NateWatchesCoolMovies
David Mackenzie's Perfect Sense is one of those films that is indeed almost near perfection, a totally unique viewing experience from frame to frame. It also happens to be one of the most depressing things you'll ever sit through, so fair warning. The story unfolds in Glasgow, where some strange pandemic is causing people, all over the world, to slowly lose there sensory perception, one at a time and preceded by cursory symptoms like rage, hunger, grief or the like. Sounds like a neat setup for a streamlined post apocalyptic thriller right?Not so much. Mackenzie is fascinated more by things like intimacy, pacing, thoughtful musical accents, haunting narration and how these underplayed qualities are influenced by the extreme nature of the theme. It's also a fiercely passionate love story, but one that gets gradually bleaker, as each instrument in our bodies we use to show love for one another slowly dims and darkens, a harrowing thing to witness once we're invested. A research scientist (Eva Green) and a chef (Ewan McGregor) meet, fall in love and are then faced with the dire adversity of the world's situation. First everyone's sense of smell disappears. Then taste. Hearing soon after. And so it goes. Their romance is already a tangled bramble bush thanks to both their collective issues, and once the epidemic enters the picture, things aren't easy to deal with and don't go well. McGregor's sunny disposition contrasts the overcast,dismal palette of the film, whilst Green and her seemingly never depleted stores of intensity are in full forecast, the two making an electric pair onscreen. I love how a story that's so rooted in sci-fi and thriller elsewhere gets the quiet, contemplative romantic focus here, it's a welcome change. This isn't Hollywood territory though, and the epidemic is treated in the gravest way, without salvation via deus ex machina in sight, and I'll warn you that the final scene will land with an anvil blow to your ol' soul, it's that bleak and disheartening. Couldn't recommend it enough though, it's a dose of pure brilliance on every perceivable level.
kieronpconnolly
I wanted to stop watching this movie after ten minutes. 'Ridiculous' I thought to myself. 'Who green lighted this?' I thought to myself. But ten minutes turned into eleven minutes, turned into more, and it was in the 'more' that I was to find myself watching something quite special: a carefully crafted tale of humanity that shows how perfectly imperfect we all are, and how glorious it is to just - be. And the last scene and that last couple of seconds? Nice.
lana-23537
Reading the description of this movie, I felt like it would be a boring traditional end of the world romance. But instead it shows us life, true emotion and human fear. It represents what the average person would do in this situation (which is very carefully and skilfully thought out), without having the nonsense that these average people can somehow unrealistically save the world. Its amazing, the camera work, the plot, the actors and their rolls are made for each other. Their emotions transfer onto us, we feel the struggle of this time as if we could be next. And the message that any one could take away from this film is inspiring and hopeful, but to receive this message you have to watch closely, which isn't hard considering you are already glued to the screen every second of the way. This is one of the best films I have ever watched, and by far the best plot of any film I have watched. For anyone mature enough to sit and experience this film, it is amazing.
