Old Joy

For all the ephemeral pleasure of the company of old friends, there is a chasm between them and the dynamics shift from moment to moment. The beauty of the film is how director Kelly Reichardt brilliantly captures those moments with lucid simplicity.

A triumph of modesty and of seriousness that also happens to be one of the finest American films of the year.

It feels so real it hurts, and it's the perfect antidote to all those movies where all sorts of stuff blows up.

Kurt and Mark's trip to those hot springs is a figurative return to Eden. Anyone who's had a disillusioning reunion with a moony old friend knows what Mark discovers: They're too old to stay that innocent. None of this hit me until after the movie ended. But it hit me hard: You can't go home again.

If Old Joy is more laid-back and contemplative than "Mutual Appreciation," it's because the characters are more weathered. Open-ended as it may appear, it has a crushing finality. For all the wool-gathering and guitar-noodling, this road movie is at least as tender as it is ironic.

Old Joy is an accurately observed slice of that moment between postadolescence and parenthood, when friends cling or scatter, and circumstances force buried feelings to the fore.

You must lead a dull life if it would be enlivened by 76 minutes' worth of Old Joy.

Will Oldham is the standout in this story of a friendship that is fading away in the passage of time.

This is a sort of a contemplative nature retreat film (rather than a road trip film), focussing on two male friends being somewhat philosophical while taking in the countryside. Its another light and subtle film by Kelly Reichardt and I thought it was quite relaxing to watch, with the sounds of nature in the background (waterfalls, birds etc.). It has an aimlessness about it which I found quite pleasing, so I don't mean that in a bad way. For example, I liked the camerawork showing the sort of 'open (country and urban) road' driving the men do near the start and end of the film. Its got a soothing quality to it. Its also got some melodic instrumental music played quietly at times. The plot did seem a little weak and its perhaps not entirely memorable but its certainly worth seeing regardless, I'd say.

This is totally the kind of movie that can get the nickname of ''Nothing happens'' And I could certainly support that sentiment, but Old Joy isn't such a simple movie, I mean, it is, but if you're paying attention, the perspective is quite interesting. Time isn't kind, and the line between nostalgia for the past and the way things are now can be blurred, but it will never change things.

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]

Did not expect too much going into watching this movie and that is exactly what I got, not very much. Very disappointed in this movie and sadly cannot recommend it. Avoid.