Actors: PITT, MICHAEL

A conventional but charming inspirational drama competently directed by Gus Van Sant. I watched it for Michael Pitt's role, which is miniscule. Sean Connery is fantastic.

When I first viewed this film, I hated it. I thought it was offensive, nasty and unnecessary. I was compelled to watch it again, mainly because I've developed a big liking for Michael Pitt, and I'm very glad that I did. This is the most disturbing, shocking piece of filmmaking I have ever seen. Despite the extremely cinematic presentation of the characters and their dilemmas, there is certainly a tone of brutal honesty here that is scarcely matched. The performances are all magnificent and sensitive. Michael Pitt, in a charismatic and unsettling supporting role, stands out with his manic energy and uniquely intriguing acting style.

The aim of this film is in itself very cloudy... it doesn't completely work as a comedy, drama or musical. However, it's oddly entertaining in its own way, and the music is good enough. Michael Pitt, although playing a fairly minor role, is utterly brilliant. His looks, presence, charisma and raw talent indicate how easily he could become a huge movie star if he wanted to.

My rating for this film is very simple: it gets one huge star for Ryan Gosling and one star for Michael Pitt. The rest is what we come to expect from low-caliber, mainstream garbage thrillers. Sandra Bullock is awful in the lead, playing a completely annoying and uninteresting character. The script overall is just a big mess to object too. It's filled with inconsistencies, cliches and predictable events. There's one romantic high school scene immediately following a teary murder confession... who would buy that?! Avoid this one.

Bertolucci's blatant, unique film is anchored by his strikingly passionate vision and a trio of superb performances. This is an extremely strong, intelligent film in terms of writing. There's something classical and beautifully edgy about this story. On top of being a very involving experience for the audience, it is also a challenging piece of cinema that gives us characters we haven't seen and explores areas rarely explored. Meticulously shot and cast with a sure hand, this is a gorgeous film to look at. This is a spectacularly original, heartbreaking depiction of the power of love and cinema. Everything about The Dreamers oozes beauty. This is the film that got me interested in Michael Pitt as an actor, and he is now one of my all-time favorites.

This is a brave little indie film that ultimately falls short as a result of somewhat cloudy directorial vision. I like the story a lot, and Michael Pitt's performance is fantastically original, but it's a little too weird for its own good. Compelling in a weird way, but definitely not the gem I was expecting.

Stephen Adly Guirgis is pretty good in this film, but Michael Pitt is outstanding. His performance is unnerving in its realism and contains a rare amount of blatant honesty - one of the most transfixing pieces of acting from the year 2004. The script, although interesting in a strange way, is peppered with its share of flaws. The character dynamics are unique but they are also muddled at times. Overall I enjoyed the film, mostly for Michael Pitt's excellent work.

Horribly written, clumsily directed and just stupid in general. Big disappointment after The Sixth Sense, Unbreakable and Signs (all of which I enjoyed).

This quiet, unsettling character study demands a lot of the audience and it's about as subtle as films get. Having said that, it is very clear that none of the directorial decisions are made without strong intent. Van Sant's abstract, minimalist approach to the story is haunting and effective, providing us with an unforgettably powerful depiction of silent degradation as opposed to a forcefully emotional presentation. The stylistic nature works beautifully as an illustration of loneliness, but it is Michael Pitt's chillingly convincing work on the focal character that brings it all together so well. This is one of his finest performances; nuanced, complex and textured. It is rare that a story can say so much without directly saying anything. This film has developed into one of my all-time favorites.

Paul Giamatti is good with what he's given, and so is Michelle Williams. Michael Pitt, who is brilliant in every role I've seen him in, is really underused here, and as a result he melts into the movie rather than standing out like he should have. Julian Goldberger's script and direction are chaotic. Character relationships and motives are consistently hazy, and the plot structure is nonexistent. This is a boring, confusing blob of a film filled with talented actors being misused.

This movie has such a big heart and is so genuinely touching that I was more than willing to look past its little flaws. Filled with irony and wit, it's a smart rags-to-riches story about friendship and the many facets of people's positions in life. Steve Buscemi is excellent, and Michael Pitt is brilliant in a role that seems like it could have been written specifically for him. One of my favorite films of 2007.

I don't consider this to be the cataclysmic failure that critics have labelled it to be. It's an extremely flawed, directorially weak period romance with strengths as well as weaknesses. Although the film often feels forced, pretentious and silly, it boasts a beautiful music score and some very striking photography. Michael Pitt's performance in the lead role is extremely underrated - he's subtle, compelling and convincing. This is a failure, but I found that Pitt's acting and some other strong aspects prevented it from being a complete flop.

This may be one of the most astonishing films I have ever seen. As someone who hasn't seen the original (also directed by Haneke), I was awe-struck. Not only does this film challenge the audience, but it mocks them and even insults them. This is a mean, cruel movie jam-packed with alterior motives and harsh subtext. It's brilliantly well-made and the acting is too good for words. Michael Pitt, one of the most skillful and edgy actors of his generation, delivers another astonishing performance that tops any of his previous work. Naomi Watts is equally compelling, and the rest of the supporting cast is terrific too. I loved, loved, LOVED this.