Arianna Moses
Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.
Ella-May O'Brien
Each character in this movie — down to the smallest one — is an individual rather than a type, prone to spontaneous changes of mood and sometimes amusing outbursts of pettiness or ill humor.
Zlatica
One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.
robertclark-1
Short and very much to the point with some fine lines. The dialogue is tight and focused on the cliches of each characters' beliefs, delivered with excellent, pent up performances, deliciously, and unflatteringly revealed in intense black and white close ups. A small group of self-regarding, thinking bourgeoisie, each with their own set of life-style ideals, each complacently convinced of their own brilliance, all thinking they are right and very right-on, meet each other in the raw. Secrets, lies and betrayal lurk slightly beneath the surface of their self-satisfied lives. Yes, this does pick on the contemporary, unquestionable, politically-correct shibboleths of a particular group of people, admittedly in an exaggerated and very focused way, but how better to really get to the soul of their self-obsessed narcissism. Look a little deeper, though, and it mirrors much that is going wrong with our media-obsessed, sound bite, reality tv, celebrity worshiping, disfunctional times. It could be called 'close up' because that's what it is, a close up look at our own vanities. Modern theatre at its best, and brilliantly brought to the big screen.
adonis98-743-186503
Janet hosts a party to celebrate her new promotion, but once the guests arrive it becomes clear that not everything is going to go down as smoothly as the red wine. Despite an amazing and talented cast of actors 'The Party' is a 1hr and 10min film that will bore and make viewers sleep to death. It's boring, slow paced and the characters are badly written with an entire film being about them and their stupid little lives as a whole. The black and white cinematography or direction in general wasn't needed either. This movie reminded me that other film with Richard Gere and Rebeca Hall that had a similar plot as well. Overall a big waste of time skip it!!! (0/10)
iggi_1
A simple to understand film, not overlong, that is laugh out loud funny, well worth a watch.
Harry T. Yung
I am not sure if the title is intentionally ambiguous because in the story "the party" may also be taken to refer to the official opposition party (slightly left-leaning) which has just bestowed on the protagonist Janet (Kristin Scott Thomas) with the honor of a shadow cabinet minister. The title celebrating party, held in a London apartment, is attended by four pairs but with only 3.5 on screen. The hosts are Janet and Bill (Timothy Spall). Of the guests the most affluent couple is unscrupulous banker Tom (Cillian Murphy) and gorgeous Marianne, "queen of spin", who never appears on screen. Martha (Cherry Jones) and Jinny (Emily Mortimer) is a couple who is at a crossroad as Jinny is pregnant with triplets. Martha perceives this event as turning their relationship from a couple to a "collective" while Jinny would prefer to use the term "family". The above three couples (two and a half on screen, remember) are prone to break out in violence, initially verbally, then even physically. The fourth couple to complete the party serves as the voice of mediation, from two different angles. Gottfried (Bruno Ganz) is a "life coach and healer". April's (Patricia Clarkson), by contrast, is all reason and pragmatism. These two have just separated but are on civil terms with each other. The occurrences unfold in real time of just over an hour utilizing various part of the apartment as stage - living room, kitchen, bathroom, backyard. Shot in reminiscently retro black-and-white (with some scene taking full advantage of the blazing white-hot glare of enhance atmosphere) this wittily entertaining. While I won't exactly say that it signifies nothing, as my summary line might have suggested, it does not really say much. Quite a few trendy hot topics are thrown in largely to provide this amazing assembly of top-notch actors to showcase their talent. Lots of spoilers from here on.The movie opens with Janet, in obvious agitation, opening the apartment door and pointing a pistol directly at the viewers who stand proxy for the visitor at the door. Then, it rewinds to the beginning with Janet busy at the kitchen and Bill's lifeless existence in his armchair. Immediately obvious, through Janet's telephone conversation with a mysterious caller, is that she is having an affair. As the guests continual to arrive, conversations take place, separately and in group, from which bits and piece of information are shared with the audience. Tom explains that Marianne is delayed and will probably join them for dessert. Then he takes frequent retreats to "the washroom" (which April corrects - "the toilet") sniffing substance. While not at that, he tries to dispose of a piece of firearm in the garbage bin in the backyard. While Tom is not there, Martha and Jinny use the backyard to hackle about the latter's pregnancy. When the men are together by themselves in the living room they discuss protecting themselves from "so much negative female energy". The first shocker is Bill announcing that the latest verdict from his doctor tantamount to a sentence of death, but it is not clear how much longer he has. This, needless to say, brings various reactions from various people. Janet gallantly declares that she will give up her political career to care for her husband, mentioning the time when he gave up professorship at Harvard ("Yale", he quickly corrects her).Then comes the big bombshell. Bill is having an affair with Marianne, who chooses "love and ideas" over her worldly husband who reeks with money. Adding insult to injury, he has been doing it in Martha's apartment (Bill and Martha are old friends, even slept with each other once, way back when). All hell breaks loose and Janet slaps Bill a couple of times, and not too gently, then tries to "eat herself" (biting down on her own hand) to control her violence. An inevitable confrontation leads to Tom punching Bill, sending him flat on the floor, possibly dead. The delicious ending comes with a ring at the door and someone suggesting "Marianne". Then we are back to the opening scene with Janet pointing her firearm at the newcomer, except that this time, the camera stays long enough for us to hear what she has to say "You told me you loved me. Me! Traitor". I have to watch the movie again to see Kristin Scott Thomas's performance.
