Outstanding performances particularly from Phenix Brossard as Noah. The second feature film I've seen him in, incredible actor. Everyone does a great job here to be fair though. A nice mix of drama, romance and comedy with some really great comedy scenes in it that are very true to life like the scene about performance art! I'm very surprised that no one seems to have heard of this film. Highly recommend! Solid 8/10
36 Reviews
Only if you want to see awkwardness or Colin Morgan
glacytran5 April 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Ben is a very socially awkward boy, and somehow social phobic. He barely leaves his flat. When he gets nervous, he becomes talkative and says inappropriate awkward things. In a party, he met and had a big crush on a young French artist - Noah. I guess that Ben is 24, Stephen is 26, while Noah is 18 years old.
The movie's good points: It portrays awkwardness very well. I am sure we all went through that awkwardness when we stood in front of our crush, either we did not dare to say much or we said inappropriate awkward things. We get to see how young directors/actors stepping into the movie industry. We get to see Ben's pressure of being a promising director. I like the ideas of Ben watching YouTube videos to educate himself (he seems to have to no friends besides Stephen and no hobbies as well). The chemistry is clear. You can see that Ben is totally head over heels with Noah. Colin Morgan's performance is excellent. If you intend to watch it just because of Colin Morgan, you won't be disappointed. Performances of Joel Fry and Jessica Raine are very good. And after watching it for the 2nd time, it's more hilarious than I thought. It has British dry humour. A lot of awkward lines that Ben said are supposed to make you laugh.
The music score is beautiful. Even if you don't like this movie, please check out the soundtrack if you like soft melody. It shares the same vibe with Begin Again soundtrack, Call Me By Your Name soundtrack, and the song "She Will Be Loved" by Maroon 5.
The movie's minuses: I wish some scenes could be more beautifully shot (e.g. supermarket scenes at the beginning and playing piano together scene). Tessa the producer should have made Ben to prepare a speech for the Film Festival (he made a terrible speech in the movie). To add more relatability, I wish Ben could receive advice from Stephen/Noah/Harry with a few deep meaningful lines.
The movie's good points: It portrays awkwardness very well. I am sure we all went through that awkwardness when we stood in front of our crush, either we did not dare to say much or we said inappropriate awkward things. We get to see how young directors/actors stepping into the movie industry. We get to see Ben's pressure of being a promising director. I like the ideas of Ben watching YouTube videos to educate himself (he seems to have to no friends besides Stephen and no hobbies as well). The chemistry is clear. You can see that Ben is totally head over heels with Noah. Colin Morgan's performance is excellent. If you intend to watch it just because of Colin Morgan, you won't be disappointed. Performances of Joel Fry and Jessica Raine are very good. And after watching it for the 2nd time, it's more hilarious than I thought. It has British dry humour. A lot of awkward lines that Ben said are supposed to make you laugh.
The music score is beautiful. Even if you don't like this movie, please check out the soundtrack if you like soft melody. It shares the same vibe with Begin Again soundtrack, Call Me By Your Name soundtrack, and the song "She Will Be Loved" by Maroon 5.
The movie's minuses: I wish some scenes could be more beautifully shot (e.g. supermarket scenes at the beginning and playing piano together scene). Tessa the producer should have made Ben to prepare a speech for the Film Festival (he made a terrible speech in the movie). To add more relatability, I wish Ben could receive advice from Stephen/Noah/Harry with a few deep meaningful lines.
Offbeat and quite likable
justahunch-705498 September 2022
Small, original, quirky and very well crafted film about an odd, smart and sweet young filmmaker falling in love. I loved the oddball writing and the performances, particularly the lead, Colin Morgan. He plays this unconventional character very well. Phénix Brossard and Jack Rowan are both new to me, but they were both very appealing. Joel Fry, who I am familiar with, is a good actor who retains his offbeat sense of humor, but his character is the one that eluded me. I don't think the role is very clearly conceived. I'd never heard of this, which is a shame as it should be seen by more. Loved the bathtub scene, but it has a few special moments. Short, unusual, touching and recommended.
Cute, hilarious, odd and cringe all in one
anshard9419 March 2023
Took me a while to get into this but have to say I really enjoyed it. It felt quite raw to watch - here you have an actor acting as an actor depicting his struggle to love, be comfortable with himself to let others in. It's a struggle not often spoken about among gay men and albeit a diversion from a lot other gay movies out there, I think this depicted the matter really well and shone a light on an - in my opinion - untouched topic.
