Customer Reviews

Nothing

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

The film tells the tale of childhood friends David Andrew (David Hewlett) and Andrew Miller (Andrew Miller). All grown up and living together in a hellhole wedged between freeways, it'd be a toss up to determine who has the worse life. Is it Andrew, the agoraphobic travel agent falsely accused of molesting a girl scout or David, whose girlfriend embezzled $27K from his company leaving a trail of evidence pointing to him?

Not to worry, though, this is just the darkness before the dawn. When things look their bleakest, the two suddenly find themselves in a new world where existence appears to have been wiped clean; leaving just themselves, their house, and their pet turtle in a white world of nothingness. Two guys in a world of nothing searching for answers and food: this may sound like a recipe for disaster (or for a sequel to MY DINNER WITH ANDRE) but NOTHING is a remarkably fun film.

In NOTHING, Natali continues to explore themes of identity and location as he did in CUBE and CYPHER, leading me to believe that it's not an exaggeration to consider him the "thinking person's sci-fi director." Ultimately, NOTHING succeeds due to Natali's direction, the screenplay by Miller and Andrew Lowery, and the strong performances by its lead actors.

I didn't really know what the movie was about before watching it (even reading the back of the DVD doesn't fully prepare you), but I'm a David Hewlett fan so I gave it a go. The opening sequence gives you a good idea of whether you've got the right sense of humor to enjoy the film -- it's rather Douglas Adams-esque in its off-kilteredness. David and Andrew are two guys whose lives are taking a spectacular turn for the worse when suddenly the entire world outside their house disappears. Nothing's left but vast, unending whiteness (or, y'know, nothing; hence the film's title). First they have to figure out what happened, and once they do, they deal with it in various ways that say a lot about who they are, who they were, and who they wish they could be. I laughed out loud through much of the film, but it also gives you brain fodder. However, it's a very unusual story with moments of sheer, over-the-top wackiness and if you have trouble suspending disbelief, you probably won't enjoy this. Everyone else -- see it!

A good premise that fails to deliver on its ideas. Lots of lovely details and fun moments unfortunately add up to a less than a satisfying whole.

There is a too-conscious effort to be hip here, and maybe I'm too old, but somehow the whole thing felt as if it were put together by a couple of smart, if smarmy, high school kids. Clever, sharp, witty, but missing the big picture, not offering me more than what was on the surface. And while the surface was entertaining, it was not entertaining enough. I want more, especially when a film is offering some notions about creating and altering reality, and it just did not deliver. What does it mean that these two characters cannot create but only destroy? That they can only subtract from the world? Well, that is a provocative thought, but it goes nowhere here.

So, while it was amusing, it was not much more. Aim high and you are held to a higher standard.

`Nothing' is a Canadian film directed by Vincenzo Natali who is known for two `Twilight Zone' like sci-fi thrillers `Cube' and `Cypher' but his new film is not about science or thrill despite the use of one peculiar idea. Basically `Nothing' which is part comedy, part sci-fi, is about friendship.

The story is rather simple. Two guys Dave (David Hewlett) and Andrew (Andrew Miller), absolute losers in different ways, are living in a decaying house wedged by two noisy freeways. They have been friends since childhood, but their life is now falling apart because one is (wrongly) accused of embezzlement while the other, of child molesting (again, wrongly).

What they wish is not going away from their house (which, they found, the City is going to demolish). Why should they go anyway? It is those who are harassing them that should be gone. To their great surprise, Dave and Andrew find that their dream has really come true -- the world surrounding them is completely gone.

What remained in the world are Dave and Andre, their old house, their belongings including video games (that still work), and a turtle. Outside the house is total blank, white space with bouncing ground that feels like "tohu." Now Dave and Andrew can start living like as they want in this world of nothing free like a bird ... or can they?

