My Dinner with Andre (1981)

There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

Not sure how, but this is easily one of the best movies all summer. Multiple levels of funny, never takes itself seriously, super colorful, and creative.

The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

This movie is superbly written and has some of the best dialogue I've ever experienced on film. The sudden editing and lighting changes were rather obtrusive at times, but overall, it's a bloody good film!!!

I'm not aware that there is another film quite like My Dinner with Andre, and it's seems to me that there will probably never be another like it. Regardless of how successful you think this film is, I think you have to admire the ambition of it. In a conventional sense, this film is basically one hour and a half long scene. It is as the title suggests. It is a feature length dinner conversation. Of course, if you haven't seen the film you would probably scoff at the mere prospect of it. How are you supposed to film nearly two hours of a single conversation had between two guys out to dinner? What are you supposed to do with the camera? When considering this, I have the utmost respect for Louis Malle. He understood that the film was not in the film making, but in the content. There is nothing flashy about this film. What you imagine is likely what you will receive. You simply watch a conversation take place over dinner. So, naturally the notion of a film which lacks any sort of special film making execution is likely going to make some people apprehensive. That's understandable. The reason I wanted to highlight the minimalist approach to the direction of this film is to illustrate just how excellently it is written. This is perhaps one of the most sincerely written films I have ever seen. The dialogue here is not just a lengthy exchange of quips and thinly veiled conniving, nor is it a load of pretentious philosophy and celebration of the human intellect. It is simply two people talking to each other honestly about their lives. The key term here being 'honest'. I think that if you were to try to separate definitively the good films from the bad ones, a good way to go about it would be to examine which ones are truly honest. Specifically, which ones are honest about the human experience. In this way, My Dinner with Andre becomes a great film. I believe every word that these characters are saying. The experiences they relate are real, and that they have affected them profoundly. In a way, it's almost frightening. The dialogue of this film, which is really the film in its entirety, is born out of such a universal human truth that it inevitably speaks to the heart of all that will watch it. I will be fair. Like I said before, this is a very minimalist film. If you come for a grandiose and masterful execution of the visual medium, then you will likely be disappointed. I'm not saying this film is directed poorly. The decisions made with concern for the final product were the correct ones. In order for this film to respect the spirit of honesty which the writing embodies, it had to surrender itself to its concept. As admirable as it is, I do understand that this film is almost too ambitious (though some would say not ambitious enough). Film is fundamentally a visual medium, and while I think the performances on screen justify the use of film, I do concede that a film which is just dialogue contradicts the nature of film making itself. This is the pinnacle of writing, but it is not the pinnacle of the art of the motion picture. Regardless, I would sincerely encourage that you watch this film if you haven't, because there's a good chance you'll love it.

Deceptively simple, yet breathtakingly masterful "My Dinner with André" tumbles the whole conception of the "movie as entertainment" on its head and boldly presents film as a thought- provoking medium. Far from being a dry technical experiment, it actually glues a viewer to the screen, not because its delicate camera work or some visual flourish but because of what it was said, how it was said and what kind of unspoken communication goes on around the table. There is a pure, serious magic going on here and its experience quite unlike any other movie I had ever seen. Since we are all brainwashed that movies have to "have a story" the whole idea that we can watch two hours dinner conversation sound somewhat absurd - not only it works, but it leaves one head buzzing for days, if not for weeks. In a nutshell - two friends who have been close but drifted apart trough the years, meet for a dinner and talk. Not your usual superficial chit chat, but real, intelligent conversation between two grown up persons about meaning of life, search of one's purpose, the difference between dreams and reality, choices in life and such. That one is a sensitive dreamer and another firmly locked into material world just makes the conversation flow more fascinating. To my own surprise I found myself completely drawn, almost hypnotized into this and feeling that I actually understand both of them. Perhaps it is too early to say and I might need to see it several more times before I finally made my mind about this, but maybe - just maybe - we could keep our own gentle, dreaming André inside and live outside lives as Wally and his simple joys, electric blanket and all.I am perfectly aware this is not a movie for everyone, for the simple reason that lots of people don't have any point of reference to all of this - surprisingly big number of them don't even know what is a conversation like this. That there were individuals like André Gregory, Wallace Shawn and Louis Malle leaves a huge, deep impression on me. Honestly, the next movie I see will just appear superficial. We are now used to nonchalantly watch crime as entertainment and it makes me sick already, I mean how many killings, rapes and cut throating scenes can one watch in life? "My Dinner with André" was a real eye-opener. Loved every second of it.

Wally Shawn (Wallace Shawn) is a 36 year old struggling playwright in NYC. He's also a struggling actor and his girlfriend is a waitress to pay the bills. He reluctantly goes to have dinner with Andre Gregory (Andre Gregory) who is a former friend and colleague. Andre had disappeared over the years traveling the world.It's a lot of long winding monologues. I struggled to get invested in the conversation. This is a daring theatrical exercise but I don't feel connected to Andre's stories. It does have a hypnotic tone which can be fascinating but I also found it pompous. NYC is not Auschwitz. It's a mostly one-way conversation and Andre won't shut up. The twist isn't that surprising. Andre turns from a pompous blow-hard to a crazy pompous blow-hard. Wally is disappointing in his manic failing defense of science. At least, the ending has some back and forth.