I like a movie that makes you think. "Stay" is that type of movie. Right off the bat, the director makes it clear that this not a straight-forward narrative so pay attention...there is unusual stuff coming...puzzle pieces...imagery...hints...oddities...quirks...visual weirdness...deepness. With this type of movie, the director is making a deal with you...stick with this movie, ride out the confusion, and I will deliver to you, as a reward, an effective ending or, at least, some satisfaction.
Unfortunately, "Stay" does not deliver. The movie is so steeped in visual tricks, symbolism, and strangeness it becomes a chore. The movie became tedious, with each scene trying to be more clever than the last. My friends and I gave up trying to put together the pieces and began to obsess on Ewan McGregor's weird high-water pants. We guessed...hmmm, we've seen this stuff before (dream? split personality? is someone dead and doesn't know it?) Truly, you could go scene by scene dissecting the weirdness (the kid with the balloon, the twins and triplets walking around, the Bob Hoskins character, etc.) It's just too much work.
The movie had a couple of redeeming qualities. The director seemed to experiment with every conceivable camera angle possible, which, at times, was intriguing. The editing, while jarring, was expertly done. Also, Ryan Gosling was compelling as the mysterious suicidal young guy. Unfortunately, Ewan McGregor and his pants were badly miscast and Naomi Watts is forgettable.
And the ending. Cop out. While it provided a small "aha", it was unoriginal and unsatisfying. Probably most savvy movie goers had it pretty much figured out anyway (or close to it). In the end, the movie is not nearly as smart as it thinks it is. It is like getting a 10,000 piece puzzle and realizing it's not worth the effort to put it together.
Unfortunately, "Stay" does not deliver. The movie is so steeped in visual tricks, symbolism, and strangeness it becomes a chore. The movie became tedious, with each scene trying to be more clever than the last. My friends and I gave up trying to put together the pieces and began to obsess on Ewan McGregor's weird high-water pants. We guessed...hmmm, we've seen this stuff before (dream? split personality? is someone dead and doesn't know it?) Truly, you could go scene by scene dissecting the weirdness (the kid with the balloon, the twins and triplets walking around, the Bob Hoskins character, etc.) It's just too much work.
The movie had a couple of redeeming qualities. The director seemed to experiment with every conceivable camera angle possible, which, at times, was intriguing. The editing, while jarring, was expertly done. Also, Ryan Gosling was compelling as the mysterious suicidal young guy. Unfortunately, Ewan McGregor and his pants were badly miscast and Naomi Watts is forgettable.
And the ending. Cop out. While it provided a small "aha", it was unoriginal and unsatisfying. Probably most savvy movie goers had it pretty much figured out anyway (or close to it). In the end, the movie is not nearly as smart as it thinks it is. It is like getting a 10,000 piece puzzle and realizing it's not worth the effort to put it together.