Stay (2005)

What a surprising movie!  I accidentally came across this movie while searching for another on IMDB, and I immediately decided to watch it soley for Ryan Gosling.  In my opinion, he’s one of the finest actors today and I always look forward to see what kind of character he portrays.  In this movie, it’s a troubled art student named Henry, who declares to his psychiatrist Dr. Foster (Ewan McGregor, another actor whose work I enjoy) that he will kill himself on Saturday at midnight.  Naturally Foster tries to stop him, but he goes by it unconventially, delving more into his life and not just “alerting the authorities.”  By doing so, reality soon becomes blurred with dreams and imagination.

Naomi Watts does a great supporting role as Foster’s once-suicidal girlfriend Lila, who provides some insight on why Henry might want to kill himself and some memorable lines (“There’s too much beauty to quit”).  Also, look out for a small role from Jeneane Garofalo…!

This movie reminded me a lot of Donnie Darko, not only becuase of the “Is this really happening or this is my head?” but the film comes full circle at the end.  I love that.  It’s such a great style, I think, and has a longer lasting impact on the viewer.

I don’t think even I have completely figured out what happened in Stay.  From what I’ve read so far, there are different interpretations and while I have started to develop my own, it’s the kind of movie worth repeated viewings.

IMDB Link

Rating:

~ by elizabeth on October 8, 2008.