It's also a funny film, cringe in some areas where I found myself saying out loud "ohhh nooo" but I think that added to the charm and cuteness of the film. Definitely worth the watch!
It's also a funny film, cringe in some areas where I found myself saying out loud "ohhh nooo" but I think that added to the charm and cuteness of the film. Definitely worth the watch!
Vaguely Enjoyable
martimusross15 January 2020
Benjamin
Overall I enjoyed the movie, Colin Morgan played a really socially dysfunctional character that was really deeply unattractive. Yet despite this everyone was drawn to him and fancied him how strange.
The relationships were either superficial or tawdry and perhaps a reflection in the metropolis.
This was no Romeo and Juliet
Overall I enjoyed the movie, Colin Morgan played a really socially dysfunctional character that was really deeply unattractive. Yet despite this everyone was drawn to him and fancied him how strange.
The relationships were either superficial or tawdry and perhaps a reflection in the metropolis.
This was no Romeo and Juliet
Let it in
joey_d_4917 March 2019
So surprised at just how much I loved this film! Simon Amstel has clearly taken much from his own experiences, because the moments and situations are so beautifully nuanced, it must surely have been sparked from lived experience. I'm so happy this film exists.
Every character was so hypotnisingly layered. Everyone had a life beyond their screen time and I would be interested in following all of their respective journeys.
The theme of human connection and the struggle of letting love in is something that I profoundly related to. Love is always shown in a dangerously romantic way on screen, it's so refreshing to see the complexity of the feeling for a change.
My only criticism is that it could have been nipped and tucked abit as a film... but I actually wanted more! I would love to see this as a series so we could explore the lives of everyone abit more, and also take our time in letting love in, just like the wonderful Benjamin himself.
Finally, just to comment on Colin Morgan's central performance. Though Amstel's dialogue is what stands out in every character, Morgan really runs with it and flys! Had me chuckling all the way and many moments I was howling at the back of the cinema.. especially when it came to the difficult choice of which bottle of water to purchase.
I was feeling abit glum and grey this weekend, but I came out of the cinema and my sun was shining. I hope this film gets the audience it so truly deserves, and all people deserve to see a film like this.
And Jack Rowan's bum is fantastic isn't it?!
Every character was so hypotnisingly layered. Everyone had a life beyond their screen time and I would be interested in following all of their respective journeys.
The theme of human connection and the struggle of letting love in is something that I profoundly related to. Love is always shown in a dangerously romantic way on screen, it's so refreshing to see the complexity of the feeling for a change.
My only criticism is that it could have been nipped and tucked abit as a film... but I actually wanted more! I would love to see this as a series so we could explore the lives of everyone abit more, and also take our time in letting love in, just like the wonderful Benjamin himself.
Finally, just to comment on Colin Morgan's central performance. Though Amstel's dialogue is what stands out in every character, Morgan really runs with it and flys! Had me chuckling all the way and many moments I was howling at the back of the cinema.. especially when it came to the difficult choice of which bottle of water to purchase.
I was feeling abit glum and grey this weekend, but I came out of the cinema and my sun was shining. I hope this film gets the audience it so truly deserves, and all people deserve to see a film like this.
And Jack Rowan's bum is fantastic isn't it?!
A Perfect Film
jromanbaker10 October 2020
Phenix Brossard gives power to one of the finest love scenes on film. Like the magic of the love scene in Louis Malle's ' Les Amants ' it happens in a bath. Two people in a bath together and then the moment arrives which made this a perfect film for me. Phenix Brossard says ( to my ears, although the copy I saw with French subtitles translates as ' Bonjour ' ) almost inaudibly ' I love you ' and in that split second I saw a totally new way of expressing those time old words. The whole scene expresses it even if the word ' love ' is not said and it was in my own imagination. Let those who see it decide. In fact his whole performance radiated an inner glow that shows up the lack of depth of the people ( not the actors ) around him. All the hypocrisy of the ' cultured ' and pretentious London media scene with its overnight failures and successes has rarely been so accurately portrayed. The hypocrisy of words insincerely felt, the tantrums, and I got the feeling that Noah played by Brossard sensed it all. The one scene of real talent is when he plays a prelude by Shostakovich and you know for once the applause is justified, and there is nothing London trendy about it. I want to congratulate Simon Amstell for such a perfect gem of a film. Now to get to the core of what I am trying to say. Colin Morgan gives a brilliant performance and he truly deserves all the praise he gets from his acting, but for me the acting that went beyond acting was Brossard and without him in the film it would not have had that special quality rarely achieved in a performance; a real sense of being. And to those who think the film is cliched, then see it again and not through a glass darkly. If there are awkward moments they are negligible, and the entire cast were well chosen. As for the ending Brossard urges Morgan into a very, very powerful affirmation and for a while after the film had finished I saw Paris. There is a lot of pretentiousness in Paris but somehow Noah ( an appropriate name ) will save Benjamin from being out of his depth. A deeply moving love story.
