Take

This film exemplifies why the industry needs to keep encouraging the making of independent films. This film couldn't have come from a major studio.

The cinematography was cutting edge and experimental (a patent is even pending on a new camera rig, according to the DP at a Tribeca Q&A), and it worked well to saturate the viewer with the mood of each part of the film.

The writing was precise and tight, but the director allowed the force of the film to be carried more in its silences and in tiny nuances of expression than in dialog.

Which brings me to perhaps the most powerful of the film's elements: the acting. Without the right actors, the powerful message of the film in evoking the immense struggle surrounding rage and forgiveness would have been lost in the silences. Minnie Driver's face on one tight closeup after another showed nuances that were unbelievably powerful. Jeremy Renner's portrayal of a slow inexorable descent into darkness was captured flawlessly. And the little boy - Bobby Coleman (Driver's son in the film)- both enchanted with a completely natural portrayal of charming boyhood and terrified with a chilling reaction to what happens to him. Although young, he was completely real, with none of the Dakota-Fanning-blankness we've come to accept. In a sense, he was the linchpin of the film; if we hadn't cared about him and his relationship to Minnie, we would not have cried as we did.

The whole audience was in tears; be prepared. But...also be prepared to think, and wonder, and grapple with the film. It is well worth it.

I notice all the people giving this high marks saw it at a film festival -- with the actors and writer/director in attendance. I think this has tilted their objectivity -- made them more enamored of it.

I found this movie just dark, grimy, grungy and relentlessly sad and slow-moving. There is some deep booming sound on the soundtrack that occurs just before something bad happens (and a lot of bad things happen) -- it made me want to jump out of my skin.

I'm sure the cinematography is great -- but it's mostly of junky-looking places.

The actors are all very good. The story was OK -- but I think I've seen the topic addressed on Lifetime made-for-TV movies.

If you like really slow-moving stories about hopeless people leading hopeless lives -- then this is the film for you.

It's not my cup of tea. I had to come home and put on a DVD of a good comedy movie so I wouldn't have nightmares.

Good directing and acting. Downer story, probably affected some people ratings.

I thoroughly enjoyed Take. It was a different experience for me than any other movie I have seen. After reading the Take website (takethemovie.com), I was very concerned about ruining my macho image by crying. It turns out that I did not cry but was profoundly and deeply moved by the movie (way beyond crying). I was riveted to the screen throughout the movie and at the moment of resolution, I found myself understanding life from a deeply new perspective. Take helped me to think more deeply about my relationships with those who have been a source of grief in my life. I think I will be a little bit better person for having seen Take.

The movie "Take" is definitely a brain teaser type of movie. I went to see it at the "Tribeca Film Festival" and I really enjoyed it. Its very interesting how it only focuses on the two main characters and how it goes into the present and past and then you end up in the future. Its very fascinating because the movie kind of takes you into a journey into the lives of the main characters Saul and Anna as we see what happens the day that everything changed for them. And its interesting just to see how each of their lives are so different, yet the same in a way. The most important part of the movie and probably the biggest lesson of and in real life is forgiveness. Can we forgive that easily? I found it very interesting. I really enjoyed it, the cast and crew did a wonderful job with it.