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Come Undone

Come Undone

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Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Come Undone?
Review: Except that Stephane Rideau was once one of the hottest actors on the planet the story is way to short for a movie this length. BTW the name of the movie is "Presque Rien".

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: bbbbbbbbbboooooooooorrrrrrriiiiiiingggggggggggggg!!!!
Review: I liked the general idea of the movie. It was sweet and warm hearted and the actors did a decent job. But it took me three times of watching to stop falling asleep. It moves kinda slow and kinda reminds me of book on tape...

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Great story, but awkwardly told
Review: Come Undone is yet another foray into the ages old "coming of age" and "coming out" storylines that have been legion of late. Stephane Rideau even appeared in two previous ones, including Wild Reeds, so the ground that has been tread here is not new.

What is different about this movie is the way the story is told. There are three different timeframes in which the story takes place. One of the time frames this movie finds itself occupying is the period at the beginning of the courtship between Rideau's Cedric and the central character Mathieu. The second period centers on a period afterwards in which Mathieu is in the hospital with a variety of ailments both physical and emotional. The third "moment" seemingly is when Mathieu is telling the story after the other two time frames. It appears that way because the storytelling device is used so haphazardly that the title could have referred to the unfolding of the plotlines.

Some reviewers expressed surprise that graphic sexuality is shown here, but the French have long been ahead of the curve in that regard. Wild Reeds was released in the '90s, long before Queer As Folk appeared stateside, and another coming out and of age film released at approximately the same time, The Wounded Man, featured far more grisly content than is found here. The sex itself is a relatively minor aspect of the movie itself.

While the change in time perspective is a potentially creative motif, the use of that change did not seem to be organized in any discernable manner for someone who is not an avid film watcher. Thus, the use for this movie loses too much of its potential in the viewer finding himself or herself trying to figure out which way is up.

Sure, we find out that Mathieu's mother is in a state of post-partum depression compounded by grief because she lost an infant child to cancer. We figure out that Mathieu's relationship with his sister and father are strained at best, and we get an idea that Mathieu's family doesn't react with the hostility he expects, wanting to introduce Cedric to his father after their real relationship becomes clear, but the perspective changes so often and so suddenly that we're often not sure which time to consider the primary time for the movie to take place.

There is plenty of fodder for a great tale to be told, but this movie shows what can happen when a great story falls into the hands of a bad storyteller.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Important!
Review: Please note that the dvd version Amazon is selling has large distracting subtitles which invade the scenes and detract from the movie. There is no way to turn them off! This is a major problem and you should know about it before you purchase the dvd.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: a tour de force gay film
Review: Come undone will be a difficult movie to review as each person will interept the film differently; not in the single dimensional, linear "connect-the-dot style" in Hollywood of boy meets boy, boy falls in love with boy, conflect occurs, conflect resolved (or not) end of story. Come undone is rather a single story with three different timelines and the film unfoldes between the three. In my reviewes, I dont like to give away to much of the plot, and spoil the film for others, but it is a love story between Mathieu (the lead character) and Cedric (a real hottie) set in present day France. Mathieu's mother gave birth to a son with cancer and died after birth and the mother's health never fully recovers. His sister has issues too of her own and Mathieu's relationship with her is strained at best. Mathieu finds a release from his disfuctional family in his relationship with Cedric, but Mathieu seems to suffer from a bipolar-affective disorder, thus the mood swings (least thats my interpitation) and explains the hospital scenes.
The film jumps from one timeline to another which makes the movie unique, you dont know which scene is next and nothing is predictible as opposed to the holloywood style where you can predict " who's going to get murderd next"; or " who's going to win in the end ";etc. At times I found myself wanting to cry as this film seemed so realistic and lifelike and I had this surreal experience that I was there observing this in 3D with the two main characters (there is no score or background music)The acting was superb; and the love making scenes didn't look like something out of a cheap porn movie;(ok lighten up so I've seen one or two in my lifetime) so real it could bring tears to your eyes. A film that you will want to watch time and time again, and a must in any serious gay film collectors library

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Come Undone
Review: There are so many good things about this film, especially the two leads. However, as with so many gay oriented films, not enough care has been taken in the editing and plot development (the story goes right off the rails at the end). If this film lost 15 to 20 minutes it would improve dramatically. How about a re-cut guys?

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Not so good.....confusing, bad lighting, inept
Review: This film has some value, but only for a couple of cheap thrills.
Boring, and unfortunately very confusing time changes, made me think the reels were mixed. I'd recommend the sexier, warmer, film WILD REEDS with the same actor in it.
Just because its french, doesn't mean its particularly ay good!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A haunting, beautifully shot love story
Review: "Come Undone," directed by Sebastien Lifshitz, is the story of a love affair between two young Frenchmen: sensitive Mathieu (played by Jeremie Elkaim), who is dealing with problems in his family, and fast food worker Cedric (Stephane Rideau). The film is in French with English subtitles.

This film is an intriguing blend of psychological drama, coming-of-age tale, and love story. The story is told in a challenging non-linear style which requires some thought from the viewer. The lead actors are superb. Elkaim delivers a heartbreaking performance, and Rideau brings a bold charisma and sexual energy to his role. The two are ably supported by an excellent supporting cast; Violeta Ferrer is a particular standout with her warm, earthy performance as another young man's mother.

The filmmakers achieve a spellbinding visual poetry in many of the film's scenes. The use of tight close-up shots creates a real feeling of intimacy between viewer and characters.

...

Throughout the film are some intriguing symbolic touches; particularly powerful is the filmmaker's use of the beach as a setting in the story. There are scenes of both great pain and tenderness. Finally, "Come Undone" is a haunting film about love, loss, and healing.


Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Very Well Done, Unusual
Review: This was certainly different. Although I have to say I am very used to European filmmaking. Both lead actors were excellent and the cinematography added a lot to the overall quality. To watch these characters grow and find each other was amazing. Although some of the ways they are kept apart seemed a little farfetched. I watched the extras on the DVD and Jeremie says that he sees the story as not being real, but existing in the reader's/viewer's head. I enjoyed the parents who actually were pretty much accepting of their children, always wondering if Mathieu is with Cedric.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Hot dreamy sweaty studs and a man missile
Review: These guys are so hot. If you like young studs, then this is the movie for you. The plot and dialogue was a bit dry but if you like eye candy, your eyes will bulge out of your head. There could've been sex scenes to improve the situation.


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