Goldfish Memory (2003)

It's hard to find anything to criticise about Goldfish Memory, but that's mostly because there's so little of substance in it. The characters are perfectly likable, but too thin for us to have any real emotional investment in. Changeability is the order of the day, but not just in terms of sexuality; characters introduced as commitment-phobes become unwaveringly monogamous overnight, people break up in one scene only to be back together by the next with no real explanation or conversation. The entire film is a whirlwind of plot lines, with new stories picked up and dropped every two minutes, to the point that some stories end up feeling incredibly unfinished and none of the characters ever gets enough attention to feel whole.This isn't necessarily to say that it's a bad film. The constant action makes it quite lively for a romcom. The characters don't get to say much of substance, but when they do the dialogue is convincing and the acting is generally above par. The cinematography is outstanding, with Dublin looking shockingly presentable, and while Damien Rice's "Cold Water" is used just a little too often, by and large the soundtrack is excellent. Most of all, the little moments of attention to detail really sell the film - from the briefly-flashed yet hilarious tabloid headline to the (admittedly painfully product-placed) comfort Phish Food, the movie feels real and the characters become more 3-D than the script would otherwise allow them to be. It feels like, had writer/director Gill actually picked a handful of the 12+ characters whose emotional tribulations are featured and focused on them for an entire film, it could have been brilliant. Instead, it flashed by in what feels like little more than three seconds. Like a Chinese takeaway, you'll enjoy it while it lasts but be hungry for more half an hour after it's gone.Overall, it's definitely worth a watch - as a good example of Irish film-making, as an interesting take on the fluid nature of sexuality, as one of the more enjoyably light-hearted gay interest films out there and even as a solid little film in its own right. Just don't expect much more than some entertaining fluff.

"Goldfish memory" is probably more than what is usually labelled"love movie". The multiplicity of narrative layers and the intertwining of the characters' fates seems to remind of a soap opera scenario at times but the actual reflection on love, presented by the director is probably more sophisticated than the scheme of a soap.In the end, all seems to come down to The Beatles: "All you need is love", even if you don't realise it.A simple but not simplistic phrase, even though used and abused for millennial. One need not be enthusiastic about the movie altogether, the way I wasn't, but perhaps it would be worthwhile to sit back and think if it's really just a movie and how does it fit our idea on emotions.

Although this movie came recommended by some friends (and because of that it was a blind purchase), I must say I didn't get very excited from it. Yes, the movie is nicely shot, contains a few nice scenes, but overall I found it cheesy, tacky, and very predictable! Come to think of it.. the people who recommended it are the same who keep trying to convince me to go to Dublin, so I guess it's a nice movie for people who had a nice time in Dublin (another person here also commented on how nice Dublin looks in the movie).So... although I was recommended to go see this movie, I advise people to see it only if they like Dublin and/or typical romcom's. Even my girlfriend (who is quite a romcom-addict) didn't like it too much. The more experienced/serious movie-addict will most likely be disappointed.I give it 6/10, because it wasn't bad in an annoying way ;-).

In Dublin Tom, a 40 something literature lecturer, tries it on with any of his female students that are gullible enough. His standard pickup line involves telling them about the reported shortness of a goldfish's memory. Supposedly its only three second which means that as the fish swims around its bowl, by the time it returns to where it started it's all new again and ready for discovery. It's Irish whimsy like that that help him get into these girl's knickers. Clara, his latest conquest takes it badly when he moves on and she decides to try women. The woman she tries is Angie a newscaster. Meanwhile Angie's best mate is Red, a gay guy who works days as a bicycle messenger. Our cyclist has romantic issues of his own as he becomes smitten with David the hunky but straight bartender whose girlfriend is giving HIM grief...Yes, it's a light hearted merry-go-round of romantic entanglements and while none of the stories are terribly touching or new, they are passably written and enjoyable. The characters are charming and pleasant to look at if none too deep.If you liked the lecturer's goldfish line, this movie may be perfect for you. By the time it's over you may be able to start it again having forgotten these light and agreeable but none too memorable story lines.