Odd Thomas
In a California desert town, a short-order cook with clairvoyant abilities encounters a mysterious man with a link to dark, threatening forces.
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- Cast:
- Anton Yelchin , Addison Timlin , Willem Dafoe , Gugu Mbatha-Raw , Nico Tortorella , Patton Oswalt , Kyle McKeever
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People are voting emotionally.
Don't listen to the negative reviews
The acting in this movie is really good.
Actress is magnificent and exudes a hypnotic screen presence in this affecting drama.
Overall, surprisingly well done. The characterizations are just expository enough to be good without being too upfront. The acting is mostly fairly good, especially by the Anton Yelchin (who also did well in the recent faux Star Trek films) and Willem Dafoe (who always does a good job). I would be willing to watch a sequel. That said, the movie does have some flaws. Some of its special effects are too gross for kids to watch (the faceless people, a couple of the roach stunts), which is a pity because it would otherwise make a good kids' movie. Also, I have a bone to pick with the writing of the ending *spoiler alert from here on out* Having Odd and Stormy being able to kiss/touch when she's a ghost breaks the rules the movie set up only a couple of scenes before. Also, the ending fanfare scenes of the townspeople cheering Odd and the part where Stormy dissipates into butterflies didn't fit the feel of the rest of the film and took all the wind out of the movie's flow and rhythm. That's just bad writing. Here's the fix I would have suggested: Firstly, it's illogical that Odd forced the gal with the kids to leave but made no effort to save Stormy before the bad stuff went down. He should have told her to go, and then maybe she could have been distracted a little too long by trying to make the customers leave first. Then, in the moment when Odd steps into the ice cream shop and sees Stormy stand, causing his heart to lift and him to smile, the next beat should have been him walking towards her and her trying to speak to him and but being unable to. Then, just as the blow of the realization that she's a ghost hits him, the other ghost appears to notify him it's not over yet. There would be a brief, soul-crushing moment where Stormy urges him that he needs to follow the other ghost, and after the big action sequence she could come back later to pull him from unconsciousness in the hospital and say a proper goodbye then. See? Better, right? Well, I think so anyway.
The film is indeed very unique in its presentation and telling of the story. The camerawork is incredible, as well as the visual effects. The film blends humor and suspense seamlessly without being slapstick or gory. Anton Yelchin is perfectly cast as Odd Thomas and the chemistry between him and Addison Timlin is wonderful! The acting and the dialogue were great, and convincing. The film had some real funny moments, and also some genuinely nail biting moments, and also disturbing at times. The overall theme of Odd Thomas trying to solve a mystery in order to avoid a disaster in itself was quite tense. The final moments was heart wrenching - sadness and happiness entwined. This is an instant favorite.
Odd Thomas (first name Odd, surname Thomas) is a griddle cook in a small desert town. He is fated to be with the love of his life Stormy Llewellyn (a fortune-telling card told them so). He is also fated with being able to see the dead (while they have unfinished business and before they move on) and creatures called bodachs, harbingers of doom. And an explosion in the bodach population indicates that something awful is about to happen: can Oddie track in down and prevent it?The first of Dean Koontz' Odd Thomas novels is the best, and this is a good adaptation of it. Odd is an engaging character, naïve and knowing at the same time, and driven by his abilities - unwanted but accepted - to try to do the right thing, even in the face of personal jeopardy.Anton Yelchin is a personable Odd and Addison Timlin is a delightful Stormy - their individual quirkinesses intertwine nicely. The rest of the cast are also good in a plot which is possibly a little too serpentine.But the set pieces are fun, the location works, and the kicker at the end is gut-wrenching, as it was in the book.Of its type, this is one of the best.
I wish Hollywood would make great movies like this. This is a different great movie. 7 out of 10. means I will watch it again.