MovieChat Forums > Funny Games (1998) Discussion > the best part about this movie

the best part about this movie

posted 10 years ago by merlinsbearddd
2 replies | jump to latest

so normally when i watch a movie, there's always the underlying knowledge that none of its events are real or presently happening (not to say that that knowledge annoys me or gets in the way of my enjoyment of every movie i watch, but you know what i mean, it's just always there in the back of my mind), however, with this one, i got SO invested in it that sometimes i totally forgot these people were just actors. their emotions and reactions seemed so real, and that coupled with the fact that they just looked like regular people you'd pass by on the street was what i suppose made it so normalized for me. and maybe that's why i was so disturbed by the events that took place that it became almost hypnotizing to continue watching it. basically what i'm trying to say is that the acting was fcking superb in this movie and i have yet to witness another film whose characters can surpass it. no other movie has ever taken me out of reality like this one has.

[–] RaidenPLS 10 years ago

I'm glad you enjoyed it, and I completely agree about the acting. Susanne Lothar's commitment to her role was like nothing I've ever seen before. Her face was literally SWOLLEN with tears, and her physical and emotional exhaustion felt completely authentic. She sacrificed every shred of dignity to sell her performance! Hypnotic is a good way to describe it.

So many uncomfortable details generally omitted from American movies of this type contributed to the gritty sense of realism. For example, when the little boy wet his pants out of fear, and the villains cruelly made fun of it once they noticed. Or when he (predictably) didn't know how to use a shotgun. So many reviews complain about how unrealistic some of these details were. On the contrary, I would say these details are painfully realistic considering how materially secure the family seemed to be. It's a very disturbing film for sure.

And you will know my name is The Lord when I lay my vengeance upon thee!

[–] Darkshines_07 10 years ago

I've just finished watching the film after having put it off for so many years - I'm a big chicken with difficult stuff like this and as you say, despite knowing it's only a film, was pretty sure right from the start that I would get drawn into it as if it was really happening. Even the surreal 'rewind' moment didn't manage to persuade me (in my slightly mesmerised state) that it was all pretend!

The acting from both Ulrich Mühe and Susanne Lothar was nothing short of exceptional; the depths of emotions they had to play out and the physicality of what their characters went through were depicted so realistically and with such a raw energy. I'm sure it will take me a while to calm down from the rage and the tension I felt, even as the credits rolled. *whew*