Image via Feelgood Entertainment
The Lobster
What it’s about:
David is a newly single man who checks into a special hotel designed to help people find a partner. At the hotel, residents have 45 days to find a mate. If they do not succeed, they will be transformed into an animal of their choice. David still takes care of his brother who had been turned into a dog, but David himself chooses a lobster. Throughout the weeks, David attempts to find a connection or similarity between himself and any of the women in the hotel. But when he becomes acquainted with the illegal loners that live nearby the hotel, David questions if one of them might be the right person for him, or if there is none at all.
Major Players:
The absurdist dramedy was directed and co-written by Greek filmmaker Yorgos Lanthimos, along with fellow co-writer Efthymis Filippou. Lanthimos has been previously nominated for Best Foreign Language Film for his 2009 offering Dogtooth. The film stars Colin Farrell, who has never been nominated, but is long overdue, as David. Also featured are 2006 Supporting Actress winner Rachel Weisz as “Nearsighted Woman,” Ben Whishaw as “Limping Man,” and 2003 nominee John C. Reilly as “Lisping Man.”
What the Critics are Saying:
The originality and execution of The Lobster has garnered immense praise for the film. Boasting a 90% on Rotten Tomatoes, the film is described by Guy Lodge of Variety as “A wickedly funny protest against societal preference for nuclear coupledom that escalates, by its own sly logic, into a love story of profound tenderness and originality.” It has been recognized by several publications as being simultaneously humorous and disturbing; Stephanie Merry of the Washington Post notes that “this oddly sadistic society isn’t so very different from ours after all.” But some have criticized the way it progresses, like The Guardian’s Peter Bradshaw, who writes that the film “starts hilariously but loses its bite.”
Possible Nominations:
Critics are calling this a long shot for Best Picture, Best Director (Lanthimos), and Leading Actor (Farrell), but its unique story makes it a very strong contender for a nomination for Best Original Screenplay (Lanthimos and Filippou).