Very well executed

Truly Dreadful Film

Let's be realistic.

An action-packed slog

An interesting plot that keeps you on your feet. The dialogues really encourage reflection from the viewer and I would highly recommend it to those who who like to be challenged when watching a movie. Would watch again!

A film very different from what we're used to watching. It talks about all those problems or stupid secrets that we have and never want to share, so it brings troubles. Once we stop being so weird everything will be fine.

Unique dialogue, witty and humorous. Characters were strikingly symbolic, each one representing a facet of the post-post modern self, and realistic- if you've lived through dysfunctional situations with highly intelligent and driven people, you might have a good chuckle at the situations that end up bringing them down back to earth. Really interesting twist at the end- not expected at all.

I am not sure if the title is intentionally ambiguous because in the story "the party" may also be taken to refer to the official opposition party (slightly left-leaning) which has just bestowed on the protagonist Janet (Kristin Scott Thomas) with the honor of a shadow cabinet minister. The title celebrating party, held in a London apartment, is attended by four pairs but with only 3.5 on screen. The hosts are Janet and Bill (Timothy Spall). Of the guests the most affluent couple is unscrupulous banker Tom (Cillian Murphy) and gorgeous Marianne, "queen of spin", who never appears on screen. Martha (Cherry Jones) and Jinny (Emily Mortimer) is a couple who is at a crossroad as Jinny is pregnant with triplets. Martha perceives this event as turning their relationship from a couple to a "collective" while Jinny would prefer to use the term "family". The above three couples (two and a half on screen, remember) are prone to break out in violence, initially verbally, then even physically. The fourth couple to complete the party serves as the voice of mediation, from two different angles. Gottfried (Bruno Ganz) is a "life coach and healer". April's (Patricia Clarkson), by contrast, is all reason and pragmatism. These two have just separated but are on civil terms with each other. The occurrences unfold in real time of just over an hour utilizing various part of the apartment as stage - living room, kitchen, bathroom, backyard. Shot in reminiscently retro black-and-white (with some scene taking full advantage of the blazing white-hot glare of enhance atmosphere) this wittily entertaining. While I won't exactly say that it signifies nothing, as my summary line might have suggested, it does not really say much. Quite a few trendy hot topics are thrown in largely to provide this amazing assembly of top-notch actors to showcase their talent. Lots of spoilers from here on.The movie opens with Janet, in obvious agitation, opening the apartment door and pointing a pistol directly at the viewers who stand proxy for the visitor at the door. Then, it rewinds to the beginning with Janet busy at the kitchen and Bill's lifeless existence in his armchair. Immediately obvious, through Janet's telephone conversation with a mysterious caller, is that she is having an affair. As the guests continual to arrive, conversations take place, separately and in group, from which bits and piece of information are shared with the audience. Tom explains that Marianne is delayed and will probably join them for dessert. Then he takes frequent retreats to "the washroom" (which April corrects - "the toilet") sniffing substance. While not at that, he tries to dispose of a piece of firearm in the garbage bin in the backyard. While Tom is not there, Martha and Jinny use the backyard to hackle about the latter's pregnancy. When the men are together by themselves in the living room they discuss protecting themselves from "so much negative female energy". The first shocker is Bill announcing that the latest verdict from his doctor tantamount to a sentence of death, but it is not clear how much longer he has. This, needless to say, brings various reactions from various people. Janet gallantly declares that she will give up her political career to care for her husband, mentioning the time when he gave up professorship at Harvard ("Yale", he quickly corrects her).Then comes the big bombshell. Bill is having an affair with Marianne, who chooses "love and ideas" over her worldly husband who reeks with money. Adding insult to injury, he has been doing it in Martha's apartment (Bill and Martha are old friends, even slept with each other once, way back when). All hell breaks loose and Janet slaps Bill a couple of times, and not too gently, then tries to "eat herself" (biting down on her own hand) to control her violence. An inevitable confrontation leads to Tom punching Bill, sending him flat on the floor, possibly dead. The delicious ending comes with a ring at the door and someone suggesting "Marianne". Then we are back to the opening scene with Janet pointing her firearm at the newcomer, except that this time, the camera stays long enough for us to hear what she has to say "You told me you loved me. Me! Traitor". I have to watch the movie again to see Kristin Scott Thomas's performance.