SYNOPSICS
My Suicide (2009) is a English movie. David Lee Miller has directed this movie. Gabriel Sunday,David Carradine,Mariel Hemingway,Joe Mantegna are the starring of this movie. It was released in 2009. My Suicide (2009) is considered one of the best Comedy,Drama movie in India and around the world.
Archie Williams is a 17-year old media geek who has suddenly found himself the most talked-about kid in school. He has announced that he's going to kill himself- on camera- for a class project. His classmates, parents, Sierra- the most beautiful girl in school, and a "Shady Bunch" of shrinks, doctors, pill-pushers, and counselors descend on Archie. Some are hoping to save him, some want to imitate him, others try to push him over the brink. Archie films every moment of his high school experience, hiding nothing from his audience: realities of life, death, violence, sex, drugs, and the intense media overload and hypocrisy that bombard all teenagers.
More
My Suicide (2009) Reviews
Ought to win an Oscar...seriously
This film is about a boy who suffers from the fantasy unique to our age: the belief that one's entire life is a movie. The Truman Show is a good example of this: the notion that one's entire life is so perfect, so banal, repetitious and ordinary, that it must be scripted-- it cannot possibly be real. So this boy, Archie, records as much of his life as he possibly can on video, and edits it together in his room. The problem is, no matter how much of his life he makes into a movie, it still feels meaningless. So he announces in his high school film class that he will make a movie in which he kills himself. That will be the plot and the grand finale. His entire neighborhood starts gossiping about him, and his life changes enormously. This is when his real movie-making starts. Suicide is always lurking near him, and the entire movie is a play on various questions of suicide: when we kill ourselves, what are we doing? Is every death a 'suicide' because of the necessarily unsafe ways we live our lives? Is suicide an act of freedom and defiance, or of conformity and weakness-- or neither? Some great cameos from unexpected actors add to the film a lot. This is one of those rare films that covers the entire emotional spectrum, and does so effortlessly. It is as hilarious as it is tragic, as fragmented as it is thorough. If it receives the distribution it deserves, it will be a hit.
Can a movie save a life?
I attended the North American Premiere of "My Suicide" at the 2009 SXSW Film Festival where it screened to a sold-out 1300-seat Paramount Theatre. I'm always looking for the "sweet little American indie." You can now add "My Suicide" to the list -- although "sweet" and "little" may not apply. It's more of a "heartwrenching big American indie." When his high school class is instructed to submit a class project, Archie Williams (Gabriel Sunday) has the perfect video in mind -- he'll film his own suicide. Classmates and adults alike reel in horror at the prospect, but some aren't so disturbed by it. Count among them the vivacious Sierra Silver (Brooke Nevin), every boy's wet dream, whose fascination with Archie's idea is puzzling to the self-professed loner. As friends, family, and an assorted flock of professionals come out of the woodwork in well-intentioned attempts to dissuade him from this act, he begins to wake up to the reality that he's not alone in his pain. "My Suicide" was directed by David Lee Miller from a story he co-wrote with his son Jordan. The screenplay was written by David along with Eric J. Adams and star Gabriel Sunday. The film was edited by Jordan and Gabriel. Miller had his hands firmly at the wheel but was able to throw many conventions out the window because much of what we are seeing is through the eyes of a high school student -- Archie (Gabriel Sunday), not Miller. Although many young people are keenly aware of how to make amateur video look professional, there was a danger in production values being of too high quality. So, much like the mind of a teenager, the first act in particular is a cinematic assault on the senses, with frenetic cuts, chaotic sound, and dazzling visuals. Still, Miller's movie makes the most of its small budget and cuts no such corners. "My Suicide" is actually quite amusing as events unfold. Once the viewer gets past the initial shock of Archie's plans it becomes apparent that life in a YouTube world can be a hallucinatory pleasure. Counterintuitively, living in Archie's suicidal mind is a high from which we never want to come down. But, like any mind-altering substance, we know it won't last. The film turns dark as expected but in completely unexpected ways. This is clearly Gabriel Sunday's film. Now 23, he was only 19 when production began in early 2005. His performance as