Old Joy (2006)

30 out of 31 people found the following review helpful:

Old friends reunited

GreenwichPaul from , 13th May, 2007

Two old friends meet up to visit a hot spring out in the woods and spend a night camping out in Oregon. There's no incident or thrill to be found in this slight piece and the viewer's enjoyment depends as much on what they may bring to the film as to what the film delivers. We learn very little about the character's back-story and this allows the viewer to meditate on their own lost friendships and on life's small disappointments. Old Joy is one of those films that celebrates the small moments in life; the transcendent beauty of nature, the sudden realisation that this is all there is. Old Joy feels like an old friend with its comfortable silences and gentle humour and its worth taking the trip with this film.

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10 out of 13 people found the following review helpful:

No joy

Janey O from Hertfordshire, England, 30th May, 2007

Two friends take off into the woods for the night. Friend one reminds friend two about the wonders of nature, escaping from the city etc. etc. What reads as a promising exploration of friendship turns out to be an amateurish film with no plot or storyline, and certainly nothing to say. If it went any slower it would crawl into the woods to die.

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9 out of 9 people found the following review helpful:

Road trip?

A Customer from Tottenham, 28th June, 2007

A beautiful film, gorgeously shot on a shoestring! Tune in, kick back.....and smile.

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7 out of 8 people found the following review helpful:

Dull

A Customer from England, 1st July, 2007

The cinematography is awesome however the film is slow, dull and lacking in any strength for the characters

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*** May contain spoilers ***

Not what it wants to be

Randomfilmbuff from , 31st December, 2009

Usually love 'talking' films that watch life go by. however this faulted on a number of areas 1) two heterosexual men who cannot really open up their feelings in conversation 2) therefore their friendship which has dwindled over the years due to lifestyle choices and they realise they have nothing in common so the whole film feels like an awkward conversation that lasts over an hour 3) there were too many 'scenic' shots and voice overs from the radio to look arty, but really covers up the lack of a script nice idea but this concept has been done 100s of times and this was a poor attempt at it

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Wot, no robots.

schnoberts from , 15th December, 2009

I have two comments regarding this film: 1) Boring. 2) No robots.

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Wonderful!

Ell1981 from from London, 12th October, 2009

Stunning film-so well shot and acted. This is not for someone that demands action or needs a detailed story line to stay interested. This is highly compelling with beautiful music and sceneray as well as great acting especially from Will Oldham aka Bonnie Prince Billie (musician). Love It!

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1 out of 1 people found the following review helpful:

Leisurely paced nothingness

A Customer from Essex, 19th February, 2009

I wanted to enjoy all of this laid back movie but there was always an expectation of something sinister about to happen with the two reunited pals on a camping trip. I suppose it was director Kelly Reichardt's intention but I would have preferred just to continue enjoying the ambient music and picturesque landscape and the enless driving through middle America. Very much in the style of Allison Anders and Wim Wenders. I look forward to seeing more of heer work, starting with 'Wendy and Lcuy' shortly

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