The Lobster: Movie Review

Writer/director Yorgos Lanthimos’ “The Lobster” is one of the strangest films I have seen in some time. It is completely original, unique and beautifully shot.  Colin Farrell has never been better and that’s saying a lot. However, even with everything “The Lobster” has going for it, I found myself having trouble getting into the film.

Set in the dystopia near future where being single is against the law, those not in relationships are sent to a hotel where they have forty-five days to find a romantic partner or they will be transformed into an animal of their choosing and released into the wild.    In order to pair up with someone successfully, they must be able to share a common trait.  Characters will go to great lengths to force a match. One character repeatedly smashes his own nose, so he can wind up with a partner that is prone to nose bleeds.

David (Farrell) pretends to be heartless so he could pair up with someone quite wicked (Angeliki Papoulia).  That doesn’t last very long and soon after he finds himself living in the woods with a rebel faction of single people known as “The Loners”.  The faction’s leader (Léa Seydoux) warns David that he cannot become romantically involved with anyone.  David doesn’t heed her warning when he falls for a woman who is short sighted like he is (Rachel Weisz)

“The Lobster” has an amazing supporting cast that also includes John C. Reilly and Ben Whishaw.  Although I normally don’t recommend films that I am not a fan of, I have to admit that there is just too much originality here to ignore.  There are going to be plenty of people who will love “The Lobster”. I may not be one of them, but you just might be.

By: Marc Ferman