The Event (2003)

This movie didn't seen very promising to me. But I started to watch (1 of my bunch movies to watch). In the beginning I didn't understand why they would do something to somebody you love so much. But at the end... I would do the same!!! I felt what the family and friends felt. You always think, it will never happens to me. but if you see this movie it comes very close to you, just like it happens to one of you family member. Fantastic acting and with a good casting crew... The movies of Thom Fitzgerald are not well know, but they should be... A well deserved 7 out of 10!!!greets, GameBelgium

i heard of the movie by chance and caught it while it played (it was only here for a week). i had to go by myself because no one else would go with me. but i did, and i'm glad i did. what an amazing movie. it moved me in ways i never believed possible. i went because of don. i knew little of the plot. an old couple left mid-way through the movie. why? it was hard to watch. it was a hard concept to swallow. i cared about the characters from the start. when the sister reacted to her brother's news of his infection it hit me harder than a bus could have. that's the reaction i would have had. it was a hard topic to deal with, but it was done so properly and it ws very beautiful. the acting, the filming, the writing, it drew emotion out of people.it really is a must see. i can't wait for it to be released for home-viewing. bravo

Addresses some important issues like assisted suicide. Some powerful scenes, but no overly likable characters. Slow moving and dreary. I know it wasn't meant to be carry a cheerful atmosphere, but it was just too bland. Not a film that would appeal to the brainwashed, general population of puppets who make most Hollywood films as popular and high grossing as they are. However, could have brought a little more to the table for the rest of the viewing audience as well. Not bad, but far from great.4/10

The hardest thing about doing dramas about subject matters that have already been "Hollywood-ized" is making the audience connect in some special way with the characters - or something new to say. This is usually done through great dialogue and masterful acting. This movie had neither. As an avid movie goer, I hold certain performances as guidelines for judging another. And by far Tom Hank's performance in Philadelphia gripped me and forced emotion from me at all the right places. This film was dead (other than a good job by Olivia as his mother). Parker Posey was devoid of all emotion and the rest of the cast just read their lines like it was a first reading. The plot is also a little on the "yeah right" side - a cop trying to arrest friends of suicide victims. This film teetered on the edge of being a great AIDS story or a cop drama and ultimately failed. Definitely a movie of the week and not worth hard earned cash.