A waste of 90 minutes of my life

The tone of this movie is interesting -- the stakes are both dramatic and high, but it's balanced with a lot of fun, tongue and cheek dialogue.

This movie tries so hard to be funny, yet it falls flat every time. Just another example of recycled ideas repackaged with women in an attempt to appeal to a certain audience.

Great story, amazing characters, superb action, enthralling cinematography. Yes, this is something I am glad I spent money on.

The Barbarian Invasions film isn't anything that I was prepared for. The cast is superb and entirely French Canadian so I don't know anybody. They are very realistic in their performances as the friends and family come together to celebrate the life of Professor Remy Girard before he leaves them all. The film is a classic ensemble piece of great acting, directing, and writing. Still, Remy has to come to terms with his life and inevitable death. He is reunited with his ex mistresses, friends including a gay couple, his son and daughter-in-law, and his understanding ex-wife. I loved Dorothee Berryman's performance as Louise, his ex wife. The mistresses are also well-performed by veteran French Canadian actresses Louise Portal and Dominique Michel. The film has it's humor although dark but worth it. The friends and family are there to celebrate his life and will mourn his loss inevitably. The film is also an indictment on the Canadian health care system and it's failures as well as illegal drug use and euthanasia or dying with dignity as is the case. The film also suggests life's meaning especially Remy's legacy. The conversation can be offensive and critical of life in general. What is the best to follow and live?

I didn't really have a good impression of this picture so I didn't see it even if it won an Oscar for "Best Foreign Film". I expected the usual boring low-budget story of the guy on his deathbed whom family come remembering tearfully the good times of the past in flashback. Personally I preferred the movie French-Canadian filmmaker Denys Arcand made in 2008 following that one, "L'Age des Ténèbres", which I've seen at least 4 times at a local cinema. But this one is definitely among the best to come out of the city of Montreal. It's a completely fictional story but even I don't think I should be put to sleep, there's still things I would want to do with my life (the question would be more if any pain I may have to endure would make it worthwhile), somehow I relate to the sick father who accept the inevitability of death and accept it the day his family begin injecting him heroin illegally. I think everybody have to see it to make himself an idea, there's not much more to say without giving away spoilers except that it's really entertaining and there's not much risks of being bored watching it...

Arcand's multilayered 'Les Invasions Barbares' is a poignant comedy satire. The multiple sides of the film include: The political side: a criticism of capitalism and socialism. The human/social side: A dysfunctional family reunite and are confronted with their sour relationships. The philosophical/personal side: A dying man looking back at his life thinking what a waste it was and now he searches for meaning as he lies on his deathbed. The psychological side: denial, regret, guilt, acceptance and forgiveness. The ethical side: Pumping a dying man with heroine because it's more effective than morphineArcands infusion of these layers is commendable and he's handled some complex themes with grace. No matter how complex things get, he always manages to amuse the viewer with dry and satirical humour. While the story is engaging, the colourful characters keep the viewer entertained with their presence. The darker tones brings out a gloomy effect which contrasts well with the humour. The director has extracted some fine performances from his actors especially Rémy Girard, Stéphane Rousseau and Marie-Josée Croze. While many of the characters are (suitably) loud, there's a lot of subtle layers within the dialogue and/or background. 'Les Invasions Barbares' is a well-written and well crafted movie. While it deals with poignant themes it keeps the viewer equally amused.

A dying man is surrounded by friends and his estranged son. There isn't much of a plot here, with much time devoted to the mundane actions taken by the son to make sure his father's final days are comfortable. The viewer is supposed to be drawn into the philosophical blabbering of the characters. While they talk a lot, they don't say much that is interesting. One would expect the dying man to have some profound thoughts, but he is rather shallow and self-centered. His son, a millionaire, does little more than bribe people. The film tends to go off on tangents involving minor characters. It eventually becomes tedious, and one wishes the old man would just die so the film can end.