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My Dinner with Andre
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My Dinner with Andre

My Dinner with Andre

1981
Drama
1h 50m
Wallace Shawn and Andre Gregory share their lives over the course of an evening meal at a restaurant.

Directed by:

Louis Malle

Screenwriter:

Wallace Shawn, Andre Gregory

Starring:

Wallace Shawn, Andre Gregory, Jean Lenauer, Roy Butler

Genre:

Drama

Country:

USA

Languages:

English, French
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My Dinner with Andre

1981
Drama
1h 50m
Your probable score
Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer
Avg Percentile 66.35% from 1221 total ratings
Ratings & Reviews Cast Collections Similar Stats Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

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alex_watkinsAlex Watkins
Rated 20 Jan 2009
4
70th
More than most films, My Dinner with Andre is able to tear down the barrier that normally separates a film and its viewers; there was more than one occasion during which the conversation was so engaging and interesting that I entirely forgot I was even watching a film. It's a brilliant screenplay, and Shawn and Gregory are both excellent in their roles, but Malle deserves serious credit for his understated direction that is subtly essential in making the film as engaging as it is.
Rated 20 Jan 2009
pickpocketPickpocket
Rated 02 Mar 2012
0
4th
A movie that when you're watching it you really can't believe how bad it is. The first hour consists of Wallace Shawn literally nodding and smiling like a dip shit while Andre rambles on about some of the most pretentious bullshit you've ever heard in your life. Maybe this would've been good if I smoked a bunch of weed and was in philosophy 101 but I'm an adult and I don't have time for nonsense like this anymore. PS, this isn't a movie, something has to happen- it's just 2 douches talking wtf
Rated 02 Mar 2012
rosenritterrosenritter
Rated 17 Feb 2017
7
67th
So I was talking to my friend the other day about how I assimilate all movies I watch and they become a permanent part of me and he told me he experiences that with meeting people. But you know what, this exists so EAT SHIT YOU EXTROVERTED FUCK
Rated 17 Feb 2017
egbertsouseEgbertSouse
Rated 24 Jul 2009
95
89th
One of the most unique films I've seen. It shows how enthralling a simple conversation can be. I like the structure with Andre dominating in the first act (after Wallace's length opening narration), slowly moving into sparse conversation, up to a full equilibriam in the last third. "And then what happened?"
Rated 24 Jul 2009
billyshearsBillyShears
Rated 02 Dec 2019
90
92nd
The coat check girl has an amazing rack. “Tell me more!”
Rated 02 Dec 2019
davidkahaneDavidKahane
Rated 16 Aug 2007
85
76th
Audacious in its simplicity and engrossing in its unapologetic intellectualism, it's an example of the satisfying risk-taking that was found in art-house theaters 25 years ago. Gregory expounds upon a bevy of philosophical theories and "artistic" immersion experiences and then, just at the moment when his existential enthusiasm is wearing thin, Shawn counters him with a New Yorker's pragmatic skepticism. Malle's gift for perfectly calibrated balance emerges as the film's most critical facet.
Rated 16 Aug 2007
iconogassediconogassed
Rated 23 Jul 2024
95
95th
The standard for integrating satirical/critical comment into a sincere and moving (and talky) exploration of human communication, yearning, and folly. I know that might sound oddly specific. And I don't know that this beats MY NIGHT AT MAUD'S or CLAIRE'S KNEE, both of which I love, or THE MOTHER AND THE WHORE, which I still haven't seen. But FUCK, pre-dinner Wally in the subway, eyes closed, train speeding past. And the presence of the waiter, cutting and exquisitely unforced...counterpoint?
Rated 23 Jul 2024
oldgoatoldgoat
Rated 13 Apr 2015
45
13th
Hippy dippy bullshit that slightly redeems itself at the end. If the synopsis didn't tell you the ultimate point it'd be lost in the winding self indulgent stories. No real arc as almost immediately the characters turn from their initial expected position and became enraptured with each other.
