Fragments (Winged Creatures) (2008)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Cassie H

  
  An okay dramatic movie that was good in some parts and boring in others.

• Jens S

  
  This calm yet intense drama tells the story of a few survivors of a diner shooting and how they deal with the violence they were exposed to or the loss of loved ones. In somewhat unconnected story lines we follow the characters during the days after the event and see how differently… More
  This calm yet intense drama tells the story of a few survivors of a diner shooting and how they deal with the violence they were exposed to or the loss of loved ones. In somewhat unconnected story lines we follow the characters during the days after the event and see how differently they react, how they turn towards God, gambling, fear, indifference and deal with the newly experienced lack of control in their lives. The acting by an excellent cast (Dakota Fanning, Guy Pearce, Forest Whitaker) is top notch and although all characters have a bit of an epiphany at the end of the film, it still doesn't offer an overall solution. How could it? The movie may not grasp the complexity of such a situation in its entirety, but it's still an interesting look at what people go through in such extreme situations. Worth seeing.

• Lorenzo v

  
  <i>"You have to lose your way to find it."</i> A group of strangers form a unique relationship with each other after surviving a random shooting at a Los Angeles diner. <center><font size=+2 face="Century… More
  <i>"You have to lose your way to find it."</i> A group of strangers form a unique relationship with each other after surviving a random shooting at a Los Angeles diner. <center><font size=+2 face="Century Schoolbook"><b><u>REVIEW</u></b></font></center> This film smacks of being made by folk who think they have very high IQ's. It is a very pretentious little bit of film making that attempts to examine what it is like to survive an act of uncommon violence in an urban setting. Many people do survive acts of violence in urban settings and usually the common consensus is that they are glad they survived instead of feeling nothing in particular, which is more or less how this film portrays the survivors, who immediately engage in recalcitrant acts that cross the line into outright criminality after about 24 hours passes from the initial incident. This is bad film making. The characters are stupid. Forest Whitaker is particularly ridiculous in this one. There is no way you would even want to identify with the characters in this movie. Really, it is that bad. I found myself thinking, they survived-so what-they are all morons. Avoid it.

• Dean M

  
  Good ensemble drama like <i>Babel</i>, <i>Magnolia</i> and <i>Traffic</i> with the terrific ensemble cast. Many of these actors provide performances that prove they have more potential than I had previously thought. The film is about numerous… More
  Good ensemble drama like <i>Babel</i>, <i>Magnolia</i> and <i>Traffic</i> with the terrific ensemble cast. Many of these actors provide performances that prove they have more potential than I had previously thought. The film is about numerous characters who witness a murder, and the PTSD that follows them around afterward, and most of the actors have to portray a different PTSD side-effect with his or her performance, and all of them do it very well. I never believed that Kate Beckinsale had anything to her name besides hot looks, but she plays a stressed-out mother very convincingly. As Dakota Fanning moves towards adulthood, she handles a particularly tricky (and religion-heavy) performance with ease.

• Nicki M

  
  Really well done - it shows a group of people who are caught up in a shooting at a cafe and how each deals with it. Obviously not a feel good movie, but good. The whole cast are excellent.

• Derek A

  
  All star cast of actors that centers around a tragic diner shooting rampage that leaves many dead and the survivor's lives in despair. Excellent story about coping with pain and tragedy. Some turn to religion, others to gambling, some to alcohol, and others just bottle it… More
  All star cast of actors that centers around a tragic diner shooting rampage that leaves many dead and the survivor's lives in despair. Excellent story about coping with pain and tragedy. Some turn to religion, others to gambling, some to alcohol, and others just bottle it inside. The director did a fantastic job shooting this film. I love the constant flashbacks to the shooting, each time learning a little bit more of what really happened. It keeps you intrigued. The cinematography was beautiful, and the score was perfect. Dakota Fanning was, once again, the shinning star here. She's amazing to watch in these kind of touching roles. Forest Whitaker, Guy Pearce, and Kate Beckinsale were all excellent as well. And it was nice to see Jeanne Tripplehorn back in a big role. Jennifer Hudson's role was absolutely pointless though. Seriously, wtf? They could've saved some money and hired my neighbor. Her role was brief, pointless, and not complicated. <i>Fragments</i> originally was titled <i>Winged Creatures</i> which would've been a more fitting name. But this drama does tend to move a bit slow, but if you let yourself in these character's lives, you'll be impressed with how touching this film truly is. Very underrated film in 2008.

