I am only giving this movie a 1 for the great cast, though I can't imagine what any of them were thinking. This movie was horrible

I wanted to like it more than I actually did... But much of the humor totally escaped me and I walked out only mildly impressed.

The acting is good, and the firecracker script has some excellent ideas.

Story: It's very simple but honestly that is fine.

Completely flat, unfathomably long, completely unwatchable. Nondimensional characters deliver trite deadpan lines and it I'm supposed to think its brilliant and funny? This movie had almost nothing in it that was genuinely amusing. It had anti-stereotypes like accountant-torturers that wouldn't sustain a SNL sketch let alone what felt like a 16 hour movie. It wasn't sexy or smart. There wasn't one likable character (if you could argue that this film had characters), and for the most part there was no plot, nothing at all to keep you interested. If I hadn't agreed to watch it, I would have turned it off during every scene. I just don't get the joke. Is the film-loving community so desiccated by ennui that they adore a film that shakes its angry fist at the concept of being entertaining?

This is a surprising movie. It's more crime genre than you expect with Isabelle Huppert in cast, but much more French style than you expect from American director. First part of the movie was Chabrol-like (and it's a complement), second is more action but far from modern American action movies (that I don't like). This change is well made, it has reasons according to the development of the plot. *** spoilers, including end of movie !! ***The movie shows a few days that make a whole life for two main characters. Isabelle was lethargic, almost in a hibernation, living in a nunnery and later waiting for things to happen; now she feels she found the purpose of her existence, to fulfill the task she has been given by Holy Virgin, and starts living. At the end of the movie she succeeded in doing it, her possible lover is killed, she is left empty and seems emotionally dead. For Thomas the situation is even more extreme: suffering complete amnesia it's as if he was born on the beginning of the movie, and (physically) dies at the end. His death is absurd: though he was a criminal, ruining many lives, he is punished for crimes he (because of amnesia) doesn't even know he did. And it makes this execution as pointless as in Easy Rider or Blue Soldier. Photography was better indoors than outdoors (restaurant in the beginning, Sofia and the rose, or empty room where Edward was tortured); good camera angles in country house when Edward looks for Thomas. In a border-reality movie like this some use of slow-motion or Hamilton-like soft photo could be expected, but maybe it would look to much like a dream (Isabelle) or nightmare (Thomas), or too profane, so the director didn't do it. Interesting use of carefully chosen objects, like a lamp in empty room: it seems to be the guy's only possession in a place he uses to make love, and now it is used for violence, for torturing.* spoilers-free part *I don't know how many people will enjoy this movie. It's not like old French crime movies (Delon, Belmondo, Ventura) or modern American action movies, so if you expect it, be careful. Maybe you'll like it, I did. But I like Chabrol and old film-noir movies, so if you're closer to my taste, and if you prefer visual beauty and mood instead of action and dynamic change of scenes, this could be a movie for you.

Yes, I'm aware that Hal Hartley is an acclaimed independent film maker. I like most of his films myself.Yes, I'm aware that I'm supposed to like this film.That having been made clear, I want the $1.50 it cost me to see "Amateur" back! (Hey, it's been eight years and I'm not asking for interest or emotional damages.)I suppose it's only fair that I give some reasons for thinking that "Amateur" is a bad film. 1) It is too long. The story could have been told quicker. 2) Owing, in part, to the first reason, it is boring. 3) It keeps faking you out, making you think that something exciting is about to happen and you, the weary viewer, keep giving it that chance. It's kind of like an abusive relationship: despite being hurt time after time, you can't break it off.Don't get me wrong, I'm not claiming that I could do a better job or anything like that. It's just that I had really high hopes for "Amateur" and those hopes were crushed.

I kept waiting for this movie to make sense at some point, and it never happened. I looked at the IMDB rating hoping to get some kind of an idea how many people saw the film and how many people gave it a rating higher than 7. Boy was I disapointed. What a waste of celluloid!