Rated 13 Apr 2015
dean_franzDean Franz
Rated 01 Nov 2010
70
67th
It's essentially Frasier Crane cinema, but as far as those things go, it's still strangely watchable. It's all about the dialogue, of course, and luckily it's very smart and deceptively satirical of it's characters. The viewer is also given plenty of ammo, wether he/she sympathises with either Wally, Andre or neither. Cinematically, it's a bit of a cul de sac, but one well worth exploring.
Rated 01 Nov 2010
magbMagb
Rated 17 Jan 2010
85
73rd
I shudder to think how people who complain about "talky" movies would react to seeing My Dinner with Andre, 'cause this has to be the talkiest film there ever was. The whole film is essentially a big, fat middle finger to the notion that a movie should show and not tell. You can sense a wholly different film being made where all of Andre's wild stories are actually shown, and with the conversation simply being a frame story. Instead, the conversation IS the story.
Rated 17 Jan 2010
moribunnyMoribunny
Rated 30 May 2009
93
98th
In my favorite Louis Malle, he actually takes the back seat and directs something anti-directorial, that belongs to its actors-writers, and shows that a mere intellectual conversation can have immense drama, a plot, a climax. Andre is a fascinating nutjob and Wally a bit of a discursive pushover (though great to watch when he finally digs his heels), but they both really listen and respond. Ideas explored resemble predigested existential philosophy (w/ Buber and Heidegger briefly mentioned).
Rated 30 May 2009
feublofeublo
Rated 04 Feb 2021
100
99th
Whether we agree with either side of the spectrum, dynamics in our human condition present a universal outlook shared with both characters in this conversation. What is modern and seen as propriety, indeed still experiences this void that would suggest only a paradoxical view could encounter. Simple and beautifully spoken.
Rated 04 Feb 2021
myfavchordsmyfavchords
Rated 16 Mar 2018
82
85th
The premise of the film makes it sound like it will be boring but on the contrary it is very interesting. Wallace Shawn and Andre Gregory spend most of the film eating dinner and having a conversation. The film is original and it works. I would definitely recommend this film.
Rated 16 Mar 2018
p_u_l_pP u l p
Rated 22 Aug 2017
82
91st
Perfect date night movie!
Rated 22 Aug 2017
mike365365mike365365
Rated 10 Mar 2015
72
77th
Works only because Wally calls out Andre on his anti science new age spiritualism B.S.
Rated 10 Mar 2015
ecitizeneCitizen
Rated 17 Jan 2012
1
0th
I was never so bored as watching this.
Rated 17 Jan 2012
wayofthegunwayofthegun
Rated 23 Oct 2011
30
3rd
I've tried watching this on two different occasions and damn; this is one of the most boring, slow-paced movies ever. Maybe I just don't "get" it, but I can't finish the movie.
Rated 23 Oct 2011
kasperlKasperL
Rated 25 Jan 2010
80
86th
I greatly appreciate well-written, dialogue-driven scripts, so this - essentially consisting of one single conversation between two intelligent people - seemed tailor-made. Even though I probably enjoy eloquent ramblings more than the next guy (for instance, I would happily do a Linklater-marathon), I did feel that Andre's stories dragged initially. Later on, when the narrator challenges Andre's views, I got on board. A more emphatic approach and more disagreement would have made it even better.
Rated 25 Jan 2010
bmuniseBmunise
Rated 20 Feb 2009
100
97th
Ineffable. This film is one of the reasons I chose to go into theatre.
Rated 20 Feb 2009
martintellerMartinTeller
Rated 14 Aug 2007
88
91st
It's little more than a conversation, but it's a wonderful, engaging conversation. At times you just want to jump right in there and participate. At one point I had a bunch of things to say to Andre, and then Wallace Shawn piped up and said them for me. The discussion has a hypnotic ebb & flow to it, whether or not you agree with what's being said (sometimes you do, sometimes you don't).
Rated 14 Aug 2007
croweycrowey
Rated 03 Aug 2024
96
97th
