Customer Reviews

Duck

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I'm referring to both the duck (who really makes out rather well since his owner goes to such length to care for him) AND the old gentleman who was left bereaved and bereft.

I can see where folks think the film is uplifting, but I found it quite depressing, and, unfortunately, all too accurate. There are plenty of homeless people who will relate to the circumstances which resulted in both 'animals' being left to the 'mercy' of the wide world. And there are plenty of predator animals in the landfill they found themselves in. Not in a beautiful garden, or even in an area where social services can help the destitute, but they have to survive under the grimmest conditions.

Yet the human animal (great acting and good scripting, by the way) cares for the non-human animal with great loyalty and optimism. The former would have made a wonderful, indulgent grandfather if life had been kinder and had kept his beloved wife and son alive. Its a sad film, but very worthwhile viewing.

And next time we are sitting in our car reading a hand-drawn begging sign from a homeless person on the center island of the roadway, give them a smile and a buck, will you?

DUCK is a really bittersweet movie. I bought it after seeing the trailer and because my family and I own two white Peking ducks whom we rescued as ducklings. The movie does a great job at portraying just how much personality ducks have and how they can be great lovable companions when exposed to humans early on.

The story about poor Arthur is heart-breaking and is the reason I gave this movie a 4. I cried through half the movie, partly because it reminded me of my own ducks but mostly because more bad than good happened to Arthur and his duck, Joe. I wish there would have been some happier moments in the movie so I wasn't crying the whole time (although there were several lighthearted moments during certain conversations Arthur had with Joe or when Joe would do something cute). It is a fairly depressing movie, although there is a decent happy ending (it could have been happier, but it seems to be enough for Arthur and Joe). I do still wish more good things happened to Arthur because it was sad to see him trying to keep himself and Joe going while others made it even more difficult for him and at times were downright cruel.

If you are an animal lover or want to see a rare type of storyline, watch this movie. You will see how animals - in this case ducks - can bring a lot of joy and love to the lives of humans and get a glimpse into how ducks who are attached to humans can be. But, be prepared with tissues!

I had the highest expectations. As both an animal lover (who actually rescues ducks & seagulls) and a socially conscious person, I thought this would be an inspirational, uplifting story to watch at the end of the day.

Boy was I wrong. This movie is a one-way ticket to bitterness. The entire human race is presented as a parade of a-holes. It comes across like a cynical, paranoid, hateful pity-party that mocks everything and everyone. Note to director: In the real world, firefighters are not all jerks. Police officers are not all angry whiteboys. Construction workers, animal control officers and bus drivers are not all bloodthirsty predators who take pleasure in abusing animals. I can't help but feel sorry for anyone who lives in such an angry world as this with such a distorted vision of reality.

I'm not sure what the director was trying to accomplish. This movie doesn't carry any hope at all. It merely spreads anger, fear, cynicism, mistrust and hatred of all human beings. I'll be the first to say that human being suck and we need to change the system, but I don't need to reinforce my frustration by watching a crudely-imagined fiction depicting an endless string of insults heaped on a feeble old man.

By the way, I don't care for the way they mishandled the duck during production. I'd like to shove the director in a toilet and vomit on *her*. See how she'd like a movie about that.

Duck is a sensitive little film telling the story of an elderly man, all alone in the world after his wife and son have died, must find a way to live his life with a sense of meaning and drive while taking care of a duck who has mistaken him for its mother. The film shows us well how the old man cares for the duck and the impact the duck has on his life, too. The cinematography is very good and the acting was rather convincing. I also liked the musical score. It could have been edited a little to make the action faster and the plot a bit tighter; but on the whole it's a rather good film.

When the film starts, we learn that Arthur Pratt (Philip Baker Hall) has lost his son Daniel and his wife Frances (Carol Mansell) and that he is all alone in the world. Sadly, he buries his late wife's ashes with a small tree in one of the few beautiful parks left in his neighborhood in or near Los Angeles. It isn't long, however, that a duckling approaches Arthur and we see that even in his despair Arthur is willing to take care of the duck that he names Joe.

