{"id":3653,"date":"2015-10-27T11:55:04","date_gmt":"2015-10-27T11:55:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmgaze.com\/blog\/?p=3653"},"modified":"2015-10-27T11:58:34","modified_gmt":"2015-10-27T11:58:34","slug":"lff-2015-the-lobster","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmgaze.com\/blog\/comedy\/lff-2015-the-lobster\/","title":{"rendered":"LFF 2015: The Lobster ****"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"the-lobster\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Damned if you are. Damned if you\u2019re not. Greek filmmaker Yorgos Lanthimos\u2019s first English-language feature The Lobster<\/em> puts its characters in an impossible situation. The decision is all theirs in this bizarre but highly comical dark tale set in a dystopian future with completely different ideas on relationships.<\/p>\n

David\u2019s (a superb Colin Farrell) wife has just left him for another man, so he decides to book into The Hotel with his dog (actually his brother) to find a new life partner, in order to return and live in The City. He has 45 days or will be transformed into an animal of his choice. In David\u2019s case, that\u2019s a lobster as it lives for over 100 years, is blue-blooded (like an aristocrat), and he likes the sea too.<\/p>\n

In the surrounding \u2018The Woods\u2019 live singletons or \u2018loners\u2019 that are not allowed to couple up, according to draconian rules followed by their leader (played by Bond\u2019s L\u00e9a Seydoux). David can earn extra time (in days) at The Hotel for every loner he kills in establishment\u2019s nightly organised hunts. However, after a tragic event at The Hotel, David is forced to become a loner. Ironically, he meets and falls for a \u2018Short Sighted Woman\u2019 (Rachel Weisz, who also narrates), someone he would love to have a relationship with.<\/p>\n

The first half of the film in The Hotel is the best part by far. The latter half still has its nuggets and intriguing concepts as the overall way of life bemuses the hell out of you. There is a totally warped sense of coupling in both respects, played out in ritualistic dances, sports and breakfast meetings and set uniforms in The Hotel, and hilarious signing between David and his \u2018Short Sighted Woman\u2019 in The Woods.<\/p>\n

Perhaps the funniest scene is the total lack of control when the \u2018couple\u2019 visits the loners\u2019 leader\u2019s parents in The City. Farrell and Weisz are an absolute scream here, openly doing what you only dreamt of doing in full view of the folks when the boyfriend was visiting, in the pretence of being a genuine couple. Weisz is also very funny as the sarcastic narrator, first telling the story of David at The Hotel then becoming part it.<\/p>\n

Other delightful performances from an array of international talent include Olivia Colman as the obtuse Hotel Manager, along with her partner (played by Garry Mountaine) \u2013 almost certainly a product of their own creation. John C. Reilly is the \u2018Lisping Man\u2019 and Ben Whishaw the \u2018Limping Man\u2019 who gleefully squabble for our pleasure. Ashley Jensen is \u2018Biscuit Woman\u2019 with a penchant for custard creams \u2013 and David. The Greek director\u2019s Dogtooth<\/em> star Angeliki Papoulia is quite chilling as the \u2018Heartless Woman\u2019 who susses out David\u2019s game and pursues him like a Terminator.<\/p>\n

The Lobster<\/em> has wonderful extremes too, from wildly absurd, laugh-out-loud moments to totally shocking brutality, often throwing you off course. The ending does let it down a bit as the effect of the brilliant set-up of this crazy dual existence seems to wane, which is a shame. Still, The Lobster<\/em> is devilishly entertaining with some of the most original and deadpan crackpot wit on offer in a long time.<\/p>\n

4\/5 stars<\/strong><\/p>\n

By @FilmGazer<\/p>\n

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