I suspect that the levels at which this can be viewed & give cause to love it are on par with the multifarious levels at which Game of Thrones and Fight Club are viewed by those who love them. I think it set out to reach & touch people, and maybe sometimes it does that for the audience, but other times even people who identify it & adore it are just folding it into their pretentious self image without any real internal scrutiny. They see it as a comment on the world more than the self.
Rated 03 Aug 2024
fredericg54frederic_g54
Rated 22 Feb 2024
5
20th
About as uncinematic as movies get. I honestly felt sorry for the character of Wallace Shawn, who's doing well, has a girlfriend and has a rational look at life in general, as opposed to the cynical Andre who clearly bemoans his failure at life under the guise of some philosophical mumbo jumbo. This movie taught me never to meet up with friends you haven't heard from in years and just stick to the ones you have.
Rated 22 Feb 2024
twincinematwincinema
Rated 18 Jan 2024
90
92nd
This is actually a horror film.
Rated 18 Jan 2024
maxmodemaxmode
Rated 12 Mar 2022
100
95th
This film is an oasis in a world where people have lost the capacity for dialogue. In addition, it brings relevant and current reflections that explain much of our society.
Rated 12 Mar 2022
jschlanskyJSchlansky
Rated 12 Apr 2021
80
77th
Wallace Shawn says inconceivable in this one too, just FYI
Rated 12 Apr 2021
piratejerkpiratejerk
Rated 01 Oct 2020
9
84th
A fascinating movie about a single conversation over dinner that seems to come and go in an instant. An eternal exploration of the human condition, and one that notably shows the talent of Malle as a director (and Shawn and Gregory as writers) in their ability to effortlessly captivate us with one long dinner conversation, captured with what could at best be described as a concise use of shots. There are few movies that draw focus with so "little".
Rated 01 Oct 2020
lonewolf2003Lonewolf2003
Rated 16 Jun 2020
80
80th
It's tremendous achievement to make a film that's basically one long conversation captivating. Of course not all topics are evenly interesting, but the social interaction between the two is constantly engaging.
Rated 16 Jun 2020
anilscnanilscn
Rated 09 Dec 2019
20
7th
İlk defa bir filmi yarıda bırakıp puan veriyorum. Böyle yalancı, egoist, bencil ve geveze bir adamın çakma entelektüel fikirlerini 45 dk nefes almaksızın bize izletmeye hakkınız yok. Şu verilen puanlar beni deli ediyor. Gerçekten anlattığı şeyler "kesin yaşanmıştır" hissi vermeseydi her türlü sonunu getirir, geçer bir not verirdik. Bu haliyle ancak "kapa çeneni" diye bağırıp filmi kapatabildim. Verilen puanlar tamamen sürü psikolojisi.
Rated 09 Dec 2019
sadmanSadman
Rated 30 Oct 2018
85
81st
I was a little annoyed for the first 30 minutes, but once the conversation starts for real, the movie has you in its claws. Nothing beats a really good, honest conversation, which this movie captures well.
Rated 30 Oct 2018
timelesstimeless
Rated 21 May 2018
40
3rd
A huge snoozefest other than the few ideas that are worth noting.
Rated 21 May 2018
bizortbizort
Rated 19 Jul 2017
30
10th
Granted I could not finish the last third of the film but this was the most condescending movie I've seen in a long time. If I wanted to get stuck in a one-sided conversation with an overeducated bohemian wannabe playwright then I'd just go to a bar down the road and bang my head against the wall. I can tell a lot of thought went into the writing so I can't give this a zero, as much as I want to
Rated 19 Jul 2017
huefluxhueflux
Rated 20 Jul 2016
90
59th
A beautiful, poetic discourse on the qualities and features of life; sad, interesting, repetitive, joyful. Two characters discuss ways of life, as their opinions diverge and ideas emerge, creating a broad view of the aspects of a regular down to earth man, and an intellectual spiritual character.
Rated 20 Jul 2016
hsncrspywlhsncrspywl
Rated 12 Mar 2013
58
25th
