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116 out of 151 people found the following review useful: A distressing but well executed film, 12 September 2005 Author: Robert from United States
This film receives a 10 for disturbing subject matter. It is at times very difficult to watch. The characters are troubled, each in his/her own way. It feels edgy and often very foreign. With that warning, I must say that on some level I enjoyed the film. Technically it is superb. The character development is wonderful, the story intriguing and the plot is gripping. As the plot unfolds, you are forced to change your opinions about each of the characters. At first I despised the main character but felt much sympathy for her towards the end. Not an uplifting film, but that is certainly not what the screenwriter nor the director intended. I suspect that it will be an award winner.
56 out of 68 people found the following review useful: Unexpected, 2 September 2006 Author: frankfrankfour from United States
I walked into this movie thinking it would suck based on reviews. I was surprised that it actually was interesting and provocative. I think some people might have trouble handling the subject matter and the fact that it's treated with equal parts seriousness and humor. But uncomfortable laughter to me is the sign of a movie that actually pushes some of our buttons and that's a good thing. The cast here is wonderful, in particular Elisha Cuthbert, who proves she can act and Katy Mixon, who nails the bitchy teen banter that can be so typical in other movies. The direction is heavy handed at times but the humor does a good job of undercutting the heavy atmopshere. The ending does have some problems which I won't post here since I don't want to give anything away, but overall I think any movie that manages to be this disturbing is worth a look. I suspect this film will be re-evaluated when its time has come.
68 out of 93 people found the following review useful: Offbeat Award, 4 September 2006 Author: CRASHH from United States
This film is very different from everything else out there, which is one reason why it has gotten so much attention here on IMDb. Some love it, some hate it, just like every movie. The subject matter is not the most appealing to the public, but I think that it gives the movie character. Looking back I can see many of the things that should have been changed, but the movie is a break out. A different type of movie, it is so different than everything else out there. It is original, and out-there.When watching this film you MUST be open-minded. Do not look at any of the negative reviews and watch the movie fresh of mind. If you know everything that is going to happen it makes it less entertaining too. If you have no clue what the movie was about I think it also gives it that much more of a sharper edge.
74 out of 112 people found the following review useful: Mr. Black's Grade: B., 5 October 2005 Author: dvdguy2005 from Toronto, Canada
The Quiet (Toronto Film Festival Cut) Mr. Black's Grade: B Starring Edie Falco, Elisha Cuthbert, and Shawn Ashmore.Directed by Jamie Babbit, who is apparently known for lighter TV fare. She has thrown that out the window with The Quiet. Dot (Camilla Belle), a deaf orphan girl, is sent to live with a wholesome foster family, but soon realizes all is not cop-acetic.Something about this film really hit me. It is a very dark and adult tale set in any town USA. You would find me to be a quiet guy generally, and I like to listen to folks have to say. When you pay attention, people will tell you the most amazing things. 'Dot' certainly goes through that in this film. This is a story about teenagers, and it is appealing that they act that way, saying stupid things and not being 'wise' beyond their years.The film captured High School for me to a tee, and featured nice pacing and a better than expected performance from the ever-so-lovely Elisha Cuthbert. Some folks may get completely turned off by the subject material, since this is very dark, depressing and very adult material. But for some reason the 'Dot' character really got me...
27 out of 35 people found the following review useful: shhhh, a good movie..., 2 September 2006 Author: rivertam26 from United States
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
shhhhh! a good movie....The Quiet: sony classics 2006 color 91 mins. Drama Elisa Cuthbert, Camilla Belle, Edie Falco, Martin Donovan, Shawn Ashmore, David Gallagher and Katy Mixon star. Written by Abie Nazimian Directed by Jamie Babit Rated R for strong language, violence and sexuality.The Quiet is an interesting little film. It's not very mainstream but doesn't feel completely indie. It's an ambitious project but has some awkward moments. Camilla Belle of When a stranger Calls stars as as Dot a deaf girl whose been adopted by her god parents after her fathers untimely death. She's quiet, keeps to herself and is often teased by the popular kids. Queen of the popular kids is Nina played surprisingly well by Elisa Cuthbert of House of Wax. In addition to being the head cheerleader, Nina is a supposed virgin with a raunchy attitude who is daughter to the family that has adopted Dot. On one sleepless night Dot enters the hallway and discovers that Nina is being sexually molested by her father. When Nina learns of her discovery she taunts Dot by telling her she is going to murder her father and that if she can hear her she would be considered an accomplice. Can Dot hear? Can she speak? What the quiet brings to the table is frankness of it's subject matter. Which is pretty touchy. None of the characters are completely likable but their seemingly realistic. Nina loves her father, and loves him when she engages in sexual situations with him. She even uses those situations to her advantage when receiving gifts and ignoring kurfews. But make no mistake about it, she is angry and what he's doing is making her disturbed. She hates him and loves him at the same time. Her actions are irrational as they should be of a girl her age enduring what she goes through. It brings about a level of confusion that has never been explored in this specific way. Enter Dot Nina's polar opposite she's not popular, she's quiet and seemingly has little to no personality. But the girls share a deep rooted pain Dot has lost her father, after losing her mother to cancer. And Nina lost her father along time ago and too some degree blames everyone around her for it. His actions only instigate her depression further when it comes to a question of murder. Edie Falco of Freedomland stars as Nina's mother a depressed woman taking way too much medication but seemingly knows whats going on. Martin Donovan of Saved stars as Nina's perverse father, Sexy Shawn Ashmore of X-men stars as Connor the virginal school jock whom has a secret crush on Dot and Katy Mixon fills out the cast as Nina's annoyingly cynical best friend. But what the quiet is about is these two girls. Nina and Dot are performed exceptionally by Camilla Belle and especially Elisa Cuthbert. The direction is decent and the film is nicely paced with tidbits of suspense thrown in but never fully executed so it can become a USA type thriller. But the films ultimate presence is a bit confused it wants to be indie but seems ultimately mainstream. It's subject matter and performances suggest a film of deeper impact but instead are settled upon by just being a good flick. Either way this film should be seen and not taken lightly. As mainstream as it is the film offers an original point of view on a disturbing situation.
