I watched "Third Star" because of Benedict, but ended with loving the film even more than him, although his performance is absolutely fantastic. It is one of the most moving and profound movies about death and friendship I have ever seen and I absolutely don't get some reviews which judged it as "unoriginal" or even "boring". I was full for admiration both for the scriptwriter and the director: although apparently fragmented and episodic, the plot is very tight, every scene adding some layer of meaning to the climax in the end. I loved the symbolism: the opening scene in the cemetery floors me every time I watch it (and I've watched TS at least five times!). The encounters with boy-angel, ferry-man, beachcomber, the way they shoot the landscape... And yet the movie never becomes heavy handed or sentimental.  

tonnaree wrote:

SusiGo wrote:

Yes, by any means. When I watched it the first time I cried non-stop for the last twenty minutes. 

 
I was crying so hard I actually had to muffle my sobs because hubby was sleeping in the next room.

Same here, the last twenty minutes kill me every time I watch this film.

And miriel, I totally agree with everything you've said.

Last edited by SolarSystem (November 22, 2013 8:34 pm)

Another one I like:

 

There are so many beautiful pics from beautiful scenes...

I'm totally fine with that, Susi.

ekhem... pics are beautiful, but going back to the text and the meaning of the beachcomber Be was wondering about: I had been wondering about it too and IMO there are several layers of possible interpretation here.Firstly, this is the most important Davy in-depth scene: he doesn't have much of them in the film, Miles and Bill ambitions and frustrations are mentioned many more times, but Dave, although always present, doesn't get much attention. So this is a way of casting more light on his character and also, may-be, on the problematic that may arise from his being gay. What is exactly his friendship with James? Friendship only or is he a bit in love with him? ("platonic" love, since James is presumably straight). but on the more general level, beachcomber's motive add to the theme of "worthy" pursuit in life, and that of "heroic" quest: what does it mean, how do you achieve it. It is a kind of Greek chorus comment to the existential situation of 4 friends, in syntony with ferry man (Charon) reference (Hell) and angel-boy (Heaven)

Oh, I know what you mean......

Oh my.  I just saw this film.  I cannot even begin to describe how much it affected me.  My heart literally hurts, mostly because I kept forgetting to breath while I was watching it.  I have never seen such a sad film.  I basically lost a whole night's sleep over it.  Normally I would call that bad thing, but the film is so amazing and so well done I can't be sorry I've seen it.  Sad is the right word to, it's not maudlin, and it's not tragic... it's propery sad.  Benedict's performance is just searing.  I almost couldn't bear it.  His expression holds such boyish job, and then such infinite sadness.  I have never even considered writing a fan letter before, but after seeing this film I'm really quite tempted, if for no nother reason then to just get the feelings off of my chest!  If he didn't get an award of some sort for that role then he was robbed.  

well, this is the difference between a small indie film and a hype you get when you make a film with big stars, big producing company behind it and a lot of promotion - such as AOC, for example. Third Star easily one of the most important films of my life (there aren't too many of them), not because of Benedict's performance (which is may be his finest to the date, btw) but because of the depth it tackles the theme of death and friendship.

I don't think I could call the film uplifting.  I'm honestly still not able to process it... I sort of can't figure out what emotion it is I'm feeling, I don't like it and yet I want more.  It's weird.  Of course even the general point of the film is a bit conflated with having to watch Benedict suffer and die... which I suppose I would find upsetting regardless.