Maybe I've done too much philosophy to appreciate the depths this movie goes to to comment on Being, but it didn't do much for me. It's a bold piece, with elements of autobiography (anchored by two brilliant performances) merged with philosophy, and accurately captures a heated but difficult discussion you could have with an acquaintance. Leaves you a lot to think about. But it's lacking in cinematography, and music, and all these other things which can separate film from theatre. Oh well.
Rated 12 Mar 2013
teckgeckoteckgecko
Rated 13 Jan 2013
44
2nd
Sort of like a Linklater film, but worse. Taking 45 minutes to transition from Andre Gregory's absurd monologue to an actual exchange and deconstruction of each other's ideas--and then for the philosophizing to be so shallow and so often nonsensical--was a huge disappointment. It wasn't particularly insightful, just tedious and boring. Also, I couldn't get over how inauthentic Gregory's delivery was throughout; Wallace Shawn was much better, but sadly had only a small percentage of the lines.
Rated 13 Jan 2013
jacknglendaJacknglenda
Rated 14 Oct 2012
40
7th
Sorry, just too boring to watch all the way through
Rated 14 Oct 2012
nobletNoblet
Rated 22 Sep 2012
80
70th
Bizarrely engaging. I think something about the direction and/or editing plays a very important role in making this the conversation so interesting. I just can't explain why I liked this so much.
Rated 22 Sep 2012
peppertpeppert
Rated 29 Oct 2011
50
24th
Portrait of a posturing, pretentious, and, above all else, an ineffectual elite. Everything that is wrong with highfalutin thought on display to see.
Rated 29 Oct 2011
kavuKavu
Rated 04 Oct 2011
80
69th
It's the subtle directing that makes this seem more like a real life conversation you're just following than a movie.
Rated 04 Oct 2011
slantmagSlantMag
Rated 01 Dec 2010
40
97th
"But what an egg it is." - Joseph Jon Lanthier
Rated 01 Dec 2010
redactedredacted
Rated 24 Aug 2010
71
50th
Somehow, with 2 or 3 words of dialogue breaking up the wild tales coming in volleys at him from across the table, Wallace Shawn's performance manages to be unbelievable. It just seemed too mechanical, too rehearsed, too pensive and awkward. I respect the concept of My Dinner With Andre immensely and the camera movement and repositioning of frame is so subtle. The acting, or editing just seemed off which, in a film based on a lengthy conversation between two people is of the highest importance.
Rated 24 Aug 2010
jazzalohaJazzaloha
Rated 26 May 2010
74
83rd
The film is literally a dinner conversation between two people. They both had interesting things to say, so I enjoyed this film.
Rated 26 May 2010
3rdman3rdman
Rated 05 Aug 2009
8
73rd
Wallace Shawn's dinner with a loon.
Rated 05 Aug 2009
peaceanarchyPeaceAnarchy
Rated 09 Feb 2007
84
77th
My dislike for Andre is surpassed by my love of Wallace Shawn and the interesting dynamics of the conversation.
Rated 09 Feb 2007
braddad68braddad68
Rated 30 Nov 2024
95
84th
Finally got to this one and yes, it is mostly just watching two men have dinner and a very interesting conversation.
Rated 30 Nov 2024
icarusIcarus
Rated 22 Nov 2024
82
69th
I appreciated the way this conversation develops along the lines of seeing another human being, itself a consistent theme in their talk. There is real value, I think, in seeing people connect, in having it modeled. No doubt there is an intellectualism to these proceedings, but I very much appreciate the way the film lulls us into believing that Andre possesses the fullness of the truth, only to have Wally counter him. And yes, Wallace Shawn does actually say "inconceivable" in this.
Rated 22 Nov 2024
mcproustMCProust
Rated 15 Oct 2024
90
94th
When you think about it, it is a little strange that the film arguably most synonymous with American auteur cinema is a French-directed work that only escapes being a play by virtue of the lightest directorial touches; the hand of the filmmaker seems in fact so transparent to many viewers that they rate the movie according to the merit of the ideas expressed, as if it weren't a character piece about two fictional (or at least fictionalised) people.
Rated 15 Oct 2024
shockularSHOCKULAR
Rated 31 Mar 2024
74
51st