33 out of 48 people found the following review useful: sheer brilliance, 30 August 2006 Author: gertrudestein900 from United States
I saw this movie on opening night with a group of my girlfriends. We were divided on it. A few felt it took itself too seriously. Others, myself included, felt its consistent tone of bleak bewilderment was the source of its humor. Our diverging opinions made me feel that the movie is a true work of art. Most movies manipulate our emotions telling us to laugh, cry, or be scared. Here's a movie that demands so much of its viewer and elicits different reactions in each. For my money though, the whole thing is a satire and everyone is in on the joke. How else to explain the inclusion of the ingenious Katy Mixon as Barbarella in high school? Or Edie Falco's wild eye-rolling turn as a druggie? A friend just alerted me to this amazing You Tube page. Just type in "The Quieter" and you'll see what I mean. For those who appreciated the movie as much as I did, it's icing on the cake. Here's the link:http://www.youtube.com/profile_videos?user=Zekeness
18 out of 20 people found the following review useful: Extremely disturbing but a very interesting story, 23 February 2007 Author: Kristine (kristinedrama14@msn.com) from Chicago, Illinois
What would you do if you had a friend who supposedly is deaf and cannot speak? Would you confide your darkest secrets? Especially when you have to get it out, but fear being outed? I think in some ways we wish we could all do this since we have so much bottled up inside us, that's why I rented The Quiet, I didn't realize how dark this movie truly was until I saw it with my friend today. This story was so disturbing and horrific in my opinion, even though I'm not sure it's within my tastes, but it actually was a pretty well made movie.Dot is a deaf teenager who has just been adopted by her godparents, she also cannot speak, she is the outcast at school, and lost her parents at a young age. Nina is the parent's daughter who is very popular and has a very dark secret with her "daddy". When Nina spots Dot playing the piano, Dot has a secret of her own that just might out what is happening in their family.The Quiet is a very interesting plot that I found to be unique and pretty good. The acting is alright, I was surprised by how well the film worked and how well directed it was. I think the thing is though, it's one of those movies you can only see once, you'll see what I mean, because it touches bases you'd never think where a movie would go, you know? But I think we all need those type of movies every once in a while.7/10
18 out of 20 people found the following review useful: The Unquiet Quiet, 2 September 2006 Author: Charles Delacroix from United States
I just saw this movie last night. And haven't been able to get it out of my mind. I liked it so much - and at so many levels - I hardly know where to begin.First, there's the darkness. Quiet, and not-so-quiet, darkness is everywhere in so many ways. This is neo-noir at its best.Then there's the humor. Frankly, I didn't realize how much humor there was until I had read the other comments on this movie. While watching the movie I kept catching myself letting out a chuckle at the oddest times, or so I thought: but then I realized others around me were laughing at the same times; and, like me, sort of catching ourselves: all the laughter was quick, disturbed laughter. Still, the other commentators are right: humor is definitely an important and surprising feature of this movie. Very dark humor, very quirky and ironic humor, but humor sprinkled (if that's the word) throughout the rough texture of this movie.The subject matter was handled superbly in my opinion. Sexual abuse is always disturbing matter. I kept thinking of comparisons between this movie and "Hard Candy" and "The Woodsman." regarding how this very challenging material is depicted. In "The Quiet," The attention to the "systems" dynamics of abuse was very disturbing, but very realistic. Nina's ambivalence about her incestuous relationship with her father; her manipulation of him; her dreams of bloody revenge; her myriad ways of "coping" with the ongoing horror that both horrifies her (and us) and is so much a part of her life that it's just 'the way things are" to her in so many ways. Her father's interactions with her are thoroughly realistic. And so is the whole world of Nina's mother. "Hard Candy" and "The Woodsman" in their ways also confront the complex dynamic of sexual abuse. However, for depth and breadth in depicting these dynamics, I really think "The Quiet" comes out clearly superior to the other two movies, as fine as they are.In addition, "The Quiet" sets side by side two very different - and yet so very alike - forms of young trauma. Nina is traumatized by her father's presence: sexually abusive, emotionally entrapping, overwhelming and enveloping her world so much that she seeks all around her opportunities to break