The Lobster [2015]

Year:	2015
Country:	International
Language:	English
Genre:	Comedy, Romance, Science Fiction
IMDB:	IMDB Page
Rating:	7.7 Rate
Collection:	Seen It Wishlist
Community:	4 Have Seen, 1 Wishlist


Director	Yorgos Lanthimos
Selected Cast	Colin Farrell as David
	Rachel Weisz as DoctorShort Sighted Woman
	Jessica Barden as Nosebleed Woman
	Olivia Colman as Hotel Manager

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Comments and Reviews


Magic Marmalade 2nd Jun 2022		Rated 8/10 Man makes an animal of himself, in order to escape the pain of being a man... (well it goes something like that, anyway :) ...In this case though, the premise is, if you don't successfully make "a man" of yourself, as defined by whether you are in a productive, loving relationship with a loving partner, then society will turn you into an animal..... ...Literally! So this is a comedy... about "romance", or better yet, a comedy about socially conditioned and determined romantic constructs (the "dating game" etc.), but it is not a "rom-com". Rather it is a biting, social satire / acerbic diagram / analogy and criticism of how human relationships are constructed in the modern world. ...A parable, or fable that every twenty / thirty something who commits the crime of being single will find strikes too close to home. When people find themselves untethered from a partner, as society here, deems appropriate, through perhaps divorce, separation, death, or just not trying to get themselves attached in a loving relationship, they are sent to a hotel resort, for one last try, to socialise, and find a partner among the other unfortunates... ...If this is not accomplished in a timely manner, they are sent to the "transformation room" to be turned into an animal of their choosing. Colin Farrell's character opts to be the titular Lobster in the tragic event that he should fail in this programme, on account of their potential immortality, and the story centres around his fumbling attempts to navigate the programme, find a partner, and avoid this fate. Of course, there's a non-sexuality based vibe of conversion therapy for singletons / cult about the place, and an air of awkward, forced displays of social expectations by those participants least equipped, of course, to take part... (like when you were young, and you used to go to night clubs you hated being at, because, that's what society and people expected of you) ...However, about half way through, this paradigm shifts to the opposite, as he finds himself out in woods among the other social exiles who dare to be alone... and here they are a faction opposed to these social ideas, but in a way that's equally zealous, cultish about their single-dom, and vehemently opposed to having partners and personal relationships. Unfortunately for Farrell's character David, he can't find a partner at the hotel he's suited to, but instead falls for Rachel Weisz's character, who also unfortunately, happens to be one of the single-tons... Their relationship develops, sneered at from both sides, and trouble is afoot. This is an incredibly surreal, but entirely appropriate set-up, and played absolutely deadpan, and so straight up, that the child-like literal way in which the story is told, both in the how it plays out, and in Weisz's narration, that you really feel the razor sharp wit and venom in the satire here... but not in a way that makes you feel the film-makers are sermonising, and just venting their spleen, as it is, to use the phrase "wickedly funny", extremely well observed, and unlike most anything you've probably seen before... certainly on this subject. The humour comes from the same kind of place as say, Withnail and I, or like a: This Is Spinal Tap mockumentary about society's attitudes to romantic relationships and their "norms". ...It even uses, what would be otherwise, very simplistic, and clunky, hackneyed expressions re-sharpened as a satirical tool: "Love Is Blind" etc. Colin Farrell is excellent in this, as is Rachel Weisz, Olivia Colman, Lea Seydoux, and indeed, everyone in their respective roles. I'd mark it down as a must see, especially for those of that certain age of 20 /30 somethings who have ever heard that immortal phrase, at social gatherings and such, along the lines of: "...Oh, just not find the right one yet then?" (Like there's something profoundly wrong with you :D. 1 person found this review helpful. ✔︎ Helpful Review?



jaimeeduardo 20th Dec 2020

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