The High Cost of Living

The High Cost of Living (2010)

There is something about this kind of slice-of-life movie with a major hook--in this case a car accident and an injury--that makes you want to watch. And here we have a rather realistic depiction of working class Montreal which is interesting as a backdrop, unromanticized.

The two leading characters, a Francophone Canadian and an Anglophone New Yorker transplanted to the city, are equally realistic. They find themselves needing, and helping, each other to get through the crisis. You grow gradually to like them just as they slowly learn to like each other, though whether a romance comes out of it is always in doubt.

But this isn't quite enough to sustain a full length movie. There is no significant secondary plot, there is no terrific surprise or second phase after the first problem gets resolves. Instead, the main problem (which I'm trying not to give away) is stretched to cover the whole extent and so it gets slow. Often.

It's interesting enough you stick with it, but you'll wish for me. I think it's probably true a different pair of leads--including the more famous Zach Braff--could energize or give depth to the role in a way that would fulfill us all better. And the situation they find themselves in is actually fascinating--a little dramatic and unlikely, yes, but leading to an inevitable climax. The relationship grows with delicacy but little emotional complexity.

Until the last scene, which is a beautiful way to bring it all to a close.

I'm not sure how this film snuck past me until now. It's an absolute masterpiece.

Isabelle Blais' performance is amazing. My heart was breaking watching her, she was so good. I really felt her pain. I really wanted to hate Braff's character, he's not necessarily the most stellar human being – but he's oddly likable.

I loved the quietness of the film. Its character driven, and reminded me of the Hal Hartley films I loved when I was younger.

I'll be looking out for Deborah Chow's next offering. This has gone into my favourite all-time films.

Terrifically emotive film. Almost too much to bear watching at times. I was, i guess surprised that only two other reviewer here seem to have experienced it in a similar way. At least, I'm not the only one.

I've just finished watching this movie and I must admit I didn't expect it to be as great as I think it was. First of all, the plot was original. When I read what was the movie about I automatically wanted to give it a try which now I think was a good impulse. The cast was unknown to me with the exception of Zach Braff whom I consider a great actor after seeing "The last Kiss" and "Garden State".

Second, the narration of the story was well done and I think there was nothing else to ad, of course the ending leave me hanging because I wanted to know what was going to happen next but nevertheless was a terrific ending. I just wish the movie could show all of that on the rating, the current one doesn't make it justice. I highly recommend it!

This riveting film is not your typical redemption movie, though you see in a realistic fashion the main character searching for it diligently. Zach Braff plays a man without boundaries or concern for consequence who is suddenly arrested by his own poor choices. The story follows relationships between people who connect, but, just like real life, not quite perfectly. You see the cost of these relationships, and how sometimes there is no pay off. I loved the character development and entire mood of the film. Braff, who I watched religiously on "Scrubs" is phenomenal and unrecognizable from previous roles. The entire cast is great and production and direction may have had budgeting problems, but not enough to take away from this gritty (I promised myself I wouldn't use that word) tale.