Customer Reviews

Losing Chase

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is a film that should have received a great deal more
attention. It's shot mostly on location on Martha's Vineyard,
and beautifully filmed. It's about relationships and the
interaction between people--Beau Bridges as the husband, who
can usually commute down from Boston on weekends, Helen Mirren
as the psychologiccaly troubled wife with two young children,
and Kyra Sedgwick as the au pair/mother's helper Bridges hires to
cook and look after the kids, since Mirren cannot do so.

Sedgwick also has some deep-rooted psychological problems, and
it is fascinating to watch Mirren emerge from her own problems
to help Sedgwick. It's not an easy movie to watch--no murders
or car chases to provide a counterpoint. The cast is stellar
and the story is compelling, and by the end of the film you
feel somewhat drained emotionally. A fine film!

Losing Chase is a movie about coming alive and the sharing of coming alive. The Helen Mirren character is in deep depression and her husband takes her and their children to their island home, Martha's Vineyard, for the summer. He commutes from his job on weekends so he hires a caretaker, Kyra Sedgwick, to look after her and the children. Sedgwick has her own issues and Mirren begins to recover as she changes positions with her. It is beautifully fllmed and wonderfully acted.

Yes, I agree with the review above----this is tough to watch-----Mirren is always so believable (a true actor who is "one" with the role, and the only other one I can think of off the cuff is Meryl Streep)and her abusiveness to the young mother's helper is so uncomfortable to view. Good pacing, and Beau is also quite good as the husband who loves his wife but is clueless.
Now, I know that this is fantasy of "the movies," but Helen sure gets the younger lovers, doesn't she ? As Ayn Rand, Karen Stone, the new Shadowboxer flick----how fabulous that at 61 she is still considered sexy enough. I hope I am !

I agree with most that in the beginning it is a difficult movie to watch. Especially for a Helen Mirren fan. Chase Phillips' behavior is something to be desired but it certainly adds to the film. It's a beautiful work of art and I'm very happy to own it! Helen Mirren is, as always, a genius. And Kyra Sedgwick and Beau Bridges are wonderful as well. I highly Recommend it!

From the surface, this movie is depressing, but there's nothing funny about mental illness or not finding yourself in this great big world. "Losing Chase" is one of those little known movies that you feel sad for because not a whole lot of people will get to see it. Even I don't know how I came about it, but I am a huge Hellen Mirren fan ever since "Excalibur." She shines in this movie, but Kevin Bacon in his directorial debut shows a lot of sensitivity in portraying these two women. The other being Kyra Sedgwick who plays the young, post grad parent helper. The setting is the gorgeous and languid Martha's Vineyard, if you've never been there, this movie will invite you to. The begining of the movie might be a little uncomfortable to watch as young Elizabeth(Sedgwick) is introduced and humilated by Chase. Then there's the angry pre-teen son who is just as ascerbic and nasty to his mother. There's a lot of sadness in these characters because they have been affected by mental illness, but it's their inner strength and their kindness to each other that ultimately triumphs. Sedgwick and Mirren have that rare chemistry that true professional actors can convey on screen. Highly recommended.

Totally loved this movie, moved it to top ten "faves" in my collection. Bought it because I'm a big Kyra Sedgwick fan and love Mirren too. However, didn't expect all that much (after seeing a few dogs lately). Got hooked by a clip on Youtube. I was extremely surprised by how much I liked this film. Wasn't even available at the local vid store. There is palpable romantic tension between Kyra and Helen, enough to drive a person crazy, but it never spills into "gratituitous groping or poor taste". Not a lesbian film, but very enjoyable for persons of any orientation. Great drama, very human. Moves nicely, didn't want to pause it for a break. The acting (everyone involved) is really believable. The ending was bittersweet but appropriate. Easy to get totally wrapped up in each of the characters and feel for them. Beautiful writing. Can't wait to watch it again with my sister.

A movie that has both Helen Mirren and Kyra Sedgwick in leading roles is quite a treat. As the story unfolds, you are drawn closer to the undercurrent that drives both characters. However, I cannot ignore two troubling implications made towards the end that prevent me from giving it my wholehearted recommendation -- the first: that a woman who has suffered a mental breakdown, been gripped by depression, and ultimately finds her true nature somehow lessens the 'manhood' of the husband who has loved her during her illness and recovery; the second: that developing a same-sex attraction for someone you've grown to admire and care about can be interpreted as an undetected mental instability. These two melodramatic whoppers should have been left on the cutting room floor. I've given "Losing Chase" three stars for the acting and production, and for a story that held tight until almost the end.

While the first half feels predictable and a bit TV movie, the performances are good enough (especially Helen Mirren) to keep it going.

And in the second half, this tale of a collage student mother's helper
hired to help a woman in an angry depression after suffering a nervous breakdown
gets much more complex and unpredictable.

The relationship between the two women, and they way their damaged souls play off each other is quite moving and grown up.

Strong subtle direction by Kevin Bacon.

Does take a hit for over the top performances from the kids, and other key small roles, all
playing types, not human beings.

This movie is deeper than it may seem on the first viewing. It has much to say about relationships and about healing of relationships in life.

In this directorial debut of Kevin Bacon, it's clear that he knows how to get moving, in depth performances out of his actors. Helen Mirren, some ten years before she would win an Oscar, and an actress known to more savvy movie goers, gives a riveting performance of a woman deadened by her marriage - who suddenly comes to life when a young girl comes to work as a nanny to her children. Miss Mirren won a Golden Globe Award for her performance. Kyra Sedgwick gives a beautifully touching performance of a young girl, recovering from the suicide of her mother, who comes back to life in this Martha's Vineyard Household - only to be shocked by the chaos that she's caused.