Great Film overall

There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

Excellent and certainly provocative... If nothing else, the film is a real conversation starter.

An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

Tape is a good "movie in a single location" movie which focuses on dialogue to hold our sway. It's filmed in real time and the acting is solid from all involved- Ethan Hawke especially. Many critics have compared it to a play and it feels so. Richard Linklater is both an auteur and a risk taker- similar to Steven Soderberg and this is another film where he showcases his talent.

Short and Simple Review by WubsTheFadgerFirst off, the story would seem extremely mundane but Richard Linklater, much like in the Before series and Waking Life, has created characters and emotion that makes the film tense and real. The story is told fast and the dialogue between the characters is fluid and genuine.the acting is very good. Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman perform great. Robert Sean Leonard does an okay job as a man who just got caught up in the past. Ethan Hawke once again performs stunningly. Much like in Gattaca, the Before Series, and even in The Purge, he brings a sense of realism to the screen.The pacing is fast throughout the entire film and the run time is short.The only downside I see to this film is that the ending is somewhat unresolved. Pros: Genuine dialogue, great characters, interesting story, good acting, amazing performance by Ethan Hawke, fast pacing, and a short run timeCons: Robert Sean Leonard's weak performance and an unresolved endingOverall Rating: 8.3P.S. Richard Linklater is one of my favorite directors. The Before Series are some of my favorite movies along with Waking Like. If you enjoy dialogue driven films you should also watch The Man From Earth.

Having seen the majority of Linklater's stuff, I was going into this with high expectations, however a little concerned that the whole film was shot on a camcorder. Coming out of it the film managed to destroy my concerns and live up to my high expectations, amazement the end result. Beautifully written, acted and superbly paced, you completely forget that there's only one location, shot with a piece of equipment literally everyone has in their attic gathering dust. It really proved to me that a great story, characters and writing outweighs everything, truly representing "it's not what you use, but how you use it". Mad respect gained for Richard Linklater which I honestly didn't think could get any higher.A must see!!

This film is a refreshing taste in the mouth of those tired of over-designed films in the drama genre. With 3 characters, no music, no sound editing, and one scene the film thrives on the ability of the actors to portray believable people. By removing the complexity of film in the technical and aesthetic sense, Linklater allows you to plunge into the minds of the characters without distraction. Its also always nice to see some familiar faces in Hollywood turn their attention to grassroots film-making. Ethan Hawke's ability to use the slightest details to create a big character shines in the film. Robert Sean Leonard shows that he can play characters who aren't so warm and fuzzy (though I don't mind it when he does i.e. Dead Poet's Society, Much Ado About Nothing). The friendship between the two characters takes deep roots and the contrast in personalities allows the film to call to attention the way in which people are influenced by those around them whether for the good or the bad.