A very strange film, but one that mostly works for some reason. It kind of feels more like a documentary than a drama--unsure how much of this is scripted and how much is just filmed--but the discussion itself touches on all sorts of interesting topics, philosophical and otherwise. Its biggest weakness is that it doesn't really use the film medium at all. This could easily be a podcast episode without losing much if anything. Joining their dinner and discussion is worth the time, though.
Rated 31 Mar 2024
grimsoothgrimsooth
Rated 01 Mar 2024
54
47th
Is it just me or are Wally and Andre borderline psycotic, very depressed, hippies? While the theme of being alienated from the self and others with the conveniences of modern life is interesting, but Andre's solutions are: Aliens, magic, Spiritual energy, and all sorts of other tosh and nonsense that are themselves merely a different flavor of distraction.
Rated 01 Mar 2024
toddsaltertoddsalter
Rated 06 Feb 2024
87
42nd
It might be good if you’ve never heard these ideas before but there was nothing new here for me. I prefer Linklater dialogue.
Rated 06 Feb 2024
ottott
Rated 26 Jun 2023
70
57th
yeah i mean, i just think i've already had this convo with andre before, food's nice tho
Rated 26 Jun 2023
sisyphusSisyphus
Rated 15 Jun 2023
88
32nd
you know its a great movie, when nothing is going but its soul captivating
Rated 15 Jun 2023
petrostserPetrosTser
Rated 23 Aug 2022
70
70th
An almost two-hour, largely captivating and certainly profound, multi-faceted and challenging discussion is at the heart of "My Dinner with Andre". Wallace Shawn and Andre Gregory are excellent as the two collocutors, whose occasional disagreements are most exciting. My main gripe is that Andre tends to recount long stories even when trying to prove a point and, despite their vivid imagery, this can get a bit tiring, coupled with the fact that he dominates the conversation for most of the film.
Rated 23 Aug 2022
nathanbatesNathanBates
Rated 18 Nov 2021
60
36th
Chums chat while debating the meaning of a Tibetan swastika inside a fortune cookie (or something like that). Honestly, each time Andre started one of his stories, I kept hearing, "This one time, at band camp..." It's weirdly fascinating (especially when Shawn joins the conversation), and I can certainly say I've never seen anything quite like it.
Rated 18 Nov 2021
tremourtremour
Rated 17 Nov 2021
89
0th
An incredible collaboration between Wally Shawn, Andre Gregory, and Louis Malle. The inner turmoil and antipathy of Shawn is reminiscent of Bernhard and Gaddis (two writers who were obsessed with authenticity and disgusted by modernity in the same way) and Andre's stories, centering around themes of performance and improvisation as well as continually preoccupation with the Holocaust make him seem like Artaud with ego death. As the two go back and forth in a kind of historic sacrament.
Rated 17 Nov 2021
deaddillydeaddilly
Rated 01 Feb 2021
95
98th
At once both an astonishingly simple and deeply complex examination of the human condition particularly in Western society. I absolutely adored the ending. A palette cleanser for life itself.
Rated 01 Feb 2021
honeybHoneyB
Rated 25 Dec 2020
86
89th
Fire!
Rated 25 Dec 2020
fenixdownfenixdown
Rated 31 Mar 2020
78
66th
That Andre is quite a character, am I right?
Rated 31 Mar 2020
lightshadowlightshadow
Rated 30 Jan 2019
84
36th
My dinner with Andre , Andre Gregoray hem yazdığı hem oynadığı bir diyalog filmidir. Neredeyse Bütün film bir restoranda iki farklı hayat geçmişlerine sahip arkadaşın uzun yıllar üzerine görüşmelerini konu almıştır. Filmdeki diyalogların ve bakış açılarının yarattığı kontrast sizi içsel mistik felsefik varoluşçu bir yolculuğa çıkaracaktır. İlginizi alakanızı filmin diyalogları ile sürükleyicek bu sohbet,Görsel göndergeleri dışlayarak edebi eser gibi sizi de filmdeki akşam yemeğine davet ediyor.
Rated 30 Jan 2019
zoranZoran
Rated 27 Jul 2017
79
65th
What a conversation. Open your ears, listen, think and try to give these ideas a chance.
Rated 27 Jul 2017
auhasarderikauhasarderik
Rated 14 Feb 2017
9
93rd
There's a mystery here.
Rated 14 Feb 2017
driscarpindriscarpin
Rated 22 Aug 2016
94
93rd
Andre é amor.
Rated 22 Aug 2016
qwershadyqwershady
Rated 02 Feb 2016
71
39th
just like reading a book
Rated 02 Feb 2016
