Anesthesia

4.5 stars'Anesthesia' is one of those films that leaves you wanting more, it is like an unfinished film. Too much is left undecided. Columbia Philosophy professor, Walter, played by Sam Waterson, brings us into the imperfect language and thought about whether we can affect change in each other. The people he interacts with during this film find their lives changed.We meet Walter as he is walking home from his job, and visiting the local bodega for milk and flowers for his wife. It is here he meets a middle aged man asking for money for drugs. Walter tells him he will pay up to $5 for food. And then as he is leaving another man asks for 50 cents. As Walter walks up to his apartment, he is attacked and everyone we meet from that point on has an Interaction with him or through him.The film brings us back to a couple of days before this night. We meet Kristen Stewart as a graduate student of Walters lost in her life. A young mother in the suburbs, played by Gretchen Moll, is leaving her daughter's off at school. Her husband says he is away, and she drinks, both of them and the children are unhappy. Michael K. Williams is an important lawyer, dragging a friend who is a druggie off to rehab. Walter's daughter-in- law is dealing with a possible malignant tumor, her son is smoking pot, the dad is uptight, not knowing what to do. And, finally, we meet, Glenn Close, who plays Walter's wife of 46 years.Walter has asked his students if they can find meaning beyond themselves. Does anything have meaning or a point? As I have found Philosophy, you never have an answer, you keep searching, but wondering all the while, is what you are doing meaningful? Such a lovely film, with such potential, but, again, no answers.Recommended. prisrob 05-31-16

The cast is first rate and the story by itself could be filled with pathos and meaning. Unfortunately, Tim Blake Nelson put long, wordy, pretentious monologues about philosophy and the meaning of life into Sam Waterston's part - they're gassy and pompous and ruin the film. Also, Kristen Stewart is pretty much wasted in an incompletely conceived role.There are films with these aspirations that work: Magnolia, Crash, Oh Brother Where Art Thou...This film, however does not.

I guess I can say I liked the movie a lot, but I did not love it. I feel that the philosophical touches allowed the story-line to take us on a journey through life and how we are all interconnected. It's what you put out into the world that ultimately defines how you live and will be remembered. I found myself wanting more of a background story for characters that didn't play a major role in the movie itself. I guess I wanted more and less at the same time. Too many people introduced with little understanding of who they really are, but all in all I was left with a lot to think about and I don't feel that it was wasted time.

Existentialist in nature. Kind of movie that leaves you thinking afterward. Not entertainment in the usual sense. I could not have appreciated this movie earlier in life - would have thought it boring -, and the movie will likely appeal more to persons who are deep thinkers and persons who have lived enough decades to lived into the questions that the movie leaves the viewer with, and without an answer. So, it seems the movie is much like a question, and you are invited to conclude what you will - again, existentialist in nature.

I agree with the other reviewer that you need to step away from this movie and digest after. I found myself unable to even blink by the end. I'd also dare say that you have to have lived and more so, lived through a bit of life to really appreciate the film. I don't see the whole of the younger set getting their heads out of their cell phones long enough to take this movie seriously, but I hope they try. I loved the way the story loops back and the very last scene tied it up so neatly. From the youngest actors to the more seasoned, everyone's performance of the state of humans today was spot on. I clearly identified every character with someone I've known, which made it that more relevant and that more terrifying too. Excellent.

As some other reviewers point out, this movie is a bit "slow" at times, but I think that's appropriate for the content. I loved the acting, the philosophical topics, and the filming. For me, it's a solid 4 stars.

Whelp, what can you say, humans get into a lot of trouble trying to get away from their troubles. Our affections and loyalty for each other can't save us from bad things happening, but it does give us a sense of direction. What an unsentimental (which is not to say pitiless or cold) view of our weaknesses, and the relationships that are our, if not our saving, at least our grace. Enjoyed the ruminations on philosophy, tired of indie directors using hookers or violence to impart a sense of 'gritty reality', always struck me as rather unoriginal and lacking imagination, so kudos to Nelson for being smarter and more creative than that. Great performances by all but the Stewart and Waterston moments really stood out.

AND the only reasonable explanation for that stellar cast was that they all owed the producers/director some very large favors. Appearing in this trash heap of a film has probably wiped those slates clean.The acting was terrific but every other aspect of this thing was just plain awful. Including the ending. Especially the ending because the movie just quit with every developed storyline left hanging.It was like the producers saw the rushes and said 'that's it. no more money for you' and the editors just gave up trying to save it.

Powerful movie