Downhill | Discussion & Review | Film Club

[@vinnybastos]

Sounds like Jon Hamm would've been a way better choice for the Dad role...

[@djstarsign]

vinícius bastos agreed. One of the reasons FM (the original) was so good was because it didn’t feel like a comedy. The family is picture perfect. The parents look like they’re in their mid to late 30s. They’re both physically fit and very beautiful. They look like the model family. The kids are also younger so they feel more helpless. Everything is set up for this affluent and beautiful family to look like a typical holiday for the upper class and when that controlled avalanche happens, the dad literally takes off screaming. The movie is funny because you don’t expect the characters to be goofy or silly. It feels more plausible. It’s absurd but in much more subtle ways. Playing it much more straightforward definitely helped the film over all. The remake just felt kind of dumbed down.

[@vperkv6554]

Can someone please explain the very ending. Wht did it mean when they look at each other? Its too ambiguous imo.

[@theunderdogfavorite1341]

They both jump away from each other.. where as the whole film has been billy trying to prove that Pete didn’t want or try to save his family and ran away thinking he wants to leave. But he’s going through a mid life crisis and she isn’t. Pete longs for Zach and rose’s relationship because on the surface it seems perfect. But the end scene all 4 jump away from each other. And the looks exchanged between Pete and Billy is them both realizing they did the same thing, jumped away from each other, and in a sense forgive each other because Zach and rose also jumped apart a metaphor being that even the people in the “perfect relationship” jump apart as well.

[@illogical001]

@@theunderdogfavorite1341I’m 2 years late, but this is just so stupid and another reason why the original is so much better. 😑 If they didn’t separate they’d both be under that pile of snow. It makes no sense whatsoever.

[@dfa3366]

I like Force M but to call it one of the best movies of the 21 century is a huge stretch

[@djstarsign]

doug avila it’s pretty brilliant though.

[@dangeroustelevision6515]

DOWNHILL highlights what it looks like when people are fake and insincere fighting for the realness of being a regular human with flaws.

[@filipscherhaufer1237]

and also the worries of a dad, who might not look like he cares so much, because they fall into a routine and starts thinking, what if it was all wrong? I think the reviewers missed the point here, just because the message is a little different

[@smile86]

Is it good?

[@FriedandDrowned]

Can the AVClub hire a gaffer? The way the studio is lit casts a huge amount of harsh shadows over both critics' faces. It's especially noticeable on katie, who's very animated.

[@colemangrindle1769]

This American remake is well suited to many American families. While it's fair to characterize Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Will Ferrell based on their past roles, which are mostly comedic in nature, I would encourage viewers to look upon this film with fresh eyes. Much of the conflict that I have heard between critics and this film relies on the incongruence of their prior perceptions of the actors and the fresh direction those actors take here in a more serious role. I think Julia and Will superbly break down the intricacies of a pivotal moment in many marriages. Do you have the courage to stand up to your spouse in those moments where walking away would be easier yet essentially degrading to a relationship? Do you have the courage to admit when you are wrong and work to make it better? Both characters circle these questions but Julia's is dominated by the first and Will's is dominated by the second.The real triumph of this film is how clumsily and often painfully both characters are able, through a commitment to each other and a little help from friends, come to answer both questions with a resounding yes.

[@jonathandias9803]

This movie was poorly marketed and the drama was just to slow , I mean slow , I mean boring !!! I get the ending though , Billy only protected the kids . Had it been just her husband she would of ran too, that’s what the ending illustrated for me at the end. But overall I think this movie had potential , had ......

[@AceHardy]

📝

[@gg.gama666]

There are no 2 words that make me want to watch a movie less than AMERICAN REMAKE

[@animal0mother]

The Departed was decent.

[@thisistheworldtoday]

The Swedish film is so good ...this pales in comparison...Will Ferrell should stick to comedy...the 2 supporting actors who play the ski instructor and the ski patrol guy are great... the sit com ending of him saving her on the slope was stupid...just don’t remake a classic!!!!

[@Will-mt3sn]

Movie/films is part of the Art world. So why remake something that’s already good. Let’s make our own American Teenager boys Beetles band with the same lyrics n sound. Let’s get American artists paint “The last supper”. It’s just examples of reasoning/logic and fully aware the movie is nowhere close to beetles & Da Vinci status. I want the original comedy Will Ferrell back 😫

[@donnymas1405]

Ok, this movie sucked. Thats all that needs to be said.