Customer Reviews

Adam

5 star:		(31)
4 star:		(16)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I cried during a lot of this movie....my young son has Asperger Disorder, and this is the most accurate depiction of a person on the Autism Spectrum that I've ever seen. I cried tears of joy that someone finally "got it," and will make others aware of the challenges and gifts of persons affected by Asperger's. I cried because I know my son's life will be more difficult due to his Asperger's. I cried because the world will present obstacles to him that I will not always be there to help him with. I cried because when we left the theater, my son was staring thoughtfully and I asked him to share his thoughts and he said...."Wow, I didn't realize that I would still have Asperger's when I grow up." I hope this movie brings awareness of autism to a large audience, and people will open themselves to getting to know a person with the disability....to become friends....and to realize the beautiful treasure that having a friend on the autism spectrum is. Too many people with Asperger's are lonely, ignored, unemployed, rejected, teased, and bullied. I hope this movie helps to change that in a small or big way, for my son and others....This is a lovely movie - it's funny, romantic, hopeful, and a great love story - you will never forget it.

I have Asperger's and I think that the portrayal of Asperger's in this film is wonderful. It is nice to have a movie I can relate to. Anyone who wishes to understand Asperger's better should see this film. It outranks Mozart and the Whale.

Overall, I found this to be an engaging, sweet movie much like the main characters in the film. As a parent of a young son with autism, I'm pleased Hollywood has evolved from "Rainman" to portraying a more realistic look at life on the autism spectrum. For those unfamiliar with or untouched by autism (unfortunately, more of us are), don't worry - the movie doesn't set out to educate the masses on the disorder. Also, the filmmakers don't betray the characters or the story by supplying the standard happy ending. Instead, the end is genuine, satisfying and most of all hopeful for all of us, especially my son.

The ability to empathize--or "walk in someone else's shoes," can be particularly difficult for people with Asperger's syndrome, an offshoot of autism. That may be at least partly because Aspies, as they call themselves, can't read the body language or other "social signals" that give the rest of us important clues about what's really going on with other people. It wouldn't occur to an Aspie to tell a white lie or dissemble; they take themselves and all else literally. "Adam" is a fictional look at the life of one such young man and how he comes to cope with and surmount this particular disorder--especially as applied to romance and career.

I wanted to see this movie because I'd heard such great things about Hugh Dancy's performance in it and because in the past few years I've gotten to know, slightly, two exceptionally interesting people with Asperger's syndrome and wanted to know more about it. Luckily, before I saw it, I happened upon a rave review written by an "Aspie" and was able to go into the movie armed with his assurance that the filmmakers mostly got it right.

So--accuracy aside--how is "Adam" as entertainment? Excellent, in my view. In short order our hero, a lifetime New Yorker, finds himself newly orphaned, attracted to a young woman who's just moved into his building, out of a job...and totally at sea about what to do about any of it. Hugh Dancy as "Adam" is every bit as terrific as the press he's getting. And he gets great support from his co-stars, director and a story that not only rings true but also has a great sense of humor and (most unusual for a rom-com) doesn't telegraph its ending and, when it gets there, opts for believability over mush.

Also recommended: "Parallel Play," Pulitzer Prize winner Tim Page's deeply personal account of growing up with undetected Asperger's. The book is available here. A shorter version under the same title appeared in the New Yorker on 8/20/07 and is available at their web site.

ADAM has a nice low-keyed story to tell and does so in a touching and respectful way. Best of all, the people making it did not give it a phony pasted-on "happily ever after" ending.

We get to see Adam (Hugh Dancy) and Beth (Rose Bryne) getting to know and care about each other--and even briefly becoming lovers and potential spouses.

Part of the film is devoted to educating viewers about Asperger's Syndrome, which is what Adam suffers from: among other things, he takes literally whatever others say and is usually unable to imagine correctly what emotions others are having, despite cues from their facial expressions and even their words.

Adam's genius abilities in astronomy and engineering are brought out well, and Adam will probably remind many viewers of the forensic anthropologist Dr. Temperance "Bones" Brennan (Emily Deschanel), another genius with Asperger's, who is the central character in the acclaimed TV series BONES.

Part of the back-story involves Beth herself getting a reality check about her own father, which appropriately reminds us that even "normal" people frequently misinterpret or misjudge what is going on, even with their own family members.

My sister shared this movie with me, since our nephew has Asperger's Syndrome and is just reaching the age where he wants a girlfriend.

As we explore the questions concerning his growing up, and eventually becoming independent, this movie provided some insights into what it might mean. What I especially appreciated about the movie is that it didn't give any "stock answers." Even the ending was not what you would have expected.

It deals with Asperger's in a sensitive way, and does mention the fact that it is a "spectrum," meaning not every individual will act identically to Adam. I strongly recommend the book to teen Aspies, partly for the questions it will raise in their minds.

If someone tells a social lie, can you trust them? Can an Aspie create an independent life? Can an Aspie have friends and girlfriends?

The movie is slow-paced, especially at the beginning, and runs along the lines that Aspies (and their families) can appreciate.

Well done.

