Two Days (2003)

Let's be realistic.

Am I Missing Something?

A film of deceptively outspoken contemporary relevance, this is cinema at its most alert, alarming and alive.

.Like the great film, it's made with a great deal of visible affection both in front of and behind the camera.

2 Days is a movie about the last few days of Paul's life. Paul, a struggling actor, has decided to commit suicide in two days and wants to film them in lieu of leaving a suicide note. Paul goes around to his friends and family and agent and says goodbye the best way he can. The film crew is made up of Paul's best friend, who wants the movie to be fixed and have some kind of climactic feel good meaning to the whole thing, the co-director, who really wants to document the reality without creating any false meaning to the whole deal, and then the sound guy, camera guy, and briefly a make-up girl. The film crew has there own problems throughout the movie, the director is a conniving ass, the sound guy likes the director's girlfriend, etc.This movie is actually very good. The camera switches to let you know which parts the film crew films and which parts are parts of the actual movie by limiting the amount of screen that you see. The camera's all use a fuzzy grainy filter, but it seems like it belongs. The writing and pacing of the movie is perfect, it keeps it exciting and interesting even though he's only going day to day to people's houses and talking to them. The story, while made mostly depressing for a long time, as cynical dark humor, and a very good message to send throughout. The story of the film crew is also critical of film crews in general, from the people who are on them to the things they try to do to shape even nonfiction movies like documentaries.Though there wasn't a whole lot bad about the movie, a few things deserve pointing out. First off, there is a few attempts at humor early in the film, which mostly dies out by the time the movie is about halfway through. I blame it mostly on the fact that the movie is about a guy who wants to commit suicide, there's a bit of a dark cloud hanging over the story that makes the funny parts more along the lines of frown and shake your head parts. Besides that, the grainy filter of the movie is still a little hard to get used to, and some of the lighting comes through the camera a bit too bright.Characterization in this movie is done perfectly, both through writing and through acting. Paul Rudd does perfectly as Paul, it almost feels like a movie about himself. The sub-director is a likable character who wants to film honestly, but you want to ring his neck a bit for not trying to stop Paul more. The director, Paul's best friend, is a serious ass and you really want to kick his ass more than the guy who wants to commit suicide. The rest of the crew have distinct personality that mainly plays into humorous situations but still works and are all acted out brilliantly. This is a great cast.Overall, the movie is great, I don't want to give away the ending. If you're looking for a good independent with great acting then this movie is quality stuff. If you're looking for Paul Rudd before 40-year old virgin, this is the stuff to get.Final Score: 8/10

Definitely NOT a feel good movie if you're planning for a night in with the ladies, but I promise you won't be disappointed if you are a fan of low budget independent films! The story revolves around an out of work actor (Paul Rudd) whose depression over the way his life has turned out, leads him to film a documentary about his last days before committing suicide.Although I found some of the dialogue a little drawn out and the pacing a little on the slow side, I felt the acting was superb. At times it seemed as though the actors were improving their scenes which made the story more unique to me. Definitely have to give credit to Paul Rudd's performance in this role! (8/10)

I didn't really see this as a movie about suicide. Instead, I saw it as a movie about life and rebirth. The ending wasn't nearly as ambiguous to me as it was to some. In the end, I think Paul realized that he actually did want to live despite the pain that life dishes out a lot of the time. I watched this movie three or four times just so I could pick up some of the nuances. I didn't notice the first time that Paul was actually the one who got the door opened at the end (I must have been distracted because that's clearly what happened). Paul lived those last two days as if they were his last, and I think he realized he actually enjoyed the living. At the end, I saw a character who wanted to escape, but this time, not necessarily through suicide. Instead, he escapes to the ocean (it's less depressing on that side of town, a crew member had informed him)to ponder what to do now that he'd decided to live. That was my interpretation anyway. In any case, I thought it was fantastic movie. Paul Rudd gave one of the best performances of his career. I think that he's one of the best actors of my generation.

To start, the only complaint I have with this film was its length. Too short. Plain & simple, I wanted more. The acting was superb, the character development was anything but weak, despite what some skeptics may say, and the writing was dead on. I was most impressed with Paul Rudd's performance, but that's no surprise. He is an incredible actor with more talent in his pinky than most A-list hacks put together. He deserves so much credit & critical acclaim, but is generally relegated to character roles and cameos. Then again, who says character acting is such a bad thing. That is where many of the greatest performances come out.Also, I could have done without the sidestory of Jennifer & the sound guy. Interesting, but not necessary. And nomatter how some may speculate, I am a sap for happy endings and I don't believe he kills himself in the ocean. Just like I don't believe that Christian Bale drowns himself in the pool in Laurel Canyon.