Touches You

Absolutely brilliant

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

I know there is a need in many to see a clear-cut happy end. And sure, the happy end in this movie is much more subtle than that - but if you pay careful attention, you will definitely find it. Because this movie is not about the 'American dream', it is about transformation, self-development, maturing. It is about the delicate ways life helps us to change for the better - by sending a sign, a book, a person, etc. that serves as a mirror. And by getting a glimpse of how things really are in your life, in your soul, you make the right decision - and can continue at a higher level.Delicate story, cute acting, intriguing story-line - a real masterpiece that uses subtle tools, still works like a charm. 10/10

I adore Melanie Lynskey as an actress and do believe she was on-point with her performance here, but there's only so much an actor can do with such a clichéd story and script.Playing a recent divorcée, Lynskey plays the all-too-familiar role of the wallflower with no direction, whose complete and utter lack of motivation and sense of self is rescued by meaningless sex with someone she knows will never give her a lasting relationship. It's self- deluded escapism brought upon by a weak resolve and character that ultimately leads her nowhere. At some point she looks at the shallow experience as finding love once again, but the teenager she is sleeping with merely craves the sex and casual pillow talk, never really getting to the meat of who she is as a person.There is a scene where the mother seems unusually cruel and insulting, but thinking about what she said, I agree with her: our protagonist sits around doing nothing but being a leech on her family, capturing the attention of her father at every moment with her selfish behavior. At the end of the movie, she decides to spite her father by running off with her mother, a whole other psychology lesson for another day.I am sure audiences will relate with this: our society isolates us and fosters a lot of depression, and sex is now the most advertised escapism from the pains of life, so why not find some solace in a film that promises us casual sex will lead us to being free from our binds?

Involving depression and divorce and coming-of-age and older-younger romance - all subjects which have been overplayed in lesser films - there was such a risk that this film descend into cliché and slapstick. Yet the acting and direction were full of restraint and composure, which makes the characters believable and the dramatic side of the film meaningful. The main performance is understated and very funny if you are able to think and relate. To have a performance work across such a wide range is an achievement with a high degree of difficulty.It was interesting to see the main character work through her relationship with her parents, and therein lies the heart of the film and its originality. The dry humor is great and the story is wonderful.

I've liked the New Zealand actress Melanie Lynskey's work ever since her first movie when she was 15 years old. That film was the dark "Heavenly Creatures", which I believe was Kate Winslet's first film as well, with Peter Jackson directing.I had a rather hard time assessing "Hello I Must Be Going". I finally concluded that there were too many clichés and contrivances and that the film in its' entirety never really clicked with me.Lynskey plays Amy who is quite depressed about her pending divorce and, although I believe it's only mentioned once in the movie, a miscarriage. She's living with her parents, portrayed by Blythe Danner and John Rubinstein, and has hardly left the house in three months.An important business client, to her father, comes to dinner at their home along with his wife and son. The son, Jeremy (portrayed by Christoper Abbott), and Lynskey are very attracted to each other and begin a torrid affair. The film presents Abbott as 19 years which is one of the key points of the relationship. In fact, Abbott is 28 years old now and Lynskey 35 years old which is not that great a difference as the film would like to portray.Most of the characters seem to be nearly always talking in circles and evasively and rarely saying what they really mean, which I found rather annoying after awhile. Also, they seemed to be speaking their lines without really any emotion, and with deadpan expressions, so it wasn't registering emotionally for me. Even the musical soundtrack I felt was annoying.It's certainly not the worst movie I've ever seen. The ending I thought was appropriate. However, overall I could never reach a point where I cared all that much about what would happen,