Look Both Ways (2005)

19 out of 20 people found the following review helpful:

Have a Laugh

BTW from from London, 8th February, 2007

I loved this clever LOCAL film, full of mature characters and visual treats.There is an almost Buddhist quality to the insights revealed. Life is like it is and we have to deal with it with compassion. Throughout, there were constant images of beauty along with the pain and grot. The ensemble acting was uniformly delightful and McInnes gave the performance of his life.But they were all great. Justine Clark was so dishily funny and down to earth, such an expressive face as she delivers her so clumsily real lines.The drawings and animation add so much to the story and fabulous fast,montages carry an extra charge.This is what the big blockbusters cant do- deliver stories that talk to the locals. The humour is so laconic and ironic- it reflects an Australian's Australia.It's a film full of witty sideways glances.

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10 out of 11 people found the following review helpful:

Brilliant

A Customer from london, england, 4th February, 2007

I loved this film. Original Aussie movie that beautifully combines drama, comedy and fantastic random animation. Watch it.

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9 out of 9 people found the following review helpful:

simply moving

ola from london, 4th March, 2007

People who rated this movie negatively are life blind. Look Both Ways gives us a better understanding of life, death and happiness. We start appreciating what we have by knowing what we might loose. Excellent performance, simply a piece of art.

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9 out of 10 people found the following review helpful:

Brilliant

A Customer from Mansfield UK, 18th February, 2007

It is a tragedy that original well made films of this calibre get by passed in favour of the big bucks Hollywood dross. This excellent original, sad very dark and sometimes witty film has to be seen by anyone who enjoys something a little bit different. I sat and viewed this absolute treat of a film without even blinking in case I missed something, Every frame of this movie was mesmorising.

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Look both ways

A Customer from Liverpool, 22nd February, 2010

Alas found it very dreary, struggled to engage or feel sympathetic towards any of the main protagonists.Disappointing and really couldn't recommend.

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*** May contain spoilers ***

Everything's connected.

danieljparsons from , 2nd January, 2010

NICK: Do you think you're getting over the shock? MERYL: The dad shock or the accident shock? Do you think you can have two at once? Maybe I'm into 'bargaining' on one of them. Y'know, the seven stages of grief. What's the point in knowing where you're up to when you've still got to go through it anyway? This is one of those clever-clever films that feature an ensemble cast of characters who are all linked together in someway without knowing how, in the style of Heights and Crash. Unlike the latter, however, I never felt like I was being continually hit over the head with a stick or that coincidences and links became too contrived or over calculating. Look Both Ways is a film that everyone who has ever thought about or dealt with mortality or grief can relate to. Meryl, whose father has recently died, imagines her death everywhere she goes - train crashes, drownings, STDs. Nick, who has just discovered he has testicular cancer that has spread to his lungs, is on the verge of complete breakdown. Their paths cross at the scene of a train accident, and an unexpected connection is made. If the film sounds depressing, then it is at times, but it is also very thoughtful, funny, observant and beautiful. The acting is first rate (Justine Clarke is particularly brilliant) and the direction is very inventive - Meryl and Nick's thoughts are shown as animation or sped up photo montages and it's a very effective way of showing what they are thinking. The use of songs rather than a music score was also a good decision. Finally, there's another link between two characters that I had almost forgotten about that provide a nice and poignant twist, and the ending is done just right. Fantastic.

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Love this film

yeslek from , 1st August, 2009

I've always liked Australian films and this is no exception. Great acting and a totally unique direction make this a good experience.

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Look both ways

A Customer from Battle, 15th May, 2009

Great film. intelligent interesting, wonderful way of mixing animation and film with real sensitivity Subject matter doesn't sound all that hopeful but one of the best films I've seen - a relief from hollywood tripe

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