the tortured teen left many audience members shaking their heads in wonder. The ability to carry a film like this is quite rare for a young actor with such a small body of work to his credit, let alone the fact that he had such a large hand in writing, shooting, and editing the film. This was only his first feature -- he's done a bit of television, mostly after "My Suicide" was filmed. Many more are sure to follow. Brooke Nevin is a delight as Archie's foil, occasional foe, and would-be friend. Her character is destined to either unravel Archie's plans or cement them. It is a tribute to Nevin's ability to keep her emotions close to the vest that viewers are constantly being challenged. In addition to Sunday and Nevin, the all-star cast features star turns from David Carradine as the legendary poet Vargas and Joe Mantegna as the shrink who earns Archie's trust. Mariel Hemingway is delightful as Sierra's clueless, narcissistic mother. Some of the film's most heartwrenching, tear-inducing scenes owe their power to Nora Dunn's loving portrayal of Archie's mom and some of the classmates who enter Archie's life, in particular Zachary Ray Sherman (Corey) and Michael Welch (Earl). Supporting cast members all show great dedication to the project, including Vanessa Lengies, Tony Hale, and Kurtis Bedford. The concept of a movie within a movie is certainly not new but the level to which the idea is executed here is simply breathtaking. Miller and his team have created a technological marvel that never allows the stunning visuals to overshadow the film's urgent message. This is one of those rare films that not only can be appreciated by just about anyone but should -- must be seen by anyone who has ever searched for love and acceptance. In short, everyone.
A true indie with a broad appeal
I can only agree with the other comments. MY SUICIDE is a true find, and will hopefully make its way into international cinemas. Despite the fine cast, including established thesps like Joe Mantegna, Mariel Hemingway and David Carradine, it is a true independent film with a small budget, but skillfully done, and spiced with such a sharp sense of humour, a lot of energy, heart and food for thought. It doesn't play dumb for the audience, but stays easily accessible throughout without ever becoming trivial. Main actor / co-writer / co-editor / producer Gabriel Sunday (here wrongfully credited with the role Holden, rather than Archie) shows so much talent that you can almost turn envious. There'll be more to see of him in the future for sure! The wicked editing and compositing, the multi-format footage, and the congenial animation add-ons never feel contrived, but spice the film with a young look that will hit the youthful viewers especially. You can watch MY SUICIDE just for entertainment (even after the laughable scenes get replaced by the more serious themes), you can watch it for pointers and understanding - your own troubles, your friends' or your kid's. But you should watch it nonetheless! Just hope you'll get the chance. Fingers crossed this film will get the publicity it deserves!
Do not miss this great movie.
I just saw this movie earlier tonight at a screening, and I can honestly say that it was an excellent movie. I do hope that it gets a theatrical release. It was very different from any other movie that I have ever seen and I think that's what makes it so interesting and delightful. It is a little dark and has a lot of vulgar language, but that it was makes the movie so realistic and able to relate to. And then again, it is about suicide. Also, the movie has a great message and has a a compelling way to get through to the audience, and more importantly, the youth. Because the youth is what it is mainly targeting towards. Definitely go see it because not a lot of movies like this are out there.
One of the best films of the year - if it gets distribution...
Just saw "My Suicide" at the Berlin Film Festival, where it was hidden in the "Generation" section for children's and youth-related movies. It is hard to describe the story and visual experience of this movie in just a few lines, so to spare you an extensive review, I'll just say this: "My Suicide" is one of the most powerful, most inventive and most thought-provoking movies in years, constructed in a tour-de-force of virtuoso editing (finishing this movie after principal photography took three years) that will blow the mind of any real film lover on this planet. And it is the most insightful, intelligent movie I have ever seen on the topic of teenage suicide. "My Suicide" is surely not only the best film of the entire festival, but one of the best films of this year - if somebody is daring enough to pick it up and distribute it properly. I pray for all movie freaks out there that somebody does.