Oleanna

Provocative source material unfortunately hampered by Mamet's plodding direction, and a pair of performers who seem awkwardly distracted for most of the film, meaning that the characters often feel disconnected from the reality of the situation (Macy is actually very good, but struggles with poor directorial choices). Comes to life occasionally, with the better moments weighted in the second half, but ultimately collapses under the weight of its long winded, pompous, speechifying screenplay.

Reminded me of pontificating speeches in college by both faculty and students trying to impress. First I was definitely on her side. Then she overreacted (not the complaint, but her wider picture). Sure to infuriate your anti-PC crowd. The tagline of "Whatever Side You Take, You're Wrong" is wrong. He's inadvertently wrong, then she's naively wrong but overall right, then she's super wrong re: rape, and finally he's definitely wrong when he struck her. Fav scene: ending redeemed the movie.

Great play, I mean a real modern masterpiece, turned into a shit movie. Too many pauses make hyper-realistic dialogue sound awkward and forced. Odd acting choices from the cast and the climax of the play is handled in a bizzare and anti-climactic way. Very dissapointing. I surprised Mamet would do this to his own work.

First time I watched it I was engaged completely, taking sides, feeling sympathy towards the duo (which I rarely do). Upon repeated viewings my involvement subsided, but the sheer dialogue brilliancy that Mamet throws without breaking a sweat is none short of rare.

I'm glad that I have watched it; may save my life one day

diyalog yazımında olağanüstü kabiliyeti olan mamet gibi birisinin kavramları ve hikayeyi diyaloga iyi yedirmeyi başarırken aynı anda o diyalogu akışken bir gel-gite oturtmayı başaramaması şaşırtıyor. "paradigm" ve "indictment" gibi basit sözcükleri bilmeyen bir üniversite öğrencisi başlı başına ayrı bir tartışma noktası film özelinde ama anlatısı ve onu öne iten formuyla değil, tartışmayı başlatma biçimiyle ilgi çekici bir film.

This is it...my biggest mistake in watching movies. I really like William H. Macy, and think he'd got enormous talent. I can't even blame him for picking this movie. I simply hated this movie. It made me so mad - I was mad for more than a year. I spose it succeeded. But I did not enjoy being experimented upon.

In an attempt to portray how political correctness pushes human nature into catch-22's, Mamet still succumbs not for the first time to his staged and stilted writing and direction of his actors. I'm torn as to whether or not Debra Eisenstadt's throaty monotone is dry or just realistically insecure. All I know is that it makes her bafflingly irrational and infuriating character intensely annoying. But ultimately, the movie's point is well taken.

59.500

All ten points are for the ending. Fuck this movie.

Obviously a stage play, but well transferred. Excellent work from Macy and Eisenstadt. This film makes some interesting comments about harassment, manipulation and power.

When people talk of Mamet-speak, this is what I think of. Such great subject matter, actors, and I even love the staging, but so much coming out of these mouths just rings false.