Directed by:
Marc ForsterScreenplay:
David BenioffCinematography:
Roberto SchaeferCast:
Ewan McGregor, Ryan Gosling, Naomi Watts, Elizabeth Reaser, Bob Hoskins, Kate Burton, Janeane Garofalo, BD Wong, John Tormey, Jessica Hecht, Mark Margolis (more)Plots(1)
A dedicated New York psychiatrist Sam Foster urgently attempts to stop a secretive and unusual young patient he inherited, Henry Lethem, from carrying out a planned suicide on the eve of his 21st birthday. But Sam's investigation of Henry has reality-shattering effects on the psychiatrist. As Sam is drawn deeper into the web of Henry's life--and then into the labyrinth of his subconscious--it puts stress on Sam's relationship with his artist girlfriend and former patient Lila. But soon Sam's own tightly-held grip on the rational world begins to melt away. Faced with increasingly surreal encounters and a Manhattan transformed into a wildly shifting dreamscape, Sam can no longer figure out what is true and what is happening only in his head, nor where he begins and Henry ends. (official distributor synopsis)
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Reviews (10)
The film starts as A, then goes to B, then turns out to be C, in the next twist it acts as D, and in the finale it is actually E, which is somehow hidden behind it and not explicitly stated. Mindfuck games with the viewer, imagination and creativity, all supported by top performances from Ewan McGregor and Ryan Gosling. It's its own thing, it's novel and it's... special. On the other hand, I have to agree with other users that, although this is one of those "WTF movies", I'm not completely impressed and I don't think I'll want to ponder the film for weeks to come. Either way, it's quality craftsmanship and for me a bit of an unconventional Marc Forster film that will keep your head spinning throughout until the very end.
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I have seen a number of mystery movies lately that I simply couldn't tolerate. Stay is surprisingly not only functional but I would even say excellent. It has excellent coordination of music, camera, film effects, and acting performances, and has atmosphere and a meaningful well-constructed screenplay. In terms of the genre, only some early Lynch films have had such an impact on me, but compared to them, Forster's drama has a more rational point. It's the kind of film that is worth seeing not only twice, but it's even possible to enjoy many scenes from the film better with knowledge of what is going to happen, and it's possible to watch it many times over. The casting of top-notch and well-known actors paid off, and this is simply a genre delight where only two scenes bother me because reveal more than is necessary. Overall impression: 95%.
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Marc Forster has made a film so strange and atypical that the actors don't really know what they're playing. Of course we have to approach Stay differently than other films. We can absolutely ignore any genres. Stay is like a dream, and that's how it should be seen. Just as everyone can find something different in their dream to explain what it came from, so too everyone can interpret this film in their own way. Disregard the spoileroid concoctions of the distributor, what the film is really about is pretty much up to the viewer. Even that alone is enough for an absolute rating, and even if it isn't, the visual gore definitely makes up for it.
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The interesting formal style, along with perfect acoustics and the typical minimalism of Marc Forster, is placed in front of a rugged and confusing script, where the final twist is by far the most unnecessary. The characters are played decently and Ryan Gosling's performance is very surprising, showcasing truly excellent talent. The slightly confusing editing can be easily overlooked, and you can indulge in the excellently arranged production design and the meticulously crafted technical aspect of the film. Unfortunately, the attempt to achieve a true “Lynch-style” somehow did not succeed. Forster is too restrained and proper as a director and person. It is a solid and intricate piece, but it does not bring innovation in any aspect.
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One of those “is this reality or is it a dream?” games the relies mainly on how smart the screenwriter is and on the talent and feeling of the director, because it can very easily become a dud that doesn’t make any sense. Fortunately, this one turned out well. I will study Forster and will keep an eye on him for the future.
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