• Luke B

  
  Whitaker, Pearce and Haley. Those three names alone are enough to warrant this a viewing. Nevermind the other stars that litter this interesting, if ultimately unfulfilling film. It centers it's attention on a group of people that survive a shooting in a restaurant. Each of the… More
  Whitaker, Pearce and Haley. Those three names alone are enough to warrant this a viewing. Nevermind the other stars that litter this interesting, if ultimately unfulfilling film. It centers it's attention on a group of people that survive a shooting in a restaurant. Each of the characters deals with it in their own way. From gambling to silence. It's a great concept which eventually gets bogged down in characters. With so many in 90 minutes it's hard to really connect. Magnolia was twice the length and so had more room to explore. Each character's arc seems more like notations, with only the most dramatic ups and downs recorded. It's a shame as when Pearce talks about how strange it feels to have held the door open for the shooter on his way in, it suggested a more complex and intriguing evaluation on the event. We are still treated to a beautiful looking film aided by excellent performances. But when all the film has to say is that "people deal with grief in many different ways which can often be destructed" it's hardly a revelation.

• m h

  
  This movie has an incredible cast, and they all did well, however I felt this film was a little slow moving. The secret at the end of the movie wasn't that great. It wasn't shocking or powerful, and although its true that people deal with grief differently, I just… More
  This movie has an incredible cast, and they all did well, however I felt this film was a little slow moving. The secret at the end of the movie wasn't that great. It wasn't shocking or powerful, and although its true that people deal with grief differently, I just didn't see how Guy Pearce's character would *SPOILER* try to drug his wife. To me it felt like someone just threw that in to make the story more interesting, but it really felt out of place. However I liked how in the film, they kept showing clips of the shooting at the diner throughout the film. Showing little glimpses of what happened. And I was also most impressed with Josh Hutcherson. Although he didn't speak much in the film, I felt he had the most powerful performance. And he was the most believable actor. He did a great job with his emotions. I think this movie had some potential. I just would have liked to see it played out a little differently.

• Erin C

  
  Good cast. The "big secret" of the movie was really dumb though. Who cares if her dad was scared? He had a gun pointed at him - who wouldn't be?

• Laurence C

  
  It's both a shock and a relief to see such an all-star cast participating in such a small-scale story-- but Fragments (formerly titled Winged Creatures) might have benefited from a tighter, less approximative script that efficiently used all the talent on display. It's a… More
  It's both a shock and a relief to see such an all-star cast participating in such a small-scale story-- but Fragments (formerly titled Winged Creatures) might have benefited from a tighter, less approximative script that efficiently used all the talent on display. It's a film that speaks about the different (and all equally disturbing) ways an act of unexplainable violence affects lives directly or indirectly touched by it. That's it. There is no bigger preoccupation to the narrative, which plays out the aftermaths of the life-shattering moment with a minimum of inventivity but little to no Silver Screen Bullshit. That's no enough to qualify Fragments as a must-see, but it is enough not to call it a failure. The middle third of the screenplay is actually pretty dull, but it nevertheless finds a way to get back on track, right up to its quietly powerful conclusion-- it lets the talent of Dakota Fanning and Josh Hutcherson shine through with great sensibility, turning what looked like mannered and closed-in performances into rich emotional portraits. Among the cast members, the most striking performance has to be Kate Beckinsale's, who is as heartbreaking and penetrating as I've ever seen. Forest Whittaker and Jeanne Tripplehorn, unfortunately, are on autopilot in largely pre-defined roles. Anyways, the end result is not necessarily boring to watch, but it is unremarkable in more than one way. If you can read from this review that I am not disinterested nor enthusiastic in my writing, it's because there is little to be said about this honest, thoroughly correct but mostly shapeless film.

• Daisy M

  
  In the aftermath of a gruesome restaurant murder, the survivors of the attack are left to ponder their own mortality and how it relates to their connection to society. Forest Whitaker, Guy Pearce, Kate Beckingsale, and Dakota Fanning headline Little Fish director Rowan Woods'… More
  In the aftermath of a gruesome restaurant murder, the survivors of the attack are left to ponder their own mortality and how it relates to their connection to society. Forest Whitaker, Guy Pearce, Kate Beckingsale, and Dakota Fanning headline Little Fish director Rowan Woods' adaptation of Roy Freirich's debut novel. <a href="http://s420.photobucket.com/albums/pp286/ladypink_2009/?action=view&current=WingedCreaturesBTS0021.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/pp286/ladypink_2009/WingedCreaturesBTS0021.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> After watching this movie, I did enjoyed it, but I guess it is not for everyone. It is slow and heavy, but I can't find much wrong with it. There were a couple of scenes that were poorly developed or written. If you like superb acted and directed films you will enjoy this. I won't give too much away because I think you will have to watch it yourself. it is a simple story of how random lives are affected and forever changed by a tragic event. What I liked is how each individual was affected differently. Each character acted and reacted in a different way, and it is watching these behaviors play out that make up the film. I felt Kate Beckingsale stood out the most in this role. Of course Forest Whitaker and Dakota Fanning were good.Jennifer Hudson small role even was brilliant. Again, a superb performance of all cast. It's a small movie about human behavior and getting through tough times and coming out the other end of the tunnel, with a bit of light breaking through. Good, real good <a href="http://s420.photobucket.com/albums/pp286/ladypink_2009/?action=view&current=kate_beckinsale_image_winged_creatu.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/pp286/ladypink_2009/kate_beckinsale_image_winged_creatu.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

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