I Melt with You (2011)

I can relate to the plot of this movie. I get together with chums of the past and we do some partying- nothing like that found in 'Melt'!Underneath all reunions are the currents of what we were versus what we are now... not always easy to handle. And there are disappointments as you get to know your friends better as you dwell on your common past and where you all are today.This movie was traumatic, a dark episode painted in a beautiful setting. It left me shook, and thankful for my friends of yesterday as we face our mirrors, and the future. In the sense that this movie strongly evoked my feelings (I had to hit the pause button often)- and forced me to consider my life story: it was a bitter pill, hard to watch but had some good effects.

I watched this film with my dad (who is 44) in the theater when it came out. I am a huge Mark Pellington fan, and this movie was every bit as genius as Mark's other features. My dad is right now going through many of the issues facing the 4 stars of this picture. I have cried along side my dad through divorce, financial dilemmas, and other middle age male situations that this film brings to the big screen. I felt the same way watching this movie as I do when I watch the Alice In Chains music video called the the " Rooster", also by Mark Pellington. The realism tears right through my heart and soul. When the movie pulp fiction first came out it was bad mouthed by many that did not understand Quentin Tarrantinos out of sequence scenes, Now Pulp Fiction is considered Epic, and Quentin a one name fabulous director. As with most geniuses, they never get the praise at first they deserve. As time goes by, this movie will get its just sub title, Epic Masterpiece!!!

Having just watched this on Netflix and read all the IMDb reviews, some of which are very thoughtful, I'm stunned that no one seems to have picked up on the central point of the film - even though it's made explicit by the filmmakers. It's drugs, substances, intoxicating: if yourself, or your friendships are based solely around intoxication, you're going to be in a very bad way at certain, important moments of truth.So, as we get more permissive about drugs - which isn't necessarily a bad thing - it's good to have brave movies like this one, revealing what happens when lives based solely on intoxication realize they no longer have a tether to who they really are; and likely never did.

I think it's pretty safe to say that the target market for this movie is over 40 and male (I might throw 'white' in there as well but I'm not sure about that). If you don't fall into this demographic you probably are not going to dig this movie. I don't think this is necessarily a bad thing tho- people make movies for certain audiences all the time.I don't usually write reviews but I felt like there was too much hate for this movie out there. It tells a story, the acting is good, the movie making is good, there are a few parts that are not completely clear- I'm not sure if that is writing or editing or directing.Depending on how you look at the movie you might consider it a psych study on a group dynamic amongst males over time. You might see some of yourself in the characters- and you might not. if you don't, the movie might seem awfully self indulgent. If you do, the movie becomes a warning or a dark fantasy or something else. Definitely not boring tho and definitely not a "chick flick".