Fish Tank (2009)

Good , But It Is Overrated By Some

A lot more amusing than I thought it would be.

Simple and well acted, it has tension enough to knot the stomach.

It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

Initially repulsed by her mother's much younger new boyfriend, a teenage outcast finds herself slowly becoming attracted to him herself in this British drama starring first time actress Katie Jarvis. For an amateur actress, Jarvis offers quite a convincing performance with some great moments as she silently watches her mother dance in her underwear with a mix of pity and contempt. Whenever Jarvis opens her mouth though, it is hard not to squirm. Her character is written as someone so foul-mouthed, obnoxious and burning up with hate that it is hard to warm to her even when we see the upbringing that has led to be being so antisocial (she breaks another girl's nose simply for a rude remark within the first five minutes of the film). None of the other characters here are particularly likable either, and while her mother is probably the most intriguing character with her desire to still party and flirt like a teenager herself, she remains a secondary supporting character throughout. The film comes off as quite repetitive too. A kidnapping plot turn in the second half almost pulls the movie in a daringly different direction, but the potential of this subplot is never quite maximised. Between the innovative camera-work (full of shots that both walk and run with Jarvis) and desolate urban landscapes, 'Fish Tank' is a pretty good looking film, but one may find its appeal as mysterious as the title.

I feel like I've seen this movie before but I can't quite rememberOr maybe this is just how Fish Tank is able to relate to the audience. It's hands down a very realistic approach to a common story.I do love how low key the movie is. Absolutely no melodrama in anyone's performance. Very minimum story. It feels more about the flow of real life.The filmmaker makes that seem like an easy task.I don't know if there is such a thing as organic film making but this is it, no artificial flavors of preservatives.The slight bit of story focus on a 15 year girl, named Mia living in a harsh area who has a dream of being a hip hop dancer.Michael Fassbender is in the movie playing the boyfriend of Mia's mother. From the moment he comes on the screen you get the feeling of what his intentions are. Fassbender seems to do well playing the likable villain.I really like how so much was said with so little very natural.http://cinemagardens.com

Mia (Katie Jarvis) is a volatile fifteen-year-old hip hop dancer living with her white trash mother Joanne (Kierston Wareing) and brash younger sister Tyler. She's been expelled from school and spends her days practicing her moves in an abandoned flat. She tries to free a horse being kept in a rundown lot and is almost gang raped. Conor (Michael Fassbender) is her mother's new boyfriend.Katie Jarvis is a revelation and it's too bad that she didn't get a follow-up career. She's so natural that it's almost like she's not acting. She has both the volatile rage and the touching innocence. I didn't even realize that Fassbender is in this. There is an overabundance of white trash cinema. Writer/director Andrea Arnold should edit this down from its two hour running time.

I'm...not quite sure how I feel about this film. I like it, but there are some moments in it that make me somewhat uncomfortable. I watched this movie, purely because Michael Fassbender was in it. I love Micheal Fassbender, have every since X-Men First Class. He is a wonderful actor and excels in every role he's given.I thought this film was going to be a powerful stepfather/daughter movie, but it wasn't until the last 30 minutes that I realized what was going on and it kinda creeped me out. I have nothing against a younger woman and a somewhat older man being together, but something about their relationship freaked me out. Especially once we learn he's married.