Singles

A laid-back film about things each of us experiences, whether it's in Seattle or Brno. People fall in love, then break up, forming love relationships that later either go the way of let's at least be friends or, at best, embark on a journey through life together, full of mutual understanding. Crowe talks about all this with great insight in a film full of unlearned life situations and clever dialogue, the main idea of which is the very obvious fact that everyone needs someone and the heart always tells you. And with the grunge scene at its peak, with the likes of Alice in Chains and Soundgarden, then there’s no need to worry. It was nice to soak up the atmosphere of Seattle, a city whose influence on the music scene was becoming global at the time. It was filmed at the same time that Nirvana kicked open the "doors of perception" and helped bring rock music to public radio with Nevermind. Who knows, maybe Crowe's film helped a bit with that. PS: I was amused by Pearl Jam singer Eddie Vedder's tiny role as the drummer of Dillon's band :) (05/02/2006)

This sympathetic relationship comedy about a group of friends dealing with love and partnership issues was likely the starting point for the most popular American sitcom Friends. The film, with a decent cast led by Bridget Fonda, doesn't have any significant weaknesses, but at the same time, it doesn't have as well-defined contrasting characters and a flurry of one-liners as Friends did. Overall impression: 65%. (10/08/2010)

Cameron Crowe is once again himself and tells a slightly worn-out and fundamentally simple story about love and relationships. However, it is not always just black and white, and the occasional straightforwardness and clear linearity bothered me quite a bit. The characters are quite interesting, but their problems are somewhat ordinary, you can’t really get under their skin. Everything is too predictable, but Crowe plays with the material like a child, and thanks to his directorial skill, delivers many unforgettable scenes. Also Matt Dillon is truly an exemplary hippie, complete with an incredibly dull expression. It's just that the strength to change and the realization that “she is the right one” didn't quite fit for me. It's a bit bland, yet as a way to relax, it's quite watchable. (23/10/2006)