Veronika Decides to Die (2009) Reviews

• Compelling and Powerful!

  Red_Identity2009-12-01

  So I finally watched Veronika Decides To Die. Brilliant! I expected an 'okay' film after seeing some of the reviews from where it came out, but I honestly loved it. I have not been this moved by a film in a long time. Having not read the novel from which it is based on, I am sure the film stayed true to the essence and theme of the novel. It is a slow film, sometimes too slow for the 'mainstream' audience, but I was never bored. I have seen films with messages like this before, but somehow Veronika Decides To Die felt authentic, maybe because there has not been a film like this in a very long time. The writing is strong, giving Veronika and the supporting characters real backstory and depth. The director, Emily Young, should direct more than she does. She knows how to really command a scene. There were some flaws, for example the parents felt too one-dimensional, probably because of their small amount of screen time, and the actors that played them were not that great. However, in the acting department, they were the only flaws. Tremendous acting in this film! The star of the film, Sarah Michelle Gellar, really captures an inside look into her character's mind. I feel Gellar is strongly underrated as an actress, but I have always felt that she knows how to play subtle very well. The only other performance besides this where she really fleshed out her acting skills was in the disappointing The Air I Breathe, and the reason she was ignored was probably because the film was less-than-spectacular. However, here she gives her best performance, a tour-de-force performance that is quiet and subtle in the way she approaches the material. I was very impressed, because never did I think she was capable of making a performance this strong and subtle, however good I always knew she was. Melissa Leo and Erika Christensen also deliver first-rate performances. Christensen is charming and amusing, while Leo is powerful (no surprise since she was nominated for an Oscar last year). David Thewlis and Jonathan Tucker are also great, but to a lesser extent. The cinematography was beautiful. The camera-work gives the film a realistic feel to it, and there are some very beautiful images in the film. I have also heard complaining about the ending. I LOVED IT! It really made me happy seeing that this film actually had an optimistic and happy ending, one where Veronika's life is still moving on. Overall, I could not have been more pleased with Veronika Decides To Die. There is not a reason why anyone should not see this film, unless they are too 'bored'. This film also holds one of the greater themes about life- live it to the fullest, because you never know when you may not even have the option to.

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• Glorious!

  Tino852009-11-14

  I just watched the movie at a film festival in Sofia, Bulgaria. First of all the the music in the movie (especially when Veronika plays the piano) is very moving and really dragged me into the emotions of the scenes. It is so intense as if Veronika's inner world and feelings were my own.In my opinion Sarah Michelle Gellar did a great job conveying the personality of the character to the viewer. Many people have read the book and I think that many will find the adaptation quite successful. As with other books made into movies, it is not as detailed as the original, but it is surely as intense and emotional. As for criticism, somehow I find the role of the doctor somewhat secondary, there wasn't much interaction between the two of them. I was also a little surprised at how abrupt the movie ended at first, but as I think of it, a 30 minute ending would do more harm than good. And the message is what is the most important part, it is something that all of us should be reminded about. And in contrast to other films with great messages, this one has a rich atmosphere that compels you to watch and watch and watch. I guess more of Paulo Coelho's books will be made into movies, but I hope the adaptation is at least as good as this one.

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• The Awareness of Life

  claudio_carvalho2009-12-12

  In New York, the middle-class Veronika Deklava (Sarah Michelle Gellar) is a twenty and something year-old beautiful woman with a good job and a nice apartment. However, the feeling of emptiness of her pessimist view of life leads her to commit suicide with an overdose of pills. She fails in her intent and two weeks later she leaves the coma and awakes in a psychiatric institution directed by the unorthodox Dr. Blake (David Thewlis). She is informed that her OD injured her heart provoking an aneurysm and she has only a few weeks of life. Along the days, Veronika gets closer to the catatonic Edward (Jonathan Tucker), who was left in the institution many years ago. They feel attracted for each other and Veronika discovers the meaning of life again; they escape from the institution and decide to enjoy the miracle of each new day together. The dramatic "Veronika Decides to Die" is based on the best-seller of Brazilian writer Paulo Coelho and has a magnificent performance of Sarah Michelle Gellar in the role of a suicidal young woman. Her complex character becomes aware of the simple things that make life so wonderful only after finding the meaning of love. The screenplay has great lines and discusses good points like the definition of insanity or the meaning of life. The cinematography and the stylish music score are very beautiful. My vote is eight. Title (Brazil): "Veronika Decide Morrer" ("Veronika Decides to Die")

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• Most patronising film I have ever seen.

  Combovers2011-04-05

  I have actually signed up to IMDb today just so I could write this review. Veronika wants to die is a terrible film. I won't go into the ridiculous plot synopsis (incase anyone actually does want to watch the film), but it is one of the most contrived depictions of mental health I have ever seen in a contemporary film. The patients in the institute are the most one dimensional 'crazies'- catatonic, unintelligent, childlike, etc... It's only a film I hear you say, but with it's so called 'dark' subject matter and shaky hand-held camera I think this film is attempting at some sort of realism. It is anything but. It has the feel of trying - and failing - to be a film somewhat like Rachel Getting Married (Demme, 2008). However the characters lack depth and the plot (and consequently the ending) leaves you feeling cheated. The music that's played throughout the film is unnecessary, it distracts from the narrative and leaves you with a conscious feeling of emotional manipulation. There are many other reasons why this film is terrible, but as I am so enraged of wasting hours of my life watching it, I can't even think straight. I just hope someone else reads this review and doesn't make the same mistake I did.

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• Insulting, ridiculous schmaltz.

  scarredpariah2015-05-06

  Not even Thewlis can save this trash. It had potential, but ended up being a ridiculous watercolour romance. It's been described as dark and understated. It's not. It's light, obvious schmaltz. There's no attempt at any realism, and it's an insult to anyone remotely familiar with the workings of a psychiatric unit. It promises themes of suicide and mental health but shows no understanding of either, merely using them as a cheap vehicle for clumsy, clichéd, feel-good garbage. In addition, the protagonist has no redeeming qualities, or even enough personality for the viewer to care about. The music is distractingly awful, as is most of the acting and direction. It's cheesy as all hell. Even if you have another century to live, do not waste a precious 94 minutes of it on this.

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