Search - Lying on DVD

A pointless and confused movie...

Steve Kuehl | Ben Lomond, CA | 05/12/2009

(1 out of 5 stars)

"I have only been burned twice in the last six years in how I research ordering for my store. Welcome to the 2nd. The same reviews shown here got planted/pasted at numerous sites on the Internet, supplemented by a couple others from crew members to make this sound like a masterpiece.

At approximately 22 minutes into the film I decided to do the research to see what went wrong on me even paying for this mess. We have a story about four women uniting at a country home for unknown reasons and with unknown motives. Throw in some horrible hand-held camera work, bad film quality, characters you learn nothing about or why they are even talking to each other, senseless dialogue, boring performances and voila: 94 non-returnable minutes.

I even tried to get this from the point of view of my customers having a ladies night or wanting to see something edgy or fascinating. Nothing I listed could qualify for that. Yes, I am pissed I wasted money for a movie most customers will find boring, meaningless and poorly written - but even as into minimalist films as I am - this is a definite skipper.

DVD: Todd Haynes' interview of M and the commentary are a double dose of furtherance into this film, so if you enjoyed this, it makes it a purchase item, otherwise be careful on this one.

Edit: The reviews have been removed (at least at the moment) - so in case one is wondering what the heck I am babbling about, I swear there were two other reviews here..."

I'm Not Lying, Avoid This Movie

Daniel G. Lebryk | 06/15/2009

(1 out of 5 stars)

"Looks really promising, Chloe Sevigny (The Brown Bunny), Leelee Sobieski, Maya Goldsmith (Lipstick Jungle), and two very beautiful women, Jena Malone and Halley Wegryn Gross. I thought, oh some cinema verite, all these gorgeous women together, even if they sat around and talked this would be special; and there was a huge promise, not rated - who could predict what would happen?

Oh this film is such a mess. Anyone that has seen The Brown Bunny - this whole movie is like the lead up to the hotel scene. It's slightly better, in that we don't just see a guy driving a car for an hour; in Lying you get to see each of these women doing something, moving around, doing things. So there is some movement. But there's no pay off, nothing, nada, niente, rien. The Brown Bunny at least had that very intense scene that is actually very memorable.

This is seriously all that happens in this film, Chloe Sevigny rearranges some odd bits and pieces in a house. She disconnects the phones and hides them. What appear to be three girl friends arrive. They are shown their room (oh my goodness, the brunette, Maya Goldsmith, made up to look homely, carts her suitcase all over the house for no reason). They get groceries. They unload the groceries. We get to see Leelee Sobieski spying on the house from a distance. The four girls cook dinner. They eat dinner. They talk about (this is the first real conversation in the film), Chole's parents dying and leaving her a bunch of money. Turns out none of these girls are really Chole's friends. They clean up the dishes. They sleep. They play croquet. Leelee does really pitiful semifore signalling (no idea why). She sneaks over. Talks with Chloe. And the movie ends. Riviting.

I'll have to admit, the opening sequence where Chloe is dressed in a white button down shirt, and shorts is actually surprisingly sensual. There's something white and billowy about the whole scene. But oh my goodness, everything from then on is just plain dental work.

The camera work is absolutely pitiful. Yes it's supposed to have a cinema verite style, handheld camera, choppy movements, choppy editing, etc. But come on, after 5 minutes of sea sickness inducing movements, let's go find a tripod already! Another version of film school assignment, could have done a better job.

There is something hugely sadening about this film, the first time director M Blash and author of this film, believes this is an incredibly well done film. He's actually serious. He claims to have embedded hommages to many different directors. He's intense about starting this film and within 2 months having a completed film. I have no clue how or why he is so obsessed with this piece of yammering nonsense.

I just finished reading, Either You're in or You're in the Way: Two Brothers, Twelve Months, and One Filmmaking Hell-Ride to Keep a Promise to Their Father, a rather wonderful fast fun read about making a film. Why did anyone waste their money on this film and not contribute to the Logan brothers? There are so many worthwhile film projects. I would guess this is M Blash's last film, at least directing.

Seriously, I'm not lying, don't watch this movie. Go to the dentist instead."

BORING, MEANINGLESS, ARTLESS AND PRETENTIOUS

Robin Simmons | Palm Springs area, CA United States | 05/12/2009

(1 out of 5 stars)

"Not sure if this is a hoax perpetrated on the unsuspecting viewer? If so, just who is laughing? If you take a video camera and just shoot your friends or even strangers in their random conversations and do no editing whatsoever my guess is that your finished film (you must stop at 94 minutes) will be better than "LYING."

This film would make a great double feature with "GERRY." The one about the two guys named Gerry who get lost in the desert. And then one Gerry kills the other Gerry. Ooops, hope I didn't spoil it for anyone.

This is a double loss. The time wasted watching this is lost forever and you probably can't return it to get your money back. Life can be so unfair but why waste it on really, really, really, really, really bad movies?"

Boring

Philip Fleischer | Naples, FL USA | 07/10/2009

(1 out of 5 stars)

"The talented cast is what caught my attention. Unfortunately the film didn't do anything for me. It's too darn boring. I don't mind student or art films, but this film had nothing to keep me interested in watching it a second time."