Having read the previously posted comments, I can see the reactions range all over the map.
I agree with the people who thought the story was not realistic. I like to think that if I woke up in Central Park not knowing who I was that I'd go to the police or a doctor. But that's never happened to me, so I don't know for sure. "Sam Buddwing" starts his search in what seems to be a sensible way. He calls a phone number he finds written on a piece of paper in his pocket. We later find out where he made his mistake. If the story took place today, when any large city contains multiple area codes and we would not write down a number without the area code, the story would have ended in a much shorter time.
I see the rest of the story as a sort of allegory. It takes place and unfolds much as it might have in a psychiatrist's office, where each session he might have remembered a piece of his prior life. By wandering around he actually, I believe, shortens the length of time that he needs to remember. I found the movie to be a fascinating study of an amnesiac and found it impossible to turn it off as the ending neared its climax.
Each of the women he met in his search reminded him of a piece of his life.
Unlike some of the commentators, I did not find the movie at all confusing and I have not read the book. On the other hand, I am a student of psychology.
I found the acting to be superb all around.
While I wouldn't label this movie a masterpiece, it is definitely one of the better ones I've seen this year.
I agree with the people who thought the story was not realistic. I like to think that if I woke up in Central Park not knowing who I was that I'd go to the police or a doctor. But that's never happened to me, so I don't know for sure. "Sam Buddwing" starts his search in what seems to be a sensible way. He calls a phone number he finds written on a piece of paper in his pocket. We later find out where he made his mistake. If the story took place today, when any large city contains multiple area codes and we would not write down a number without the area code, the story would have ended in a much shorter time.
I see the rest of the story as a sort of allegory. It takes place and unfolds much as it might have in a psychiatrist's office, where each session he might have remembered a piece of his prior life. By wandering around he actually, I believe, shortens the length of time that he needs to remember. I found the movie to be a fascinating study of an amnesiac and found it impossible to turn it off as the ending neared its climax.
Each of the women he met in his search reminded him of a piece of his life.
Unlike some of the commentators, I did not find the movie at all confusing and I have not read the book. On the other hand, I am a student of psychology.
I found the acting to be superb all around.
While I wouldn't label this movie a masterpiece, it is definitely one of the better ones I've seen this year.