However, the real story--and it's quite a journey--begins when Arthur is evicted from his apartment by his landlord--who happens to be the son of old family friends (Larry Cedar as Mr. Janney). Arthur almost loses Joe but finds him just in time; and Arthur, with Joe, wanders all over Los Angeles slowly but surely making his way to the beach where Arthur hopes to find some inner peace and quiet. Along the way Arthur and his duck have a few adventures most of which show how cruel others can be toward the elderly and animals; but Arthur does have positive experiences with a social worker (Starletta DuPois) and a pedicurist (Amy Hill). Look also for Bill Brochtrup to do a great job of playing a homeless man named Leopold and Bill Cobbs is wonderful as Norman, a blind man who also wants to go to the seashore with his assistance dog Tessa.

The DVD comes with a few extras including an optional running commentary.

Duck is a solid indie film that shows how an animal enables an old man to have a renewed sense of purpose in this world; and that's grand. I recommend this film for people who like independent dramas and fans of the actors would do well to add this to their collections.

The movie Duck was a wonderful inspirational movie to watch. I watched it twice over a weekend. It was a touching heartfelt story about an older gentleman and a duck who gave him a whole new perspective on living in the moment of life. The movie was about a person who went with the flow of life and was very good at relating with others. It was impressive how the man and the duck dealt with the hard knocks of life without being a complainer or victim. It was a touching uplifting story.

As our family of ducks; one on the floor in front of the TV; one in my lap; and one under the coffee table next to my mama Helen's feet watched our life spread accross the screen. We had no idea what "Duck" was about.

We wanted to see a light fun duck movie because mama Helen was just diagnosed with cancer. We got something far more healing and shockingly close to home. The film touched on a deepest fear; homelessness and loneliness. Helen and I are all we seem to have. When things seemed their worst I almost shut the movie off...and then came this little duckling to the rescue like a little angel.

This movie had potential to be made undbelievably corny. Thank you and Phillip Baker Hall for taking this seriously!!! Thank you for making a movie that shows how our animals care for us. Thank you for not "going for the funny or getting morbidly depressing." Thank you for showing it from our perspective; excentric and bright are always judged crazy... "Why do you have a duck?" ....This movie answered, "Why not?"...and "Why do you need to know?" ...The scene that is depicted with the photo on the cover threw out another question about why owners always end up looking like their animal companions.

I also LOVED the symbolism of feet in the movie...protecting them...being the conection between mind, body, and soul.

I love how this showed the perspective of the outsider looking into human society. It is the top 10% of us who look out beyond the box...philosophical types who have a hard time finding someone to talk to. Here these so called pragmatic "normal" people show how nuts they really are. Phillip Baker Hall is now on my list of great all time actors. Sometimes we seem a little different, but we are really all the same.

I ordered it for a friend she loved it...I love amazon they make it so easy for me to shop for her..............joe

This movie made me cry, and I haven't seen a movie that's been able to do that in a long, long, time. It's a very sad story, made even sadder because, with just a little kindness and help, Arthur's and Joe's lives could have been so much less tragic.

Set in a not so distant future (actually the past, now)where Jeb Bush is president and there is no Social Security, no social services, no safety net at all for the old and sick, "Duck" tells the story of a man on the brink of suicide because he has nothing left to live for. Until a little duck finds him and gives him that reason.

But don't think this is a soppy, life-affirming, happy ending movie. It's not. It's grim, sad, and depressing. Very dark. It will make you feel sad. Watch it next time you think about voting for any bills that cut social services, poor as they are.

Duck is a story of the strength of love. A force that takes you out of the confusing labyrinth of personal sadness and leads you to see other beings in need of love and care.
Each encounter that Arthur has is an inspiring story, a story that dwells on different aspects of a human being: their love, care, greed, despair, anger, loneliness, sadness and so on.

The bonding between a left alone duck and a man who has lost everything that he cherished is an opening to a world beyond "standards" and mundane values.

You feel an immense sadness through the whole movie but you also feel how love keeps you going, how caring for another widens your horizon.

Duck is not a movie for mere entertainment, killing time or forgetting. It is a movie about how cruel and beautiful life can be/is. It is like a sad beautiful piece of music that brings you to feeling alive and appreciating the gift of love.

This movie shows how an unexpected turn of events can change a person's life, and how that person can go on to help others. Dealing with grief and the loss of loved ones, an older gentleman is "adopted" by a duckling, and goes on to raise and care for the duck, though homeless. He travels across country, helping others along the way. The bond between the old man and his duck is truly heartwarming.