Adam is an easy movie to overlook. The cover and description on the DVD box make it sound like your average hipster romantic comedy. It has the film festival seals on the box that usually mean that the movie is incomprehensible or just so darn twee that its not worth time. But missing Adam would be a mistake. It is not your average romantic comedy (or even comedy for that matter), and it neither twee nor inaccesible.

Adam Raki lives alone (after the death of his father) in his New York City apartment. He spends his days at work as an electrical engineer, and he spends most of his free time alone, obsessing over astronomy and Inside the Actor's Studio. He has Asperger's, a condition that limits his social interaction. When he meets Beth, a new neighbor, his world is turned on its head. Adam and Beth enter into uncharted territory for both of them, he an "Aspie" and she an "NT" (neurotypical, a word Adam uses to describe people who do not have Asperger's), both trying to have a meaningful adult relationship.

The beauty of this movie is that Adam's Asperger's is not really the focus. Yes, it effects his actions, emotions, and responses toward Beth, and yes, sometimes it causes miscommunication. But that's the point: we all have missteps in our relationships, whether or not we have Asperger's, a physical handicap, or any other differences from our partner. These differences should not be what holds us back. What Adam and Beth's relationship shows us is that being a couple (or even friends) is hard, and that no matter how well we think (or don't think) that we understand someone, there is a capability in all of us to love, even if we don't always understand why or what the other is doing.

This is a very good movie and it takes the next step from the "Rain Man" autism stereotype to a more contemporary perspective of the high functioning atypical autistic person.
In the movie, Adam is portrayed as having Aspergers Syndrome. He is college educated and is self aware of his challenges. Many people associate autism with savant gifts, such as counting cards (as in Rain Man). This is more atypical than most people know, but in the movie Adam's gift is that of astronomy.

My personal opinion about the accuracy of the film has to do with the diagnosis of Aspergers Syndrome as related to other levels and spectrums of the autism scale. Adam slaps himself in the face, has anxiety attacks, demonstrated destructive tendencies, and even hit his head in a mirror. I would suggest that these behaviors are slightly downscale from a conventional Aspergers Syndrome diagnosis.

Now, in all fairness, the discussion and parameters associated with different levels of autism are still vague and ambiguous. Also, in all fairness to the movie itself, Adam had recently lost his father resulting in him being left alone, fired from his job, had a fight with his girl, man-handled by the police, and was overall extremely stressed from situations that infrequently occur; especially all at once. Most autistic people have developed complex coping mechanisms. Stress can shed those coping layers back to reveal a less capable and more vulnerable autistic person.

I am grateful that the movie sheds more light on the world of the autism. The years between the institutionalized Rain Man and this independent living Adam have hopefully removed and/or at least changed the perception/stereotype of the high functioning atypical autistic person.

[...]

I give this film a standing ovation and applaud everyone involved with this movie and the fact that the movie portrayed a relationship in an honest light showing both the ugly and beautiful moments. I give this movie the highest possible recommendation, watch this movie, buy this movie, and show this movie to your friends. I just pre-ordered 5 copies. I think I am a little biased having a family member with autism as well as being a professional in the autism field, but I truly fell in love with this movie. Honestly, for once I found myself not being bored with a movie, I laughed and cried. Yes, I cried. I will never admit to that again and I will pretend to not have written this if ever asked but I cried. This film is genuinely good, something that is hard to come by.
If you're questioning purchasing this movie, don't even hesitate because I would gladly trade in my entire DVD collection if it meant having this one.

I wouldn't call this film a comedy. It's more of a drama. A schoolteacher named Beth moves into her new apartment and meets her new neighbor, Adam. Adam is a 29 year old engineer who loves astronomy. In my opinion, Rose Byrne wasn't fitting for the character of Beth. She seemed rather oblivious to Adam's character. I'm sorry, I know Adam has a deficiency in expressing his feelings for Beth, but I never saw the slightest bit of chemistry between the two characters. Just nothing. Hugh Dancy did a great job in comprehending people with asperger's syndrome, although some scenes felt forced. There were a lot of aspects of asperger's syndrome presented in the film. One can see that an aspie can be dominating in everyday conversation. Emotions are invisible to them. It is difficult for them to create and maintain relationships with other people. Adam was alone after his father died, but he never expressed grief. He remained at work or at home. It's not healthy for human beings to be alone. I'm glad Adam sought employment as a tour guide at the planetarium, despite his social impediments. Still, I feel unsatisfied with the ending. What was the message of the film? Aspies are difficult to live with and difficult to love? Beth finds herself incapable of moving in with Adam because of her father's situation in court. I understand that relationships rely on emotional support and empathy, but Beth didn't show much support for Adam either. There really wasn't anything about her father's situation that could be helped. Beth treated Adam like he was inept. She lied to him. She should have known that a person with asperger's is inclined to routine activity, efficiency, and truth. She just didn't take the relationship seriously. Just as Beth's mother accepted her father (Gallagher) wholeheartedly to love, Beth should have accepted Adam for who he was. I guess that is up to the audience to pass judgment on. I think the unlit fireplace scene was too long. In fact I think a lot of scenes were a few seconds too long. I know they are trying to capture the awkwardness of the characters, but lengthening all of them isn't necessary. Overall the film was interesting and gave a rare look into Autism.