Customer Reviews

Go Fish: The Full Original Screenplay

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(19)

 

 

This movie wasn't made for me. The director didn't cater to my tastes, fantasies, or ideology. Hollywood didn't pour megabucks into this movie, and the acting frequently felt self-conscious, almost like small-town community theater, with roles being enacted and lines being recited. Normally, having said this about a movie, I'd give it only one star, and that grudgingly.

But this is a movie about people and about romance and about finding a partner. It's a universal theme, even if the particulars (Chicago lesbians) don't match mine (straight SoCal guy). Most refreshingly, it's a love story told without Hollywood cliche. Told well. Heartwarmingly so. It is a beautiful movie, but don't expect to be able to lean back in the easy chair and let your stereotypes watch it for you. This movie demands attention and pays a handsome reward of emotional gratification.

A solid four stars.

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I'm a little confused why some people don't like this movie. It's on my top 10 list. (that means movies that I must convert from VHS to DVD) Here's why:

1. Realistic characters
2. Realistic scenario
3. Realistic inner conflict among characters
4. Excellent writing

Negative reviews for this movie are based on notions of some great lesbian society where everyone is beautiful and all lesbians despise men.
This movie depicts real lesbians with real thoughts. I believe that Daria's scene after having sex with a man, is very true and depicts typical reactions within the lesbian community.
I think the people that dislike this movie, perhaps feel a kinship to the negative ideals that this film tries to dispel. Nothing like being outed.
The premise is basic: pretty girl meets not-so-pretty girl, only to discover there's more to people than just looks. There's just a whole lot more...comedy, sex, coming-out, dispelling of stereotypes.
The only part I could do without is the first scene speculating on who might be gay. I just don't see the point.
The rest of the movie is refreshing and so completely non-Hollywood, that it deserves to be watched.

A gay friend of mine dragged me (kicking and screaming, I might add) to this film. I'm not gay, but I still got a kick out of this film. It was not what I expected. Tender moments, scenes that make you think and scenes that make you double over in your chair from laughter.

Definitely worthwhile seeing. An interesting black & white and often surreal view of a sub-culture within our American culture. An interesting & mind-provoking insight into what makes relationships work, regardless of your orientation. Is it looks, attitude, money?

The film is not for kids... this film has nudity, adult themes and some domestic violence.

So here's how it happens: Max (Turner) is a young lesbian, not knowing exactly what to look for in a mate. Current qualifications: fashion sense. Needness to say, she's not having an easy time, until her roommate, a more experienced woman, begins to take an interest in finding someone for the lonely girl.

This movie portrays lesbian life in a very accurate way. The way the characters speak, dress and gesture all have a strong sense of reality. At the same time, the conversations are frequently quite funny and insightful. It's a wonderful and rare mix of humour and education, thanks to an extreamly well written script.

The only real weakness is the acting. The entire movie feels as though the cast mearly read the script then went and filmed it as soon as they could stumble over the words. However, the acting is at least consistant, which makes it easier to ignore, as opposed to inconsistantly played characters.

If you're into modern and accurate portraits of lesbian culture, "Go Fish" is a movie you will almost certainly enjoy.

I really like this movie. Yes, I know it's a warm&fuzzy film but it also makes me laugh. I loved the short bits of artography between the scenes. And though I did feel that VS Brodie could have really worked on her lines a bit more, and the sound occasionally left something to be desired - all in all, it is a fun movie that I love to watch often.

My one question is...what is the name of the song at the VERY end of the movie? When Max & Eli are walking on the rocks? Who is the artist? Unfortunately, the credits do not reflect this song at all. Anyone out there have any ideas?

Thanks, L

I can't believe that someone actually suggested watching the L-Word instead of this movie. I will agree the movie is low budget and the acting is not at all polished but for me, that is exactly what makes it so genuine and honest. Yes, anyone today could pick up a camera and make a black and white film about lesbians. It would probably even be backed by Disney....because gay life is trendy. Ten years ago it was risky and you know this film was not made in the hopes of grabbing stacks of cash. The characters are tangible and believable in that they are acting from experience and not because they spent a month in a dyke bar researching a role. Everytime my roommate watches the L-word I say to myself "damn, this storyline can't get any cheesier"..and always to my amazement, it does just that. The only reason the L-Word would be more entertaining than Go Fish is because of how absolutely ridiculous it is. I recommend watching Go Fish not because it is a huge blockbuster Hollywood hit but rather because it isn't. And that is definitely a refreshing change.

