable instead of overwhelming and cold. the last act slowed down a bit too much for me, but the ending definitely made up for it

texted haneke chat the entire time didn't watch a god damn minute of it

I came out of retirement to edit this movie so I sure hope people like it

a glorious utopia so gorgeously shot that it makes it easy to assume its residents can’t possibly have any worries... but what lance does so well is how he captures these people’s stories and shine a light through the cracks of this dreamland, revealing the loneliness and hardships faced within it... i think it’s safe to say that i’ve never seen anything quite like this

Documentaries should be considered for more cinematography and original score prizes. Editing too. This was stellar. Poignant and thought-provoking and fun. My first great 2021 film.

The stories about "The Margarita Man" and Reggie were entertaining to watch. This documentary has a great grasp on understanding the idea of retirement and old age. Each individual interviewed has their own story and arc. This is kinda like a spiritual successor to Nomadland. That film was basically a narrative and a documentary-like film with real people.

Some Kind Of Heaven continues that aesthetic with beautiful cinematography, color grading, and introspective monologues from real people. I wanted to watch more of it. It's too short and kinda fizzles out in the end.

...and not just the Florida men...but the Florida WOMEN...and the Florida CHILDREN too!...

The worst thing a documentary can do is blandly represent an interesting subject. Some kind of Heaven is very frustrating. You feel like the external beauty is wasted on a very unsatisfying story. This didn’t commit to either being fully experimental or fully real. It’s in a weird limbo. Yes, these are interesting characters but no, I don’t think they are worth being the subject of the documentary. I feels like it gets lost in itself. Nothing is resolved, maybe that’s the point but it’s boring point to make.

I want to point out one of my favorite cuts of 2020: 

“Different stories, that have all made up over a bottle of scotch.”

Then it cuts to a cracked wall. Not a real crack, painted. This is the point the film is trying to 
make. Everything is a façade, a candy coated rotten apple.

Prentis w Nikki

Surprised that this isn't getting completely glowing reviews bc I was pretty floored by it. Maybe I'm just a bit too obsessed and into "reality" shot like a movie movie, but this really seemed incredible. The couple fucking broke my heart, the lonely wanderer in a van depressed the hell out of me, and the lonely heart widow brought me so much joy. Her fucking monologue read at the end in the acting class was fucking great.

Seriously so impressed that the filmmakers were able to get all of this stuff on camera. It is so raw and real at times that I almost felt like I had to look away, and yet it feels like it was shot so lovingly, and edited with so much empathy for the subjects.

Life is really fucking hard always.

David Bolen. That’s the review.

Good music and very sweet insights into relationship dynamics

This was both an easy watch and a bit of a bummer. I love that the movie never makes fun of its subjects and instead takes a genuinely sweet approach to this very bizarre and strange part of the world. The way this movie looks is just beautiful and the way it's shot captures Florida perfectly.

Dug this a lot. Old people are weird.

I just don’t want to die alone

it’s crazy how surreal reality can be sometimes, especially in Florida. i still don’t quite understand the absurdity of this place and i live here.

this documentary blurred so many lines with it’s stylistic cinematography and it’s refreshing to see a documentary that feels wholly unique.

I only knew about the existence of The Villages because Dave Wasserman kept saying during the election forecasting that this place was a bellwether county to watch to determine how presidential races play out. I had no idea it was a full-on retirement Disneyland.

Florida is sure one hell of a place.

:’) I am so moved!

Understated, intimate portrait of the weirdos who retire to central Florida’s “The Villages” complex. I wish this had been 3x as long

The must gut wrenchingly depressing movie I’ve ever seen. I really liked it and hated every second.