smilkstasmilksta
Rated 31 Jan 2016
78
51st
Dinner you want to have with that friend who's widely talked about yet known by no one.
Rated 31 Jan 2016
dmcrimsonDMCrimson
Rated 06 Aug 2015
83
82nd
Andre's right, working within capitalism is bullshit and we're not living happily as much as we could or should be. And he's right that Wally is a weakling who won't admit things should be better. I just wouldn't want to hang out with Andre, let him know he's correct, or ask if he lives off a trust fund.
Rated 06 Aug 2015
burmashaveburmashave
Rated 11 Jun 2015
92
91st
an extremely simple and stripped-down core idea, and they managed to pull it out in an accessible and lyrical fashion, never atonal or eggheaded. the masterful writing, directing, editing and acting make this simple conversation a spectacle to watch, provoking feelings of tension, fascination and even tenderness in the spectator. in the end you really feel like you've had a conversation, and you walk out with a head of fresh ideas and the feeling that you've had several epiphanies tonight
Rated 11 Jun 2015
adamj1982adamj1982
Rated 12 May 2015
95
98th
Original and engaging
Rated 12 May 2015
tonykbTonyKB
Rated 13 Feb 2015
90
84th
Jeg elsker denne type film. Riktignok er den mer som et teaterstykke enn et filmatisk verk, men det får så være. To menn sitter og prater om løst og fast i to timer, og det er det. Man blir virkelig kjent med figurene, og filmen fanger godt følelsen av å være gode venner selv om man er på helt forskjellige plan.
Rated 13 Feb 2015
zipsterZipster
Rated 21 Aug 2014
75
30th
Wally's dinner with Andre doesn't begin like conversation, but listening to one pontificating narcissist's pseudo-spiritual epiphanies, self-mythologizing and comparisons, phony self-deprecation, petty ranting about how emotionally uptight and repressed everyone is. But hang in there. It will become mutual and passionate, and you will hear some of the most truthful things about the society we live in that I've ever heard said in a movie.
Rated 21 Aug 2014
bobblesBobbles
Rated 17 Jul 2014
83
87th
The film's first three quarters are hilarious and engaging claptrap melded with actual insight. The final quarter is more sober and sincere, which exposes the slightness of the film's philosophy. Still a fine movie with great performances and strong direction (the latter especially noticeable with the waiter's reactions to the conversation).
Rated 17 Jul 2014
communicantsCommunicants
Rated 30 Jun 2014
55
32nd
Trying to imagine sitting at a restaurant a table away from Andre Gregory without my eyes rolling out of my head.
Rated 30 Jun 2014
mattorama12mattorama12
Rated 18 May 2014
62
39th
Reminded me of the drunken/high ramblings that seemed so common in the dorms freshmen year. The first half is painful because Andre is pretentious and irritating, but the second half gets interesting as it becomes a dialogue. I have to say that I was also impressed with the direction, with Malle taking advantage of every opportunity to create interesting shots--a necessity with a script like this. Not terrible, but hardly the masterpiece it's made out to be.
Rated 18 May 2014
rufamRufam
Rated 12 May 2014
75
72nd
For all its pretentiousness, "My Dinner with Andre" nevertheless represents two hours of cinema at its most engaging and thought-provoking. Malle's subtle visual choices and a relentlessly verbose but intelligent script ensure the success of this off-puttingly theatrical concept. And it's true that the film is occasionally guilty of smugness and Gregory's performance came off as too mannered (Shawn was much more convincing) but parts of the discussion are so poignant it doesn't matter very much.
Rated 12 May 2014
neonmanNeonman
Rated 15 Dec 2013
93
96th
It hasn't been a day since I've seen it, but even just a minute after it finished, I felt it was some sort of life-changing piece of work. It exceeds its theatrical restraint due to how vivid Andre's anecdotes are in the first half of this film -- I'd much rather have them told to me than shown (breaking a particular cinema 101 rule, and good on it for that). The more two-way conversation in the second half of the film is nothing short of incredible, it's properly ponderous and engaging.