Most people do not give this movie the second chance that it needs. The first time I watched it, I didn't like it. The second time, I realized the depth of the movies meaning. It deals with soooo many of todays issues. It definately focuses on the predjudice WITHIN the lesbian community and how we judge each other unfairly! I own this movie and watch it at least 4-5 times a year. The acting isn't great but, it has a meaning that is worth overlooking it's pitfalls. The love story is a nice touch. I recommend this movie to anyone who will watch it and LISTEN to the deeper, more meaningful sections of the story.

I have watched many gay/lesbian films, and I have to say that this is the worst one I have seen so far. It does have some great indie cinematography, and it is not your traditional lesbian story (cute girl finding love where she least expects it... with a homely older woman). But I could not get passed the horrific acting. Guinevere Turner, who plays the lead as "Max" does well as an actress, but for the most part, the rest of the cast seems to have the acting skills of junior high students performing a play. Dialogue seems obviously scripted and memorized, which just makes it unbelievable and obnoxious. It was painful to watch. If you are just going to rent this movie at your local video store, then I suppose it is worth the three dollars, but if you are thinking about purchasing the DVD, save your money. Show Me Love, Gia, Better Than Chocolate, and If These Walls Could Talk, are much better choices.

This movie is endearing. The characters are fresh and real and I found myself drawn to all of them. In fact, some of my favorites were secondary characters. The interweaving of the fantasy and reality sequences made the film so honest.

Like many of the other viewers who reviewed "Go Fish," I was initially so repelled by this movie that I shut it off half way through. At the time I had just begun to date women and I was disturbed by the way that this movie represented the lesbian community. I found myself thinking "This is not me. This is not how I want to walk through life. This is not how I want to be seen by others." The experiences of the women portrayed in this film did not (and still do not) represent my experience as a lesbian. Ironically, this is one of the main arguments made by critics of the L-word.
In a way, "Go Fish" is a foil of the L-Word; comparing these two features may be more interesting and enlightening than watching either one alone. It has been argued that the L-word is normalizing or "mainstreaming" the queer community and thereby misrepresenting the actual experience of lesbians--but by only representing a specific subculture of the lesbian community, doesn't "Go Fish" ultimately do the same thing? Wealthy, conventionally beautiful lesbians do exist and have sex with other wealthy, conventionally beautiful lesbians (even if they are a minority).

While in the process of figuring out my own identity and role in the queer community, I found it difficult to stomach a depiction of lesbians who are so completely removed from mainstream society. One reviewer suggested that people who write negative reviews of "Go Fish" have internalized the ideas that this movie is trying to dispel. I can see their point--many people who are gueer struggle with internalized homophobia and may shun a film that depicts lesbians without all the airbrushing. Plainly, many viewers (including myself) do not WANT to see themselves in this movie because it is unconventional and "unattractive."

It's no coincidence that one word which repeatedly comes up in reviews of "Go Fish" is "ugly." The lesbians in the L-word are "hot." Shane is "hot"--people of all genders and orientations want to watch Shane and Carmen having sex. The popularity of this show speaks for itself--I believe that the beauty of the characters in the L-word has contributed to making lesbians (and lesbian sex) appealing to mainstream society, and maybe it's a means to an end (the end being equal rights). But just because people will tune in to watch Shane and Carmen having sex doesn't necessarily mean that they're going to change their minds about gay marriage... And where does this leave lesbians like Max, Ely and Moira (not surprisingly, the LEAST popular character on the L-word!) who don't fit the model?

The big question is... Are we only acceptable to society when we're young, attractive and having hot sex--but not when we want to adopt children, pay taxes together or be politically active? By purchasing and supporting a the L-word and being repelled by "Go Fish" am I just buying into a revised version of homophobia? Do I only watch the L-word because it helps me feel better about being who I am?