Stay

Review by Adam Weeks

Stay, the latest film from Marc Foster (Finding Neverland, Monster’s Ball) is one of those films that you’ll walk out of the theatre having enjoyed it immensely, but with at least one of your friends scratching their heads, saying “What the hell was that about?”

I’ve got my own interpretation of the events of the film, but won’t embarrass myself by publishing it here!

Stay is about a young university student by the name of Henry, played by Ryan Gosling (The Notebook), who reveals to school psychologist Sam Foster (Ewan McGregor) that he is planning on committing suicide in three days time on his 21st birthday.

You see, at the beginning of the film, Henry has set fire to his car, and not being able to recall what exactly happened, is left with the feeling that he has done something far more terrible. Henry can hear voices speaking to him about events that he has no knowledge of, and over the following few days Sam struggles to help Henry solve his issues, and hopefully save his life.

Along for the ride are Sam’s girlfriend Lila (Naomi Watts), who has herself attempted suicide in the past, and Sam’s mentor Leon (Bob Hoskins), who bears a striking resemblance to Henry’s dead father…

As I mentioned before, Stay can be incredibly confusing at times, even to the biggest movie buffs out there, but that’s not to say that you won’t enjoy the film. Working from a script by (in my opinion) one of the finest writers working today, David Benioff (25th Hour, Troy) certainly helps the case, and with Foster fresh off Finding Neverland, this is a movie that could easily have collapsed in a heap in less capable hands.

But thankfully with the creative pedigree that it has behind it, along with some remarkable performances from the leads involved, Stay always commands your attention to what is happening on screen, whether it be through the incredible visual effects, or the game of “watch for clues” that occurs in the background action. Think Vanilla Sky or The Sixth Sense for the kind of game you’re going to be playing when you watch it.

I touched on it briefly before, but the acting in Stay is so incredibly crucial to the storyline, that I am so glad they picked the cast that they did. Ryan Gosling… wow. I first noticed him as the country lovin’ good old boy in Remember The Titans, and like most of the other reviewers at this website, I was blown away by him in The Notebook, but hands down Stay is my favorite performance of his to date.

The haunted character of Henry requires the kind of subtle, precise acting that Ryan has given us in the past, that it is just a thrill to watch him work with such great material.

Ewan McGregor is always enjoyable in films, but for me, I hate (and I mean hate) when he is forced to use an American accent in his movies. He can pull it off pretty convincingly, but at this point in his career, is there really any point to it?

Other than that little gripe, Ewan is given the toughest role in the film, because he is our “explanation guy” in that if he can’t convey what exactly is happening in the story, you will lose the plot, but he always keeps it sharp and focused.

Naomi Watts also does some impressive, yet subtle work with the medicated Lila, and it’s certainly good to see her in something other than a Ring movie. For me personally, I’m just glad to be getting Bob Hoskins back on the big screen in some decent roles. I really enjoyed him in Unleashed earlier in 2005, and the small, yet vital role that he plays in Stay is another reason why I consider him one of the best actors working today.

Stay will confuse you. It will make you scratch your head at times, and it will make you jump out of your seat more than once due to some genuine surprises. But more than anything, it will make you think about what you are seeing, and genuinely force you to come up with your own interpretation of the events that you witness.

For me, it features the best performance by Ryan Gosling yet, and an extremely fitting and moody score by Asche & Spencer, but overall, it is just a truly involving film that deserves your attention at the local box office.

4.5 out of 5

Stay
Australian release: Thursday the 3rd of November, 2005
Cast: Ewan McGregor, Naomi Watts, Ryan Gosling, Bob Hoskins, Janeane Garofalo.
Directors: Marc Forster.
Website: Click here.

Brought to you by MovieHole