Rated 15 Dec 2013
fra_paolofra paolo
Rated 09 Dec 2013
86
91st
Despite being too obviously theatrical, this is a surprisingly stimulating film to watch. However, my expectations going into it were quite low, and I suspect that a viewer going in with high expectations would be disappointed.
Rated 09 Dec 2013
glm01glm01
Rated 19 Sep 2013
82
71st
82.000
Rated 19 Sep 2013
amadeusAmadeus
Rated 21 Apr 2013
87
97th
Intellectual man's Fight Club.
Rated 21 Apr 2013
elysian_airElysian Air
Rated 26 Nov 2012
91
75th
For a film that is so radically simple there's simply a torrent of ideas taking place, more than enough intellectual content that would last several feature length films. Even the set-up isn't as simple as it appears; two men that haven't seen each other in years have a conversation over dinner at a restaurant, but how their relationship is characterized makes the exchange doubly significant. Malle's understated style is equally important to the two actors in creating such an intimate space.
Rated 26 Nov 2012
hotsakehotsake
Rated 25 Jun 2012
88
98th
Who would've thought that a movie about two slightly estranged friends sitting around a dinner table talking about everything and nothing all at once could be so engrossing. It does kind of run out of steam towards the end which keeps it from getting a higher rating. I always try and get people to watch this usually to no avail.
Rated 25 Jun 2012
zenmoviezenmovie
Rated 23 May 2012
73
48th
Hmmm, reminds me of a conversation between two philosophy majors. Some intriguing ideas, but mostly naïve. What they are talking about though is awareness. People today lack awareness, they're saying. But, haven't people always? And if that doesn't entirely make sense, then consider it a reflection of this movie. Westerners, and these two guys in particular, have too much time on their hands. Put them in the third world where their time is consumed by survival, then they will be human again.
Rated 23 May 2012
barthalenBarthalen
Rated 24 Apr 2012
70
55th
I'm a bit torn on this one. I was constantly interested throughout the dinner-conversation, even though the pretentious hippie subjects were a bit annoying at times. I was surprised that a pure talking heads movie could keep me engaged throughout, but afterwards the experience didn't leave any lasting impressions. The lack of an ending left me hungry for more. Pun intended.
Rated 24 Apr 2012
baggerBagger
Rated 25 Feb 2012
79
77th
Just the best dinner conversation you ever had. But seriously how does something so banal and uncinematic manage to be so interesting? I have no idea, maybe it's just that time flies when you're enjoying yourself.
Rated 25 Feb 2012
damildamil
Rated 19 Jan 2012
70
67th
Having had several of these types of conversations in my own life, I could relate and appreciate this. They touched on a lot of thoughts and theories I've had and it was interesting how it felt very relevant even though the film is 30 years old. If you like films that are all-dialogue and are all about humanity, this is a good choice.
Rated 19 Jan 2012
stuie299stuie299
Rated 05 Nov 2011
65
20th
The film wasn't really boring as one might think it would be. At the same time I never really got lost in it. The two actors Wallace Shawn and Andre Gregory were the right fit for the film but the conversation never drew me in. The begining portion where Andre does most of the talking is especially dull and feels pointless. Although it does pick up when they both start to converse the conversation ultimately leaves me unsatisfied as there are no definitive points or conclusions made.
Rated 05 Nov 2011
bownBown
Rated 06 Aug 2011
87
84th
Hypnotic is definitely the key word here - it's almost impossible not to get drawn into the conversation, picturing Andre's stories and understanding both of their frustrations. The subject matter - particularly the parts about how humans interact (which was a lot of it, but you know what I mean) - is interesting and engaging.
Rated 06 Aug 2011
dorkovskyDorkovsky
Rated 22 Feb 2011
6
68th
