If you are planning to watch "Stay" be prepared for a very slow, twisted film. I believe that the movie honestly had potential, but overall attempted, without success, to be complex. The directing/filming techniques seemed very similar to Crash. I liked the film's image techniques, but the director tried too hard to be unique. At times, one may find it difficult to concentrate on what is happening during a scene. One may find that they are paying close attention to the camera angle instead of focusing on the actual story. However, if you are distracted from the story you really are not missing much. The basic story is as follows:
The movie begins with Henry (Gosling's character) entering the office of his psychiatrist. He is disappointed to find that his regular psychiatrist is out "sick" and finds a temporary replacement in her place (Sam). Sam becomes infatuated with Henry when on the day that they meet Henry somehow predicts a hail storm that actually occurs the very same day. The story continues (extremely slowly) with Henry revealing to Sam that he has plotted suicide to occur on his 21st birthday. He also reveals that he has killed his parents and cannot live with himself for that reason. In the sidelines, another story carries on about Sam and his girlfriend, Lila (Naomi Watts). It becomes known at some point during the film that Lila had attempted suicide, this being the reason for Sam meeting her. We also discover that Henry liked a waitress named Athena. How Athena ties into the mix comes in at the end. Her presence in the bulk of the movie was quite minimal and one never really knows much about her. Though the plot may seem interesting thus far, that is about as "complex" as it gets for a long while.
Now for the ending. Later on in the film, we discover that Henry has an infatuation with an artist that killed himself on the Brooklyn Bridge, on his 21st birthday, considering it a work of art. Henry plans to do the same thing, in the same location. Sam rushes out, trying to save his life but Henry tells Sam that it is simply too late to change his decision. In the end, the camera men do a terrific job at filming a car accident. This car accident happened in the exact spot where Henry killed himself. In turns out that Henry was driving the car that killed his parents and his girlfriend. (This explains why he told Sam that he killed his parents.) Henry dies on the bridge while Lila, the nurse, and Sam, a doctor, try to save his life.
Apparently, "Stay" for the most part was Henry's vision while he lay dying on the bridge. However, it was very hard to make that assumption based on the lack of information in the film. I came to the conclusion that the movie was based upon Henry's out of body experience before death by watching a section of the Special Features, and the details still lack an explanation.
Yes, "Stay" makes one think, but so did "Fight Club." The only difference between them is that "Stay" is composed of small details that cannot be evaluated.
My advice is as follows: Rent the movie. By all means, do not buy it. After you watch it, be sure to watch a little of the special features to make a better understanding of the film. I know that people have various opinions on things, and I have read some reviews that called people who dislike this movie "dimwitted." Well, for those of you who did like it, I will say this: I am glad that you were able to enjoy it. By no means am I saying "DO NOT WATCH THIS FILM!" and nor am I saying that it was great. I am telling you to watch it yourself and form your own opinion of it.
As for me, I thought it was compelling but remains without any explanation of minor details that I feel should have been in some way explained. The point of the movie was that the people who near death often experience things that cannot be explained. That is probably why the minor details were not explained, but unfortunately I observe this "point" with a lack of interest.
The movie begins with Henry (Gosling's character) entering the office of his psychiatrist. He is disappointed to find that his regular psychiatrist is out "sick" and finds a temporary replacement in her place (Sam). Sam becomes infatuated with Henry when on the day that they meet Henry somehow predicts a hail storm that actually occurs the very same day. The story continues (extremely slowly) with Henry revealing to Sam that he has plotted suicide to occur on his 21st birthday. He also reveals that he has killed his parents and cannot live with himself for that reason. In the sidelines, another story carries on about Sam and his girlfriend, Lila (Naomi Watts). It becomes known at some point during the film that Lila had attempted suicide, this being the reason for Sam meeting her. We also discover that Henry liked a waitress named Athena. How Athena ties into the mix comes in at the end. Her presence in the bulk of the movie was quite minimal and one never really knows much about her. Though the plot may seem interesting thus far, that is about as "complex" as it gets for a long while.
Now for the ending. Later on in the film, we discover that Henry has an infatuation with an artist that killed himself on the Brooklyn Bridge, on his 21st birthday, considering it a work of art. Henry plans to do the same thing, in the same location. Sam rushes out, trying to save his life but Henry tells Sam that it is simply too late to change his decision. In the end, the camera men do a terrific job at filming a car accident. This car accident happened in the exact spot where Henry killed himself. In turns out that Henry was driving the car that killed his parents and his girlfriend. (This explains why he told Sam that he killed his parents.) Henry dies on the bridge while Lila, the nurse, and Sam, a doctor, try to save his life.
Apparently, "Stay" for the most part was Henry's vision while he lay dying on the bridge. However, it was very hard to make that assumption based on the lack of information in the film. I came to the conclusion that the movie was based upon Henry's out of body experience before death by watching a section of the Special Features, and the details still lack an explanation.
Yes, "Stay" makes one think, but so did "Fight Club." The only difference between them is that "Stay" is composed of small details that cannot be evaluated.
My advice is as follows: Rent the movie. By all means, do not buy it. After you watch it, be sure to watch a little of the special features to make a better understanding of the film. I know that people have various opinions on things, and I have read some reviews that called people who dislike this movie "dimwitted." Well, for those of you who did like it, I will say this: I am glad that you were able to enjoy it. By no means am I saying "DO NOT WATCH THIS FILM!" and nor am I saying that it was great. I am telling you to watch it yourself and form your own opinion of it.
As for me, I thought it was compelling but remains without any explanation of minor details that I feel should have been in some way explained. The point of the movie was that the people who near death often experience things that cannot be explained. That is probably why the minor details were not explained, but unfortunately I observe this "point" with a lack of interest.