dcw-12
This film that takes the mickey out of the depravity in Las Vegas ends up making $50,000 its opening weekend and no movie theater companies take it. I'm not big on conspiracy theories but you figure it out. There was a time when Hollywood films weaved in human themes with the entertainment and this film hearkens back to those days. Wow I made the film sound incredibly boring but the opposite is true. When the very human and flawed characters resonate then things in the film become much sweeter.The scenes between the Casino boss and Matthew Broderick are especially well done and funny. Not fall down funny but very skillfully written and acted. Also unexpected events pop out of nowhere in the film and keep you on your feet and things interesting. And they didn't need barnyard animals wandering around a hotel room to achieve that effect.Just a very skillfully created and acted comedy/drama that just might change a few peoples opinions on a few things.Very sweet film.
insomniac_rod
"Finding Amanda" is what I would call "an uncomfortable watch" only because I couldn't easily found a genre where it could fit.I mean, it's not a comedy but it isn't strictly a drama feature. Sure, the plot will make you think it's drama because of the prostitution and "gambling" situations but it goes further than that.I watched this at midnight before presenting a very difficult exam and it kind of depressed me. I'm glad I came with a good grade!The relationship between Brittany Snow and Matthew Broderick is the reason to make the movie watchable. The acting is very good. I didn't know Brittany Snow was that talented and she demonstrates it by delivering a solid performance. Plus the fact that she's sexy and candy for the eye makes it easier. Matthew Broderick demonstrates he's a versatile actor. The resolution is kind of gut wrenching because of the tragic plot but still it's a movie to watch only on t.v. Otherwise, don't look for it.
extremefilm
Despite what many have said... the plot was pointless and predictable, the acting was terrible (especially Broderick) and none of it was original or very funny. This film deserves much less of my time than this. I have to have 10 lines of text to submit this, so I will tell you that this is my first comment on IMDb despite looking at the site and reading reviews a few times a week for the past couple of years. I felt strongly enough about how bad this film was that I finally created an account to spread the word.I regret watching the whole thing. Please don't make the same mistake. I hope that I can save at least one person from watching it by posting this comment... my joy will be full if I succeed and I will feel redemption.
Josh Kaplan
Let me start by saying that this is an excellent film in almost every respect - clever dialogs which underlie a mature understanding of the psycho-dynamics of the characters, brilliant directing and overall very good acting. The main theme of the movie is denial - all characters lie to each other and especially to themselves about almost every respect of their lives. This is a fresh breath of air relatively to all those formula Hollywood movies where all characters only act according to some ridiculous higher ideology. I feel that for the first time in a long while I am actually watching the story of real people. Although the story in the movie comes to a solution, this is by no means a corny Hollywood like solution but actually is able to reveal some new insight into the story - which is always the sign of a great work of art. I am quite sure this movie deserves a larger audience than it got, I am certainly going to follow the next works of the creators of this film. Great job everyone.
AD
