Search - Nothing on DVD

Entertainingly Disappointing

J. C Clark | Overland Park, KS United States | 10/31/2005

(3 out of 5 stars)

"A good premise that fails to deliver on its ideas. Lots of lovely details and fun moments unfortunately add up to a less than a satisfying whole.



There is a too-conscious effort to be hip here, and maybe I'm too old, but somehow the whole thing felt as if it were put together by a couple of smart, if smarmy, high school kids. Clever, sharp, witty, but missing the big picture, not offering me more than what was on the surface. And while the surface was entertaining, it was not entertaining enough. I want more, especially when a film is offering some notions about creating and altering reality, and it just did not deliver. What does it mean that these two characters cannot create but only destroy? That they can only subtract from the world? Well, that is a provocative thought, but it goes nowhere here.



So, while it was amusing, it was not much more. Aim high and you are held to a higher standard."

Anoher Natali Triumph

Michael L. White | Westland, MI United States | 06/02/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The film tells the tale of childhood friends David Andrew (David Hewlett) and Andrew Miller (Andrew Miller). All grown up and living together in a hellhole wedged between freeways, it'd be a toss up to determine who has the worse life. Is it Andrew, the agoraphobic travel agent falsely accused of molesting a girl scout or David, whose girlfriend embezzled $27K from his company leaving a trail of evidence pointing to him?



Not to worry, though, this is just the darkness before the dawn. When things look their bleakest, the two suddenly find themselves in a new world where existence appears to have been wiped clean; leaving just themselves, their house, and their pet turtle in a white world of nothingness. Two guys in a world of nothing searching for answers and food: this may sound like a recipe for disaster (or for a sequel to MY DINNER WITH ANDRE) but NOTHING is a remarkably fun film.



In NOTHING, Natali continues to explore themes of identity and location as he did in CUBE and CYPHER, leading me to believe that it's not an exaggeration to consider him the "thinking person's sci-fi director." Ultimately, NOTHING succeeds due to Natali's direction, the screenplay by Miller and Andrew Lowery, and the strong performances by its lead actors."

Truly unique and hilarious -- but not for everyone

JMG | Colorado, USA | 04/18/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I didn't really know what the movie was about before watching it (even reading the back of the DVD doesn't fully prepare you), but I'm a David Hewlett fan so I gave it a go. The opening sequence gives you a good idea of whether you've got the right sense of humor to enjoy the film -- it's rather Douglas Adams-esque in its off-kilteredness. David and Andrew are two guys whose lives are taking a spectacular turn for the worse when suddenly the entire world outside their house disappears. Nothing's left but vast, unending whiteness (or, y'know, nothing; hence the film's title). First they have to figure out what happened, and once they do, they deal with it in various ways that say a lot about who they are, who they were, and who they wish they could be. I laughed out loud through much of the film, but it also gives you brain fodder. However, it's a very unusual story with moments of sheer, over-the-top wackiness and if you have trouble suspending disbelief, you probably won't enjoy this. Everyone else -- see it!"

Brilliant Concept That Goes Nowhere

Tsuyoshi | Kyoto, Japan | 07/14/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"`Nothing' is a Canadian film directed by Vincenzo Natali who is known for two `Twilight Zone' like sci-fi thrillers `Cube' and `Cypher' but his new film is not about science or thrill despite the use of one peculiar idea. Basically `Nothing' which is part comedy, part sci-fi, is about friendship.



The story is rather simple. Two guys Dave (David Hewlett) and Andrew (Andrew Miller), absolute losers in different ways, are living in a decaying house wedged by two noisy freeways. They have been friends since childhood, but their life is now falling apart because one is (wrongly) accused of embezzlement while the other, of child molesting (again, wrongly).



What they wish is not going away from their house (which, they found, the City is going to demolish). Why should they go anyway? It is those who are harassing them that should be gone. To their great surprise, Dave and Andrew find that their dream has really come true -- the world surrounding them is completely gone.



What remained in the world are Dave and Andre, their old house, their belongings including video games (that still work), and a turtle. Outside the house is total blank, white space with bouncing ground that feels like "tohu." Now Dave and Andrew can start living like as they want in this world of nothing free like a bird ... or can they?



In spite of the intriguing concept, the film is about the two characters Dave and Andrew and their relations drawn with a comic touch. The film is not about how to escape from the world of nothingness where they can live comfortably, so don't expect the suspense you got in Natali's two previous works. The script has one great idea, but it soon loses its energy after 40 minutes. The story sometimes looks repetitious and the annoying characters Dave and Andrew are not particularly amusing, with the two actors' OK (over)acting. As for the comedy part of the film, I think not everyone find it funny as Natali thinks because it heavily relies on slapsticks that look often too silly. If you find two guys jumping like a ping-pong ball against the background of absolute white, it is your comedy.



`Nothing' is a so-so film with one interesting idea that seems to be wasted in the filmmaking process. Considering the film is directed by Vincenzo Natali, who did brilliant films like `Cube,' `Nothing' should be called a letdown."