This film was amazing. Some of the strongest performances I've ever seen. I wouldn't be suprised if Sean Penn gets nominated for this film and Mystic River this year. Has anyone else seen this yet?

I have not seen it, but I want to.

I saw it tonight, and I must say I'm incredibly impressed. The acting was superb, from Sean Penn to the children. Told out of sequence, the story is very unique and intriguing. Beautiful cinematography and extremely believable acting, i think, make this film a winner. It's such a fucking good movie, when you come out of it, it makes you want to say, damn, that was such a fucking good movie. Go see it.

Yeah, Prieto can do no wrong and lately it's been pissing me off something terrible. I mean, does he have to be so good all of the time, and more than once a year? He's got some nerve...

I love that guy.

Will

What other one this year? One of the Oliver Stone docs? I've been wanting to see those. Those and Ricky 6.

Good performances from Benecio and Sean, Naomi was way over the top. Too much melodrama. And one question. WHY was it told out of order? Just to be creative? That is just stupid.

The Features kick ass.

I don't really think it was to be creative. The director kind of shuffled the deck, letting you discover little bits of the story at a time. I think the order allowed the story to become less about plot, more about character development. Maybe.

yeah, the features kick ass.

After first viewing, I assumed he mixed it up in post to help create more tension that he felt he hadn't captured. Later I discovered that it was written that way. Though I used to feel that it was arbitrary, I do honestly think that it changes the way you experience the film in positive ways. You really learn about each character in a very complicated way, and the reveals built into the structure are well-timed to add suspense and even helpful confusion.

That said, I agree with Ebert (never again shall I say that) in that Innaritu doesn't need to do all of this, and that he'd be a great filmmaker just letting us fall in love with his characters and suffer with them. He captures a rawness of life few can deliver. Ilke Ozu, Ebert suggests, he may mature by removing elements of style from his filmmaking.

By the way, Rodrigo Prieto has too much talent for anyone's good, I hate him for it, and I'm pissed that the academy is screwing him this year.

Will

agreed.