Rating: 
Summary: Terribly slow, mostly incomprehensible, and strange
Review: The story is about government workers attempting to evacuate a few last hold-outs before their town and valley are flooded by a new man-made lake made for the purpose of generating power. Evidently it is to be about loss and change, death and rebirth. It is steeped in religious imagery and connotations of an after-life. This theme has potential, but it falls flat in this film. It is extremely slow, mostly dull, and generally incomprehensible. Some scenes were semi-interesting but they were short and few and far between. It's a shame because with this theme and the competent acting of Nick Nolte and James Woods, the film makers could have done a lot, but here it fails miserably.The cinematograpy was at times interesting and beautiful but even that got old after a while.
Rating: 
Summary: Indeed Odd
Review: I fully agree that this movie was odd. This was our first experience with the Polish brothers. Throughout the movie my husband kept asking now who is that? Whose house is that? We compared it to "Vanilla Sky" which we also walked out of the theater going "Oookay and Huh?" It was a good movie though. Incited discussion.
Rating: 
Summary: beautiful
Review: This is a very beautiful, but rather confusing movie. You feel the progress of the plot in your emotions, but you're not quite sure what the progress is. Nevertheless if you think, you can piece together a general idea of what it's about, and a general idea is all you really need to watch something (if you're in doubt, watch Akira or spend some time as a working immigrant). The movie feels slow, but when it's over it seems very short, and you wish it lasted longer. It has a soundtrack of haunting music box melody, oldtime 50s tunes (we are not speaking of rock music), and one other style, used to great effect in one of the funny parts. The overall mood is melancholy, but also often very beautiful; sometimes pensive; sometimes a sense of wonder; sometimes very funny and sometimes dry. This movie has something for everyone, and is mixed and out there enough for everyone to think it is weird. You'll be glad you watched it, but no one else will be able to predict why you'll feel that way.
Rating: 
Summary: Power Nearby
Review: Watch this film after you've had the first knick in your side door! In other words, when you've reached the age of wisdom. Or in the words of James Woods, "Son, after the first (dent?), the rest come easy". If you have recently lost someone, as I have, I suggest, this film will be viewed with the essential element of thoughtfulness about the meaning of home and soul, and will thusly, alternately give you not only some serenity-- but also, comic relief.
Watch this film alone to truly absorb it. I found it, unlike, previous reviews to the contrary, to be an amazingly expansive capsule of reality. I needed to assist someone close to me in dying and Nick Nolte's performance & love for "Sir,Irwin" (boy-angel) so mirrored my anguishing experience in letting go.
I recommend this movie. I intend to purchase it and send it to my health care proxy (who is also grieving) and put a copy in my locked safety deposit box to be discovered at some later date..."when I pack my good memories".
Rating:
Summary: Vacuous Vapidity
Review: I love cinema -- in all it's forms -- but this movie had me crawling in my seat.
Just because a film has muted colors, stark high contrast photography, unfolds at a glacial pace, and has minimalist acting does NOT make it a masterpiece.
This film is all style, but NO heart -- it is emotionally vacuous -- empty!
You have "Men in Black", echoes of "Blade Runner" episodic quirkyness like "Pulp Fiction", but none of the charm and soul of say "Wings of Desire" or even "City of Angels".
A sterile, vapid, desolate, black-hole of a movie.
Rating:
Summary: Beautiful filmmaking...
Review: This movie is a bit like watching a dream. It is filmed intentionally, methodically and perhaps a bit pretentiously. That may sound a bit odd but it is obvious that the directors seek to present a certain look. Everything is in a muted shade of earth tones and the shots are meticulous. If you've ever been to Montana in winter you will understand. The brightest colors are the shades of gold in the fields in winter slumber. It's one of the most beautifully shot films I've seen in a long time.
As for the movie itself, it is a bit odd but not goofy. The premise is the relocation of the townsfolk of Northfork, Montana in the early to mid 50s with the ushering in of a new dam to provide power. Most of the town has left except for the few eccentric characters who remain. The state has sent in the evacuation squad to assist the remaining residents with their exodus. This proves to be not so easy. The characters - those who remain and those on the evacuation committee - are quirky enough that a movie unfolds.
Everything is one notch higher than monotone with a gorgeous score that buoys it all along gently. There are moments of comic genius that seem so due to the somber tone of the rest of the film but it never takes itself too seriously. It touches on religous themes and the whole movie kind of has a metaphysical bent to it due to the biblical nature of the coming flood.
I'm not certain I followed it completely as there are moments where it is difficult to tell what is happening and what is a dream sequence or if in fact it is either one. Grounded in real events, there is a bit of the transcendent that emerges.
It is slow to unfold. It's a good film to watch on a lazy Saturday afternoon in winter with a nice fire and a cup of tea. The cinematography is beautiful and the brand name cast (Nick Nolte, James Woods, Daryl Hannah and a few others) have rendered this a nice break from most films out there.
Rating:
Summary: beautiful. eerie.
Review: Northfork is one of those movies where you can examine the vast metaphor's and symbolism in detail and/or- you can just let the film pour over you- it unravels into vastness.
It's slow without ever going anywhere boring, and it's breathtakingly beautiful- the film has this lovely tint to it.
If your into new wave fabulism, you must see this movie, and also check out rachel miller's 'angela.'
highly recommended!
Rating:
Summary: Strangely affecting
Review: I give the filmmakers credit for originality and full execution of their beautiful, droll, and distinctly American vision. American cinema is not strong on surrealism, but this is a worthy foray into the genre. There is a Dali-esque beast that inhabits the landscape which is absolutely inspired. The use of imagery and symbolism is very sophisticated, and the camera work is deft. There were times when I found it all a bit excruciating, but my attention was always refocused by some witty vignette or gorgeous scrap of scenery. The child who plays the angel is a heartrending presence and brings the only pathos to an otherwise ironic and detached narrative. Northfork certainly won't be everyone's cup of tea, but for me it ultimately soared.
Rating:
Summary: Pointless
Review: This movie was a crap-sandwich.
If movies are meant to entertain, this one could be classified as torturous. Between struggling not to nod off and trying figure out what in the world the "angels" were doing, the ending could not come soon enough.
This is the only review I've written on a movie on Amazon, so I feel pretty strongly about it. Very poor... I would place it in the same category as "Knockaround Guys", "Ronin", and "The Yards". Just pointless, pseudo-intellectual rubbish.
Rating:
Summary: What a lot of wasted effort
Review: It is very clear a lot of energy was expended on making this movie. What a shame it was to so little end. Having seen the very intriguing preview when I bought another Paramount Classics release, I hastened to buy this DVD. Talk about the preview making a silk purse out of a feature length sow's ear. The most disappointing thing about the film was how emotionally and intellectually facile it was. The Polish Brothers seem to be technically adept but intellectually stunted. Having watched the awesomely rivetting "In The Mood For Love" just the night before, I had a benchmark to measure this movie against. ITMFL proves that technical skill, measured pacing, unconventional narrative and emotional and intellectual depth can go together. The only one the Polish Brothers managed out of these was the technical skill. Beware the preview. It's promise is not met in the movie.
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