hyped garbage

When a movie has you begging for it to end not even half way through it's pure crap. We've all seen this movie and this characters millions of times, nothing new in it. Don't waste your time.

There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.

True to its essence, the characters remain on the same line and manage to entertain the viewer, each highlighting their own distinctive qualities or touches.

I caught this movie on cable TV a year ago, slightly edited, and was hooked from the opening bar scene. The characters felt so real to me, it seemed like I was sitting at the bar, watching the various interactions of the people there. I kept waiting to see if Rick would turn out to be a total jerk, but it became clear that he was just a rather shallow, unemotional type guy ,who clearly was not interested in relationships and commitment. He never once said anything to lead poor, hapless Debbie on, with the possible exception of his vague, noncommittal response to her dinner invitation. Even at the end, when she was literally clinging to him in the bar, he didn't say anything mean or abusive, but told her, in a low key, not uncompassionate way, that she needed to go home and sober up. It wasn't what she wanted to hear, but it actually was the kindest thing he could have said to her, under the circumstances.Gena Rowlands' performance as Debbie's mother was heartbreaking in its perfect blend of strength and fragility. Her reaction to Nicky's death, and her meeting with his son at the funeral were incredibly moving. Again, I felt the reality of the characters and their lives in a way one doesn't encounter often in movies.Uma Thurman's performance was so dead on, that I actually felt embarrassed for her in her desperate, drunken scene in the bar. Debbie would be a pain to put up with, in real life, but her frequently obnoxious mannerisms and attitudes never outweighed the pity I felt for her, as someone who had been badly wounded at a young age, and had real issues as the result. It's a daring performance, in which she doesn't hold back on honestly depicting the painful vulnerability of her character. I found myself wishing at the end that she would find a nice guy who would really appreciate her, and that all three women would have happier lives in the future. There's something about this movie that gets hold of you and doesn't let go; maybe because a lot of us have felt like Debbie at one point or another in our lives.

SPOILERS THROUGHOUT: I knew I'd love Hysterical Blindness and recently had a chance to see it. I liked it even more then expected. A brilliant movie and a job well done from the whole cast.Pretty much everyone knows the plot but....I will say watching this movie, I was struck with how much was gotten so right. I love character studies and love independent films because their often not afraid to take chances as are many, more mainstream movies. They are often more accurate As well.Everyone in this movie exists-somewhere in this world. Movies that capture the humanness of everyday people and environments, deserve kudos because it is not often when that happens. Hysterical Blindness could function as a very long advertisement to someone about the negatives of the bar scene and the movie is almost emotionally brutal in the way it picks up the quiet weariness some of these people feel. The writing is just superb and I really wish This had been a big screen release and am sure a few Oscars would have been picked up along the way.All the performers were outstanding. Uma Thurman was BETTER then in the kill bill movies (yes, it's true) and Gena Rowlands and Juliette Lewis were outstanding. Oh how I adored the gentle dreamer Nick! (played brilliantly by Ben Gazzara). Thurman's playing down of her looks still did not disguise the fact that she is a beautiful woman but that did not, for me, lessen the believability one bit. As many know, the fact that one is extremely Goodlooking does not mean they cannot experience emotional pain in relationships. I found not one false note in this movie and I found Hysterical Blindness to be just incredible.This is probably one of the most honest movies about suburban single life I've ever seen and it actually makes the movie "Singles" look like a light Rom com. I'm always struck by movies that are like a little( or big) slice of life. In that regard, Hysterical Blindness is at the top of the heap. my rating is 9 of 10.

Mira Nair, the talented director of this film keeps surprising us. She gets excellent acting from the different casts in all her movies. "Hysterical Blindness" is no exception. Ms. Nair working on the screen play by Laura Cahill, and based on Ms. Cahill's own stage play, takes us to a town in New Jersey, so close to Manhattan in geography, but far away in the way these people seem to be living in another planet.Debby Miller blames her mother for whatever is wrong with her life. Her father left her when she was quite young. Her mother, Virginia, makes ends meet by working as a waitress in a local diner. Both daughter and mother have been cheated out of happiness because of the loss they have experienced. While Debby dwells on her unhappiness, Virginia seems to have adjusted quite well.Debby is a woman that is desperate to find a man. Obviously, she is quite capable to give her best into any relationship. It's sad how she goes after the one man she should have avoided in the worst way. It will be too late before she realizes the mistake she has made.Throughout the film, Debby and Beth, share their hopes and aspirations. While Beth is grounded, Debby is flighty, hoping for things she can't have. On the other hand, Virginia meets a nice man, Nick, at the diner. They begin a friendship that unfortunately is cut short by tragedy. All in all, the film final scenes tells us that Debby realizing her mistakes goes back to her roots and to her friendship with Beth.The strength in the movie is the great performances Ms. Nair gets out of the four principals. Uma Thurman is good as the Debby. Gena Rowlands, as the mother, makes an appealing Virginia, who makes us care about her. Juliette Lewis, as Beth, is also endearing. Ben Gazzara makes a short, but effective contribution as Nick, the man who finds love with Virginia.This is a film that shows Ms. Nair's talents perfectly.

Hysterical Blindness starts where 1980's Gloria ended. Gena Rowlands is one of the most under-rated actresses in Hollywood. She is nothing less than terrific in this movie. Surprisingly, Uma Thurman is just as good. Most of her career has been dubbed as eye candy and a beautiful body with nothing else to offer. In the past few years, Uma has broke away from her earlier career to become a decent actor. Here, Uma gives her best performance. At time, Rowlands and Thurman make you want to switch the channel because their performances are too good. Moments of embarrassment and sadness over whelm you to believe that both characters are doomed to find happiness and to have fun with their lives. A somewhat happy ending, the movie identifies with the lives that these characters have. They are almost doomed from the very start of the film, but manages to find shreds of happiness to keep living. Somewhat of a Cassavetes depiction on human emotion, the movie falls under the category of yet another great film produced by HBO.