In spite of the intriguing concept, the film is about the two characters Dave and Andrew and their relations drawn with a comic touch. The film is not about how to escape from the world of nothingness where they can live comfortably, so don't expect the suspense you got in Natali's two previous works. The script has one great idea, but it soon loses its energy after 40 minutes. The story sometimes looks repetitious and the annoying characters Dave and Andrew are not particularly amusing, with the two actors' OK (over)acting. As for the comedy part of the film, I think not everyone find it funny as Natali thinks because it heavily relies on slapsticks that look often too silly. If you find two guys jumping like a ping-pong ball against the background of absolute white, it is your comedy.

`Nothing' is a so-so film with one interesting idea that seems to be wasted in the filmmaking process. Considering the film is directed by Vincenzo Natali, who did brilliant films like `Cube,' `Nothing' should be called a letdown.

This film was definitely a little strange, but was entirely entertaining to watch. An ubelievable concept is the foundation for this great story about 2 loser roommates. The writing was good - there was more room for comedy, but the comedy that's there is exceptional. And for such a low budget film, the acting is great.
I will be purchasing 'Nothing' as soon as it gets below the price gouging limit.

Contrary to the other reviews, I think this movie is a lot of fun, logically consistent, and satisfying.

Without giving too much away, the consequences of only being able to subtract from the world is that you end up with very, very little. And that's that. Despite being a comedy on the surface, this movie, like its predecessor 'Cube,' is an exploration of existentialism. That there are yucks along the way doesn't change this.

And that brings into relief the movie's real problem: It's either too funny or not funny enough. But it's entertaining and well worth checking out for no other reason than to support high-quality independent film.

From Smother Magazine smother.net:

Made by Vincenzo Natali, the director of the delightfully twisted underground hit "Cube", "Nothing" is a bizarre spectacle and study of human friendships. The movie follows two absolute loser guys who through a series of unfortunate events are in trouble with the law. Oh and did I mention that their house which boasts two super highways in between it is poised to be destroyed by the city with very short warning? But wait, this isn't even the bizarre part. Just when they're cowering from the tear gas and having reached the point of seemingly no return, they blink. And everything outside is gone. They're left with a bunch of nothing. White. Bright whiteness. Everywhere and as far as the eye can see. Soon they realize that it was because they hated away their problems. They found the bliss in their nothing world. But soon the two work out their own internal conflicts that have resulted from years of friendship and pent up emotions. Bouncing heads are indeed funny and you'll have to watch the movie to know what I'm referring to. And you better get this movie.

This movie started out interesting. For the first hour or so I was pretty tuned in, even laughing occasionally. However, the last twenty or thirty minutes were kind of boring with little to no laughs. The concept for this movie really had potential but the ending was a big let down. As a whole this movie is entertaining to watch once, but I don't know about any more than that.

Nothing is a bizarre movie. Reveiwer J. C Clark hits the mark saying this movie was "Entertainingly Disappointing". Its such a fun idea, you expect it could do so well, but somehow it never manages just that. Now that I think of it, it could just be the nature of the movie. I think this movie never could be done right, unless possibly...there was some tweaking of the script. The acting is poor and I hate to say something like this about a person, but the actor in the movie, nebbishy Andrew Miller, with reddish curly hair was frightfully annoying.

On the flip side the visuals are the only thing worth mentioning. The sets are fantastic. The house, which looks more like half a house, looks great tucked underneath and between highway ramps. The sets within the house are also rich, covered wall to wall with junk only male roomies would and could put on their walls. There is also a terrific but sadly too short a scene of a futuristic-looking Toronto, designed in a manner reminiscent of a Michel Gondry creation.

For film junkies and collectors, this is a nice piece to add to your collection of DVDs as it is very postmodern.

Definitly a great movie for those who prefer something with an intelligent backing. Yes, it is "wierd", and yes the cast is really only the two guys, and...yes they are fairly dimwitted...but look at the big picture. Wouldn't it be nice to be able to "hate" away things you don't like?...or would it TRUELY be a curse? I give this movie 5 stars...mostly due to its concept, and creativity.