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DVD OXV: The Manual
 Run time: 105 min Rating: 7.2 Genres: Mystery | Romance | Sci-Fi Director: Darren Paul Fisher Writers: Darren Paul Fisher Stars: Daniel Fraser, Eleanor Wyld, Dylan Llewellyn |
| Storyline OXV: THE MANUAL is being billed as the world’s first Scientific-Philosophical romance. Boy meets girl in a not-quite-here, not-quite-now world where one simple discovery has forever changed all human interaction. The film could perhaps best be described as a combination of ‘Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind’, ‘(500) Days of Summer’ and ‘Primer’. Written by Anonymous |
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| Details: Country: Australia, UK Release Date: 23 May 2014 (USA) |
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4 comments
I saw the world premiere at Fantasia and chatted at length with writer/director/editor/producer Darren Paul Fisher afterwards.
The Universe he created and that the viewer slowly discovers is complex, coherent, intriguing and raise ethical and philosophical questions including the classic determinism versus free will dilemma. The arguments and points of view are quite interesting, with a caveat that in the end, perhaps who cares?
There is a love story in the midst (and a friendship) that builds and begs to reach you emotionally with fine acting and directing. Character development arise seamlessly through three different age period and the pacing and editing are quite remarkably on cue.
I don't want to reveal too much about this cerebral science fiction, but there are many clever surprises that awaits the engaged viewer both in the story twists and the underlying concepts explored. Even love has some deep philosophical implications at one point in the context of the film.
So there you have it: the best film of Fantasia so far this year and one of the best sci-fi ever, from the spectacular script to the screen.
Bravo Mr Fisher and thank you for sharing your thoughts and labour of love in this artistic and philosophical masterpiece.
Although from the synopsis I thought this was not the kind of film I can enjoy, I decided to watch it after reading the (at the moment only) review, by Christian. I must say, he was right. This film is great! It had my complete attention from beginning to end. It is funny, original, mysterious, intelligent, intriguing, sweet, sad, mental, philosophical, emotional, from time to time thrilling. There are names of fictional characters which recall names of famous geniuses, and sort of gags/tributes to them, which to be fully enjoyed require you to at least know, for example, who Isac Newton was and how important for him things like weight/gravity and apples were. And probably if you are a somehow philosophical/mental type you may enjoy some aspects of this film differently. But I am sure that whatever kind of person you are, this film will give you much. And you will not forget it.
If the apparently complicated conversations about philosophical themes sometime confuse you, do not try to follow them. They are there to make you smile, so smile of their complexity, and enjoy the whole of the film, the romance, the comedy, the drama, the mystery. This film is really different. Oh. It was a long time that I was not so deeply and lightly and fully and gently pleased by a movie. The actors are also very good.
Somehow this film reminds me of "Waking Life" and of "I Love Huckabees", for its mixture of mentality and emotionality and comedy.
I do not give it a 10 just because nobody is perfect 😀 And like Christian wrote: please watch it! Please for you, not for me. Because you will like it. So do not miss this opportunity!
I was skeptical about the ratings on IMDb but I decided to see this because I was looking for something different. I love the way it was told in parts, and how they all fit together. The movie was very smart and the actors and actresses all did an amazing job.
It kind of reminds me of the SciFi show Eureka, but with a more darker twist; I liked it. They did a good job with the music and the way they used the sound effects. Very clever camera work when viewing the situation from a certain persons perspective, bland colors vs. good saturation.
The movie had a slow build but the wait and the wonder was completely worth it in the end and it kept me thoroughly intrigued throughout. Great flick, I recommend it.. just bring your thinking caps, this one is for talking about.
Long time since I've seen such movie which makes you think, and adore the imagination put in this film. A genuine art cinema which has an enormous potential to carry on his shoulders and make an example for modern generation filmmakers.
I normally go for the movies which has higher user/critic ratings or if I have good recommendation for it, but this movie was exception to that. Surprisingly this movie rises up your expectation from the start and keep on raising that bar right till the end.
Storyline moves through different twist, angles making you to focus on it and get very much involved in it. It doesn't bore you with details rather it wants you to keep your focus on the character which I think makes this movie even more fun to watch.
Darren, Writer/director gives an refreshing, new way of looking at what we call the chemistry between two people.
All and all, go for this movie and expect a smart, refreshing , brilliantly executed cinema based on intelligent script.