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The Lobster (2016), R, ★★★1/2

Colin Farrell in a certain state of what he wants to be.
On record, this is one of the weirdest movies I've seen and one of the weirdest premises I have ever heard and read. What defines true love? How do you know if you will find the exact one partner? The right partner? There is at least one chance to infinite chances given your personality as to finding the one person that you will spend the rest of your life with. However, with this quirky premise, it seems you are forced to have the option to pick somebody no matter how perfect one is or else...right? I have not seen a weird and original movie this year but even though it is not a perfect movie, it is a treat to see how ambitious, funny and weirdly romantic this whole product unfolds.

We witness David (Colin Farrell) who is walking into the Hotel with his brother, who is turned into a dog. In the City, people have 45 days to find a romantic partner or turn into an animal of their choice. He chooses to be a lobster if he does not find a romantic partner since they live for about 100 years. David meets two fellow men - John (Ben Whishaw), who walks with a lamp after two wolves attacked him after hugging his mother who was turned into a wolf because his father abandoned her and Robert (John C. Reilly), who talks with a lisp.

The singles attend dances to meet with one another. They are also given extra time by going hunting and finding loners in the woods. Masturbation is restricted at the hotel so men have to receive sexual stimulation from the Maid (Ariane Labed). When an accident occurs at the Hotel, David flees into the woods and meets some loners including the Loner Leader (Lea Seydoux). But, any romantic interaction between any one of them is forbidden, otherwise, there is punishment. During his stay there, David falls for the Short-Sighted Woman (Rachel Weisz) by winning her over with catching and hunting down rabbits. But, however, there may be trouble coming from the Hotel who want him back.

Let's get out of there.
This is a liberating movie regarding what constitutes love and freedom within the system. Based on this movie, there are two different systems but both arguably can be defined as prisons because you have to be forced to be obey the rules or severe consequences can ruin one's life in the movie. This is a type of different claustrophobic movie than other movies where your trapped in a room or in a situation but this movie people are trapped in a system. It's a debatably ambitious movie combining the complex ingredients of a horror film and a romantic film that deal with issues regarding a society filled with dystopian comedy and it is a dystopian world to observe.

All the performances are great in different ways. Colin Farrell gives one of his best performances, if not his best performances, playing a naive and restrained person trying to fulfill his mission in finding love. Rachel Weisz is quite lovely as a person who expresses passion and warmth towards David. Lea Seydoux is quietly chilling as the Loner Leader who may or may not be up to something. John C. Reilly and Ben Whishaw play their parts quite well. And, Olivia Coleman as the Hotel Manager has her character down.

I feel the climax was a bit forced on the issue regarding both Weisz's and Farrell's chemistry because it felt it needed a type of sequence that wants necessary action instead of earning it. I wanted it to be a bit more intelligent and pensive regarding each characters because this movie is too smart to deliver a nearly underwhelming sequence. Director Yorgos Lanthimos delivers what Wes Anderson would have delivered if he were offered the project - a Kafka-like type of film that delivers the societal issues that every character is dealt with with a hint of Frank Capra's magic. This is a movie for film lovers. If the quirky, funny, romantic approach to a dystopian world will nor work for you, you need to watch the movie a few more times to understand the approach. Otherwise, this movie is unlike anything I've seen this year. I was at a loss of words after this was finished but in a good way.

***1/2


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