Review of Stay (2005) by Eric O — 20 Mar 2008

[font=Arial]Believe it or not, the film DOES make sense. But it does require a few days of thought and possibly another viewing to really comprehend what really went on in front of you. Stay is not about answers, really, but like Mulholland Drive, it's about questions. It doesn't wrap itself up at the end with a pretty bow, but expects you to be smart and think for yourself. And for that, I admire this film.

Sam (Ewan Macgregor) is a psychologist who meets up with Henry (Ryan Gossling) when he takes over Henry's case at the University's Counceling Center. They really don't meet eye to eye and when Henry delares that he's going to kill himself in 3 days, Sam is in a desperate plight to save this boy's life. But that's where the real questions begin. Especially when wierd things start to happen and Sam notices things repeating around him, when people who are supposedly dead show up alive. To say much more would be to betray the film's message and it's most curious strength.

The acting isn't nearly that intreguing. But it's hard to be thinking about performances when your brain is stumbling for clues and trying piece out what exactly is going on. But the actors make their characters feel right and real, but with a twinge that gives them an otherworldliness that is important for the climax.

I don't like films with endings that aim to unlock all the answers of the question. I think those types of movies are cheap at best and down-right annoying at worst. Stay isn't about the ending. There are questions left remaining that it doesn't answer. That it CAN'T answer even if it wanted to. And that's what very good about this plot.

Marc Forrester has never made the same film twice. He keeps finding new ways to make films, uses different techniques for each film. But he uses the right ones for the right films. His techniques that he uses for Stay are very chic, almost show-offish if you didn't see the film before. After the first showing, you realize there's a reason for this and it doesn't feel so crafty, but essetial that you understand at least a little of what's going on.

All in all, this is a good Halloween film to watch, not because it will scare you, but because it will comfound you, dazzle you, and bewilder you. It's eerie tones and silent horrors are what the holiday is about.[/font].