All is Bright (2013)

This Movie Can Only Be Described With One Word.

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

If you're interested in the topic at hand, you should just watch it and judge yourself because the reviews have gone very biased by people that didn't even watch it and just hate (or love) the creator. I liked it, it was well written, narrated, and directed and it was about a topic that interests me.

It is neither dumb nor smart enough to be fun, and spends way too much time with its boring human characters.

There was a lot of charming elements to it, and a lot of contrived elements. The characters were likable and sympathetic, by and large. And acted very well. I was very confused by the Russian girl. Suddenly near the end she's not a dentist but is actually a maid? I guess I missed something. And who was she attracted to? Giametti or the piano store salesman?I had a very big problem with the scenario. I can see buying a product and the reselling it. But the conditions were just too prohibitive. I've never been to New York but I really didn't see that they could operate in that one place for weeks on end without police interference. Not to mention that I really don't think the trees in question could last that long, either.And the launch into the third act? They're criminals. Why would they just have all that cash out in the open to steal. Just really dumb. I can't be really sympathetic to characters that dumb.And finally the last scene with the piano in the front yard. Cinematic? Sure. Practical? NO! Much easier to set it up in the living room with Giametti looking through the window.

Rather depressing film with Paul Giamatti coming out of prison to find that his wife has told his daughter that he is dead. In order to earn money, he agrees to sell holiday trees with a friend. Of course, he finds out that the friend is going to divorce his wife to marry Giamatti's.The two argue in front of customers but eventually the business takes off. They make quite a bit of money only to fall victim to a robbery.The picture becomes somewhat more dramatic and poignant as the two steal a piano to give to Giamatti's daughter. The ending reminded me of Barbara Stanwyck in "Stella Dallas."

'ALL IS BRIGHT': Three Stars (Out of Five) Paul Giamatti and Paul Rudd star in this comedy-drama film that's a lot more serious (and less comedic) than I was expecting (with that pair). It's a Christmas movie about two losers from Canada trying to sell Christmas trees in New York City. It was directed by Phil Morrison (who also directed the 2005 indie critical darling 'JUNEBUG') and written by first time film writer Melissa James Gibson. It's a lot more of a downer than it looks like (in the trailers) and isn't really that funny but it is a somewhat interesting character study.Giamatti plays an ex-convict named Dennis, who just got out of prison in Quebec, Canada. His wife, Therese (Amy Landecker) is now sleeping with another man, Rene (Rudd). She also told their daughter, Michi (Tatyana Richaud), that Dennis was dead. In order to make enough money to buy Michi a piano for Christmas Dennis agree to sell Christmas trees with Rene in New York City. Neither is especially good at the job and it's a big challenge.For a Christmas movie and a comedy the film is pretty depressing. It's also surprisingly sad considering it stars Paul Giamatti and Paul Rudd. Giamatti does a lot of serious dramas as well as comedies but it's definitely not Rudd's usual thing (it does mark his second quirky indie film this year though, after 'PRINCE AVALANCHE' from a few moths ago). He is his usual dimwitted and easygoing self in it though and you can't help but love him (and root for him) despite his flaws. Giamatti is definitely less likable in the movie and is pretty hard to like but both of their characters have their hearts in the right place. If you're expecting big laughs this isn't the movie for you but it is a decent emotional buddy film.Watch our movie review show 'MOVIE TALK' at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJalgBjCCrg

A few great actors in one deadpan script -- morality play does not a great film make. Not so cheery and eerily reminiscent of Antonioni's Il Grido in many ways. If you're not used to the accents you could use subtitles for some of the dialog. So, the main character is so sad that you don't laugh, there is that Indie no music and dull- - mundane camera work, but you want to laugh. Giamatti's character is not quite an idiot or a genius, not rehabilitated or remorseful, but he has hope -- kind of. Then there's his ex-wife who's indifferent to him, as he is or was, and over what they were at one-time. Then there is the friend Rene played by Paul Rudd. Rene has a moral high-ground, he's not a thief, but he's an optimistic liar and he has good-looks working for him. Ironically Rene takes his old friend with him to NY out of guilt and need for a friend. So you find out a little bit about the two characters, and they work there magic -- sort of. I lost interest in the film a few days in NY bleak days until Olga comes around. Sally Hawkins character has a hard shell on the outside and a good heart on the inside. She speaks for people and about people. And all good holiday movies have a happy--sad climax and an anti-climax, this film is much sadder than most. (: