Search - Bubble [Blu-ray] on Blu-ray

Must see minimalist cinema

Royster | the East | 01/28/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Another brillant piece of work from the director who refuses to be pigeon-holed, his work reminds one of not only American indie stalwarts like Jarmusch, the Coens, etc... but also European and Asian minimalists like Kiarostami, Antononi, Wong Kar Wai, Kaurismaki and Renaisis.

Soderbergh coaxed great performances for the non-professional cast and his visual is a treat as always.

Definitely not a plot-driven multiplex fare, not a masterpiece, but a must see nonethless, for any who values cinema not only as a storytelling medium BUT rather, a VISUAL-AUDIO experience."

Abnormal in a good way

Adam Craig | Columbus, OH | 02/04/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"In a small town on the Ohio and West Virgina border, Martha and Kyle work together at the local doll factory. Martha is a middle-aged, unmarried woman who lives with her infirmed father and takes care of him. Kyle is an unfocused young man, who never finished high school and still lives with his mom in the local trailer park. Martha and Kyle are "friends." Martha picks Kyle up for work everyday, and she even drives him to his other job at the shovel factory in the same town. Everything is normal until the doll factory hires a new worker. The new worker, Rose, is a single mother around Kyle's age. Rose and Kyle become good friends, and even go out on a date together. All of these incidents come together to lead to tragic consequences about halfway through the film.

Bubble is really an odd, intense film. The character of Martha seems to paint a picture of a life of pointlessness, loneliness, and sadness. Martha obviously thinks more of her relationship with Kyle than he does. Their conversations are never complicated, and are filled with plenty of awkward silences. In fact, the silences are some of the best parts of Bubble. All the conversations feel completely real. Maybe it was Steven Soderbergh's choice to use non-actors for the film's main roles, or maybe it was the writing, but either way, the film feels very normal and realistic.

Some people would argue that nothing actually happens for the first 40 minutes of the film; and they would be right. The first 40 minutes consist mostly of talks between Martha and Kyle, and silent shots of Martha going about her pathetic, lonely existence in the small town. However, once the murder happens, the film becomes much more interesting on a more normal level of film entertainment. I personally enjoyed the entire film, which runs a very short length of about 75 minutes.

Obviously, the point of the film isn't the mystery. It's more about life in this small, poor town, where no one can seem to get out and make a good life for themselves. Martha's father is still there. Kyle's mother is still there. Rose's ex-boyfriend is still there. And when all their lives intersect for that one night, there are terrible consequences. I really enjoyed the film, but I don't think I'd watch it again, and normal filmgoers will probably not enjoy the slow, deliberate pacing and lack of action.

Hey, it is a step up from Ocean's 12, at least."

There's more than meets the eye

Billinalaska | Alaska | 07/29/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I watched the film on DVD because it looked interesting, though I had heard nothing about it. The film seemed sparse, rather drab and depressing. Having lived in this general part of the country, in a small town, I could understand the lives in the film all too easily. I liked the characters, but in the end ... I thought it was an odd film. That is, until I watched some of the DVD extras, including the "real lives of the actors" segment. Watching that, and then listening to the casting interviews, I discovered that much of the film used the actors' real lives in it. And it was then that I discovered the brilliance in this piece of art. Keep an open mind, remember the actors are non-professionals when you watch it ... but WATCH it!"

Real people-NOT actors 3 and 1/2 Stars

Barbara L. Morris | Toledo Ohio USA | 06/13/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"What sets this movie so far apart from others, is that real people were used, and NOT actors.
Actually, I think they did an excellent job.
Though if you are looking for an action movie, or a fast paced drama, this is not for you.

It focuses on a small town, and only a handful of characters.
It's about a middle aged woman who lives with her Father and has pretty much no life, besides her job at the doll factory.
She has a crush on a very young man, young enough to be her Son, at the factory. Obviously, the feeling is not mutual, and he is only being kind to her.

Enter a young attractive woman, and mother of a small child, who begins work at the Doll Factory.
The two youngsters decide to hook up, and Martha (The older woman) babysits for her co-worker while she dates her (Martha's)crush.

Jealousy erupts and it turns tragic.
The whole feel of this movie is very laid back, as is life in a small town, and although it IS slow paced and lacks action, there is still an interesting little story here about the desperation of an aging lonley woman whose life has passed her by.

Must have a liking for art house films to appreciate and enjoy it.
"