Great supporting cast!
danreyessat1 April 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Jack Rowan & Phenix Brossard carry this film. Like the performance piece inside the film called Womb, it leaves a lot to be desired. Like Jackson Pollock, performance work like the Womb are called art and the painter and the performance artist seem to laugh their way to the bank with their accolades.
The center character in this film is a Socio path, I didn't see a performance that made me want to love the character, but the performance work of Rowan and Brossard truly carry this film. I wish Brossard would make some French movies and stay away from American film. He's a really great actor, who should allow himself to be a Timothée Chalamet with a full body of incredible work before crossing the Atlantic!
I recommend DEPARTURE, it will knock your socks off!
The center character in this film is a Socio path, I didn't see a performance that made me want to love the character, but the performance work of Rowan and Brossard truly carry this film. I wish Brossard would make some French movies and stay away from American film. He's a really great actor, who should allow himself to be a Timothée Chalamet with a full body of incredible work before crossing the Atlantic!
I recommend DEPARTURE, it will knock your socks off!
Not a fan
lee-s19747 October 2019
I really wanted to like this, but I didn't. It felt overindulgent on the writers part, and it wasn't even original. The main character was just lifted out of Grandma's House and seems based on his obsession with some sort of vulnerable, inarticulate, self-obsessed young men.
This was really slow, and was annoying as I'd hoped for so much better.
Awkward...
jtboone219 August 2022
Awkward. Strange word but perfect description of everything about this film. Is this universe of people really all that hard to understand and relate to? Just not sure how to describe. Kinda like the word awkward is strange to spell and say. That's how this movie is. Tries really hard to be artsy, but I found it so boring that I started playing solitaire on my phone halfway through. Not well written or acted. I felt embarrassed form most of the actors. None of them got to behave like normal people. Embarrassed - another hard to spell and describe word but fits this film perfectly.
I've been a big fan of Simon Amstells for a long, but if this drivel is the best he's got, i hope he sticks to stand up and leaves movies alone
reeeeecey-10-50516917 July 2019
I'm sat here trying to think of anything i liked about this movie. I guess the cat was cute? Cliched on so many levels and littered with unlikable hipster knobs. One or two belly laughs, and one or two really uncomfortable moments. The whole thing is laced with self-obsessed millennial misery. You wouldn't want to spend any time with any of these people. It wants to be tender and deep, but it's just empty cliche after cliche scored with a grating soft melancholic piano. If you want to see a movie about someone struggling to be open to love, watch 'Gods Own Country'. I've been a big fan of Simon Amstells for a long, but if this drivel is the best he's got, i hope he sticks to stand up and leaves movies alone.
A truly BRILLIANT portrayal of a basket case!
JJ-Chi20 February 2021
Nothing predictable here. Really enjoyed this quirky and unusual Rom-Com. Nearly every major character is "weird" in their own special way. Everything flows smoothly and lead actor does a BRILLIANT job.
I found the two pivotal scenes PURE GENIUS: 1.) Bathtub scene and 2.) closing scene. Showing that once you shut up and get out of your own head; you can break through and truly LIVE!!
LOVED THIS
I found the two pivotal scenes PURE GENIUS: 1.) Bathtub scene and 2.) closing scene. Showing that once you shut up and get out of your own head; you can break through and truly LIVE!!
LOVED THIS
Drivel
denise-dix5 September 2019
I like Simon Amstell....a lot. But this is just incoherent drivel. The only positive thing I can say about it is that the acting is OK. The stammering, the unfinished sentences it all got on my nerves... this is nearly 90 minutes of nothingness, a total waste of time.
A great one
c-9297628 February 2020
I love this film. Some complain about the cliche storyline. Might be, but the story touched me.
