The Livingston Gardener (2015) Reviews

• Smart maybe, but slowwwwwwww

  danielmartinx2015-10-17

  I don't think this is the worst film ever, but there are two things that make it virtually unwatchable: 1. The acting is atrocious. Every character seems to have gone to the Soap Opera Shake Your Head Back and Forth a Little to Add Gravitas to Your Performance School of Acting. 2. The pacing is horrific. Horrific. Scenes that should have been edited out are left to continue for minute upon painful minute, while the poor actors shake their heads a little back and forth to add gravitas to their lives. It coulda been a better film. I get that there were budget constraints, but when you have only a few places to shoot, you have to add something visually in the way of at least one (just one, seriously) quick cut or odd angle or something. As an example of how long and dull the scenes are, take the scene where the interviewer is told by his girlfriend/boss that he has to jump ahead in the interview. He becomes enraged and throws around all kinds of unbelievable emotions while the camera crew just tune him out, and then minutes later it ends with him being flirtatious and cute. Yikes. I recommend watching this, but be warned, the long long speeches might knock you out. I had to do laundry and I pondered whether or not to pause the movie when I stepped out to the laundry room.

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• Smart Movie But No Payoff

  shoy_Miss_Murder2015-09-26

  This is actually a pretty smart movie, I wouldn't call it a horror flick more than a drama or thriller - the mind play of the Livingston Gardener against all of the 'smart' people who think they have him figured out is pretty interesting. The performances of the 'Gardener' and the TV newscaster who interviews him are solid - the responses of the victim's families seem genuine. The further the movie got however, the less I expected a satisfactory ending and unfortunately I was right. It's just horribly disappointing that there's no solid payoff at the end. The events are vague and I guess they want the viewer to figure out how it ends.

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