I can totally see why in 1981 people thought this movie was A Big Deal. Showing American audiences that cinema doesn't have to fit the "hollywood mold" or whatever. It's very entertaining and certainly interesting, but I don't think it made a huge impression on me.
Rated 22 Feb 2011
cinematicespCinematicESP
Rated 10 Oct 2010
71
24th
It takes a while before the conversation seems like it's not a waste of time. The point where Wallace Shawn finally steps in and joins the discussion is when it gets pretty fascinating.
Rated 10 Oct 2010
nathan_sNathan S
Rated 28 Sep 2010
4
74th
An admirable experiment that, despite its abstract premise and philosophical rumination, is fundamentally very straightforward, sincere, and unpretentious. Written from Shawn's point of view but shot with an objective perspective, its tone is a bit incongruous, and though the characters may not be completely agreeable, the conversation is fascinating.
Rated 28 Sep 2010
graveyardtangraveyardtan
Rated 31 Jul 2010
90
84th
There are a few corny moments, the final voiceover springs to mind, and the form can be intermittently irritating, but the two actors have a lot to say about life, which just might be of use to someone. I have yet to determine, however, if that someone is me.
Rated 31 Jul 2010
dharmaxdharmax
Rated 12 Jul 2010
88
67th
special, intriguing, slow, joyful.
Rated 12 Jul 2010
joojooJooJoo
Rated 18 May 2010
6
95th
It's sort of perfect if you can get past the few eye-rolling moments (deliberately so, I think) of Andre before the conservation hits an uncomfortable standstill. When you hear the line "Do you want to know my actual response to this", the film really finds its strengths. Is it a fault that it takes 3/4 of the full length to get to this? Perhaps, but it never felt like that. Multifaceted and absorbing like no other.
Rated 18 May 2010
billkerwinbillkerwin
Rated 21 Dec 2009
81
48th
Probably a failed experiment, but I found the conversation absorbing most of the time.
Rated 21 Dec 2009
zackrobatZackrobat
Rated 19 Aug 2009
96
78th
My favorite film, though it lost a couple points on the visual beauty scale. This is a profound comparison between two equal yet very different characters, drawn into friendship by the force of their creative intellects, in spite of differences ranging across the full spectrum of human thought and experience.
Rated 19 Aug 2009
murrayMurray
Rated 30 Jul 2009
95
97th
You start watching this just to see what's the big deal and it's over before you even realize.
Rated 30 Jul 2009
babamotsbabamots
Rated 19 Jun 2009
68
51st
A pretty good exchange of views that got me thinking about whether I'm really living or too disconnected from life. Shawn's point--that a man must maintain his existence as his constant purpose in order to remain man--is developed more completely in "Atlas Shrugged."
Rated 19 Jun 2009
sharpcoolsharpcool
Rated 15 Mar 2009
78
71st
Two New York playwright types are having a weird conversation at dinner and for whatever reason I was completely riveted to what they were saying. That they were playing themselves and talking about stuff that actually happened to them in real life makes it even more interesting. To be honest though, I smoked a joint before I watched it. Maybe that's why.
Rated 15 Mar 2009
timon88Timon88
Rated 22 Jun 2008
89
94th
On first viewing, I thought this was about the most pretentious piece of crap I had ever seen, until I realized, much later, that it is brilliant, utterly deadpan satire, that even offers some insight into the human condition. The leads are marvelous, but even more stupendous is Malle's direction--because of him, it's riveting in a way one wouldn't think possible.
Rated 22 Jun 2008
cosmoanautcosMOAnaut
Rated 10 Jun 2008
80
75th
Provides interesting insight into the lives of two film affiliates. The conversation never stagnates, it's pretty impressive.
Rated 10 Jun 2008
jeffersonicjeffersonic
Rated 17 Oct 2007
85
46th
Given the complete lack of narrative tension and action, this talkfest is impossibly entertaining and insightful.
Rated 17 Oct 2007
djrossdjross
Rated 14 Aug 2007
76
87th
Score based on distant memory.
Rated 14 Aug 2007

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