An essential element of the film, I will say is the awkwardness. There are so many scenes make you feel the awkwardness is going out of the screen, but I like it. Whoever haven't met awkward situations like that, especially when you are, somehow social phobia. All those scenes make me feel alive, and real. And I know what's it like feeling incapable of love, you lock yourself in case you hurt others or let anyone hurts you. I'd say I fully understand Ben, feel his pain and happyness, his odd behavior. Thanks Simon for just letting me know I'm not alone. And thanks Colin's excellent performance, what a sweet boy!
An essential element of the film, I will say is the awkwardness. There are so many scenes make you feel the awkwardness is going out of the screen, but I like it. Whoever haven't met awkward situations like that, especially when you are, somehow social phobia. All those scenes make me feel alive, and real. And I know what's it like feeling incapable of love, you lock yourself in case you hurt others or let anyone hurts you. I'd say I fully understand Ben, feel his pain and happyness, his odd behavior. Thanks Simon for just letting me know I'm not alone. And thanks Colin's excellent performance, what a sweet boy!
a waste of time
igorbear16 January 2020
Not everyone should make films. This one proves it. I was recommended this by a friend, and read good comments about it online. Do not believe them yourself.
The story is thin, and honestly just not worth filming. Another gay cliché about a young man not being able to commit. All accompanied by extremely bad comedic attempts. All the characters were utterly unlikeable. The direction was pretentious, actors were unconvincing, and Anna Chancellor was completely wasted on this. This is a film for people who think they know art, and are very arrogant about it, but that actually don't. Do not waste your time.
The story is thin, and honestly just not worth filming. Another gay cliché about a young man not being able to commit. All accompanied by extremely bad comedic attempts. All the characters were utterly unlikeable. The direction was pretentious, actors were unconvincing, and Anna Chancellor was completely wasted on this. This is a film for people who think they know art, and are very arrogant about it, but that actually don't. Do not waste your time.
Fully respect this as a piece of art.
hayleywragg13 June 2019
This film reminded me of looking at a bizarre painting. Where you can't quite work it out but you can't stop looking and every tiny part is fascinating.
I love the way it was filmed and the pace of the film. It felt a little slow compared to other films but for me this made me enjoy it more as I felt more in touch and aware of everything the film was trying to say.
It's the kind of film I want to watch over and over to notice a different thing each time.
Millennial narcissism
ewiep15 February 2021
Do you miss those Woody Allen films which were all about short, middle-aged, Jewish, socially awkward, bespectacled film-makers? Well, 'Benjamin' is the film for you. Not so much introspective as downright narcissistic. And, for some reason, I'm just not a great fan of narcissism.
A Beautiful film for awkard people.
unicornpeachxxx30 April 2021
A film where the actor is acting as an actor acting as an actor
reviewer174 January 2023
Normally I like to come on here and review the movies I watch in fancy words, because a picture is worth a thousand and a movie is worth a ton more. This isn't one of those movies.
I really liked this. At first it was a bit offputting with its awkwardness, but that discomfort turns into charm quite quickly. It made me audibly laugh more than once, with Benjamin's matter of factness. The casting was perfect and the line delivery on everyone's part was superb.
Paul's character felt a bit unnecessary, and I wish the message his interaction gave had been delivered in a different way.
Stephen was a centerpoint, and I think his existance made the whole movie feel a little more real, like Benjamin and his social circle was a real little corner of the world.
I give it an 8, not because there was something missing, but because not much more could have been done with it. Is it an artistic masterpiece? No. But it's a sad, funny, easy to watch movie with a nice storyline and somewhat believable characters. It isn't innovating some kind of crazy message- it's just people being people. Refreshing and comfortable.
I really liked this. At first it was a bit offputting with its awkwardness, but that discomfort turns into charm quite quickly. It made me audibly laugh more than once, with Benjamin's matter of factness. The casting was perfect and the line delivery on everyone's part was superb.
Paul's character felt a bit unnecessary, and I wish the message his interaction gave had been delivered in a different way.
Stephen was a centerpoint, and I think his existance made the whole movie feel a little more real, like Benjamin and his social circle was a real little corner of the world.
I give it an 8, not because there was something missing, but because not much more could have been done with it. Is it an artistic masterpiece? No. But it's a sad, funny, easy to watch movie with a nice storyline and somewhat believable characters. It isn't innovating some kind of crazy message- it's just people being people. Refreshing and comfortable.
Loved this film.
yoitslinn12 February 2022
I am so weak for Colin Morgan, he has such a beautiful energy that makes anything he takes on, quite magical. This story was lovely and fun, witty writing and great actors. I watched it two days in a row because it was such a cute film.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
