ThiefHott Too much of everything

WillSushyMedia This movie was so-so. It had it's moments, but wasn't the greatest.

BeSummers Funny, strange, confrontational and subversive, this is one of the most interesting experiences you'll have at the cinema this year.

SanEat A film with more than the usual spoiler issues. Talking about it in any detail feels akin to handing you a gift-wrapped present and saying, "I hope you like it -- It's a thriller about a diabolical secret experiment."

yukari_888 I didn't have any high expectations for this film, because I knew absolutely zero about it at the time. I had no idea what to expect, but it caught my interest right away with the beginning scene. I loved how at the beginning when you don't know what's going on at all, but you slowly learn more and more as you keep watching. This is one of those movies that has numerous layers to it, and the way it goes about telling the story is expertly done.For a film that's about simple, everyday life, it was very climatic at the end, and very realistic. You'll never see another film like it. It's breathtaking. Not in the way you would think either, but that's partly what is most unique about it.

gazebo It's not a bad film. The acting is very good and the characters are moving. But, jeez, man, the pacing, the pacing is so slow! I lost my concentration several times viewing this film.Extremely good performances by the actors that play Ed, Flower and Garnet. Ed is so emotionally constipated that he could not give of himself to his children. He lives in a state of constant anger and sorrow because his wife passed away in childbirth. His cold and disinterested behavior affects his teenage daughter and young son. I felt angry enough to want to reach into the film and punch out Ed because of how he treats his children with indifference and being stupid enough to go buy his young son a BB gun. His son, Garnet is such a lonely child who plays by himself constantly. His only connection to anyone is with his beautiful teenage sister, Flower. Flower, who is pretty much belligerent towards Ed because he is a crappy dad, gets pregnant and leave the house. Now Garnet is alone and he tries to bond with his father who has deep emotional problems of his own. Lately, Garnet has been going around shooting at animals with his gun.........I was creeped out to see a young child shooting a gun. With all the crap about kids going into schools and shooting up the place, well, it just made me feel ill. Can Ed reach his son before it's too late? This movie is too slow. I blame the director. However, I feel the climax (towards the very end of the movie) almost makes it well worth watching this long, long film. Mr. Callum Keith Rennie (who plays Ed) is mesmerizing to watch and his little emotional breakdown is very, very moving.After seeing this film, there will be no way in heck I'd want to go live in a small town in Canada. I'd get cabin fever real fast! It's an okay film. Nothing too special.

Howard Schumann Flower and Garnet, the first feature-length film by B.C. director Keith Behrman, is the powerful story of a broken family that is forced to confront problems that have gone on for too many years. The film shows the effect of a father's unexpressed grief on his eight-year old son, Garnet (Colin Roberts), whose mother died giving him birth. Set in the rural Cache Creek area in British Columbia, Canada, it is a subtle and deeply moving portrait of a family that lives in an emotional no-man's land. The father Ed (Callum Keith Rennie) is uncommunicative with both his family and his ladyfriend Barb (Kristen Thomson). Constantly downing cans of beer, he only relates to the boy with silence, self-hatred, and sudden explosions of violence. He tries to school him in typical macho activities, taking him fishing, driving, and shooting on an improvised pistol range, but is unable to provide any real love or understanding. The years have turned Garnet into a sullen withdrawn child. Vancouver actor Colin Roberts, who received a Genie nomination for Best Actor for his first acting performance, is so natural as Garnet that you can literally hear his thoughts and feel his feelings above the long, awkward silences. Ed tries to right things by giving Garnet a BB gun for his birthday but he uses it to take out his aggression on animals. When his beautiful 16-year old sister Flower (Jane McGregor) has an affair with local teen Carl (Craig Olejnik) and becomes pregnant, Ed compounds the problem by forcing her out of the house. The loss of his sister plus an anticipated rival for his sister's affections pushes Garnet close to the edge. The final breakthrough is so unsuspected that it comes with a sudden jolt.

darmillar Flower and Garnet is a gritty movie that, I think, captures aspects of small town Canadian life perfectly. That is not to say that every Canadian family is as dysfunctional as Ed's family. But this movie is an engaging drama. It holds itself unique than other family melodrama's in that it does not suck. Granted, the movie is very sublime and there is not much in the way of action or direct conflict but the turmoil of Ed's family is expertly conveyed through stunning performances of the lead actors. Callum Keith Rennie is great, as par for his career, Jane Macgregor, who plays Flower, turns in a solid performance. However the person who really shines through is Colin Roberts in the role of Garnet. The story centers around and is seen through the eyes of eight-year old Garnet. Colin carries the movie effortlessly on his shoulders, never once betraying a false moment. If you need one reason to see this film, it would be to watch this kid struggle through confusion and loss as he tries desperately to cope with his family dynamics.