out and escape. Dot, in contrast, is traumatized by her father's absence: dead, stripped from her with a suddenness and finality that leaves her utterly unreconciled to his demise; reduced to ash that she dabs on her tongue but cannot taste. Nina and Dot are both ambivalent in so many ways. Both blame themselves in regard to their fathers; both love their fathers; and miss their fathers; and both share so much more than is at all apparent at the beginning of the movie.The acting was just wonderful throughout. The lovely Elisha Cuthbert is utterly convincing as Nina. Camilla Belle depicts Dot with a sensitivity and darkness and vivid colorlessness that is both appealing and repelling. Martin Donovan as Nina's father, and Edie Falco as Nina's mother, are frankly to me simply perfect in their roles.The depiction of high school life has been endorsed for its realism by high schoolers both in the Comments and on the Message Board. Certainly it comes across not only as a realistic teen world, but as a kind of identity-defining context that attracts and repels and amuses, all at once.All in all, "The Quiet" is to me a superb combination of neo-noir darkness, quirky humor, and deep, disturbing exploration of the dynamics of trauma and sexual abuse. I think I'll try to see it again before it goes out of the theatres.I feel deeply grateful for this movie, and for all who were involved in making it a reality. It's not often I find myself drawn back to see a movie like this again and again. Thanks, folks!
14 out of 15 people found the following review useful: Surprisingly Compelling Viewing, 2 May 2007 Author: lizbrush from London, England
Go watch "The Quiet"! Quickly! I can't get over what a good film it is – what a surprise! After watching The Quiet, I checked out its many awful critic reviews, then looked at it on the good old IMDb. Another surprise - it pretty much has nothing but raving user reviews – the People have spoken. I'm inclined to agree, as I picked the film up because I heard it was a thriller about normal people's dark, guilty secrets, which is always fun! I didn't really know much about the actual plot, and so, late last night, when I bunged it on the DVD with the idea of watching ten or so minutes before bed, I found that I couldn't stop watching it. I felt *compelled* to watch, even when the film was plumbing it's darkest depths and I was hanging over the edge of my seat feeling at my most unsettled and muttering to myself things like "mad" and "off key". If you don't already know what happens, I assure you, you will be completely surprised. The subject matter is one of those ones that some people think should never be dramatised, and it definitely *does* leave you unsettled (catch the scene where Nina confides her plan to Dot in the cafeteria – disturbing!), but I would say it will stick in my head, as apart from the twists, and the intense construction of suspense, the characters, who all start out as unsympathetic, go through such brilliantly contrived arcs, that you find yourself empathising with even the most evil. The two main characters are wicked – Elisha Cuthbert from 24 packs a stirring punch as the popular cheerleader from Hell with an unbelievable dark side and a complex set of issues, while Camille Bell puts in a career topping turn as not-so-deaf Dot, keeper of everyone's secrets – and work really well together. You also may find yourself laughing nervously a certain points and feeling bad for doing so, but that just means that the makers have provoked a reaction… Basically, I totally got more than I expected and I would recommend The Quiet to most people as shocking but compelling viewing! But, *don't* watch if you can't stand a film that makes you a bit uncomfortable, or one that makes you feel kinda guilty for liking it!
13 out of 17 people found the following review useful: The title says it all......., 3 September 2006 Author: MadeOfScars from United States
This movie is very "Quiet" and eerie. I personally think this was a terrific movie. Elisha Cuthbert played the perfect stuck-up cheerleader type. I can't really explain why this movie was so good. I really, really liked the plot. And the dialogue was excellent as well. I had been looking forward to seeing it for a while, and it just opened this weekend where I live. I must say I was definitely not disappointed. When I went to see it their were only two other people in the theater other than me and my girlfriend. That was very disappointing considering just how good this movie. I highly recommend this movie to everyone. It has a very good plot and a very good script. I don't really want to give away anything that is going to be in the movie because that would just ruin it for anyone going to see it. It is just a very well put together movie with an eerie feel throughout the entire thing. Please everyone go see this movie, you will not be disappointed.
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