C.O.G. [Blu-ray]

I think this film captured the short story well and I really enjoyed watching it. I could relate a lot to the main character, and I think a lot of us can remember being young and scared and maybe a little too cocky in an attempt to hide our fears. There was one moment in particular that moved me to tears, but poignant moments are hidden throughout the film. I only wish the DVD had been released in region 2 format as I had to switch my laptop settings to play it.

This is a delightful film that will win over most of its audience with its humour and natural light-heartedness. It’s an unusual film that will be the better for finding its niche admirers and keeping well away from anything as bland as mainstream.Right off the bat it had me smiling and surprised at the quality of its colourful language, and I soon found I was falling in love with it. Never heard of Jonathan Groff before but I’ll definitely be looking out for him again.I love how he portrays David, maintaining his open mind and cheerful outlook despite a wealth of uncertainty. He meets characters as colourful as the language, but the help they offer doesn’t always end well.That’s what’s great about the film; there is a certain tension underlying most of David’s journey, and because of the wonderful humour throughout, the few moments it has of tension and gravity are more keenly felt.It has an uncanny feel; pacing, not to mention the characters; you never really know how to take any of them; whether or not they're genuine. It's this ambiguity that intrigues and provides some shocking - and some hilarious - moments.He eventually finds his way to Christianity via C.O.G, a local fellowship. The tension is most evident here as Jon (Denis O’Hare) is a real enigma. Despite the platitudes and sermons he spouts you get the impression he’s a bit of a loose cannon.O’Hare really shines here; he does a great job of presenting one face whilst just showing us a glimpse of his true one.David’s conversion is wonderfully done and confirms, as does another intense scene, that Jonathan Groff is a superb actor, entirely natural and wholly believable.The ending has received some criticism and I must agree; I found it awful. I'm not overly concerned with happy endings, but this was way too abrupt.It wouldn’t be half as bad if it had been balanced by a glimmer of hope, but no; we get a rather scathing and offensive diatribe from Jon, to which poor David can do nothing more than offer a meek agreement that he is as sick as they come.Crickey! It took me a few minutes to get over that ending, especially considering how easy it would have been to have added a spark of something good for David.Don’t let that put you off though; yes I fervently wish it were different, but the film is still incredibly enjoyable. It’s a warning, I guess, that sometimes despite our best intentions, or our furious denial, you can’t refute who you are, no matter whom that may be, or what you throw it its way. That sounds depressing, and it is, hence the contentious end. Do yourself a favour: the moment the screen goes (unceremoniously) black, don your director’s hat and make up your own!

this is the biggest lot of sh.te I have had the misfortune of watching in a very longtime. Americans and their stupid religion, the whole thing would be laughable if it wasn't so sad

This is a powerful story, subtly crafted through clever humour and scripting. In fact, the dialogue between the characters at times becomes quite evocative and mesmerising. Jonathan Groff does an exceptional job of portraying the conflicted David, whose preconceived ideas about the world are slowly eroded through a series of chance encounters with strangers. Similarly Denis O'Hare (as Jon) the proselytising convert finds that his spoken word is not always his practised truth, and his edgy and at times unstable character makes for an uneasy tension with David. O'Hare in my opinion is a grossly underrated actor, and personally I think his portrayal in C.O.G is one of his best.Plucked (no pun intended) from his stable college education, and placed amongst the apple pickers to work along side them, David tries to find identity and security. His self imposed alienation and removal from family and friends seems confusing and random, but as the film progresses one realises a deep conflict and fear that almost paralyses him.Extremely well written and with some superb acting makes this film a gem. Sadly not many will get to see it, as it has little (if any) broad appeal. The story being long and subtly unfolded, one cannot help but be mesmerised by the awakening David slowly experiences.A must for every kindred spirit. A definite for every Johanathan Groff fan, and a certainty for the those that would care to see Denis O'Hare at his best.

CAUTION! SPOILERS MAY LURK BELOW!I'd never heard of David Sedaris, and this movie doesn't motivate me to change that. If he's anything at all like the David in this movie, he's a rich, spoiled, shallow, obnoxious, narcissistic, condescending, self-pitying, passive-aggressive jerk. Not the kind of person I want in my life.I might have liked this movie if only Curly (or Jon, or anybody!) had beaten that you-can't-get-mad-at-me-I'm-just-a-lost-little-boy smirk off his face, but it didn't happen. Too bad. Other reviewers talk about how he grew and changed in the course of the movie, but I guess they saw a different movie. He was a spoiled, self-pitying jerk in the beginning and he was still a spoiled, self-pitying jerk at the end.I thought I liked Jonathan Groff (he's what drew me to this movie) but the more he plays obnoxious characters like this the more I suspect it may be because he's like them. And Dennis O'Hare is so reliably good that it's surprising how bad he is here. The Christianity shtick in this movie feels completely false, sour and vindictive, like something shoehorned in only to let the writer settle a mean-spirited old grudge.I stuck with this movie all the way to the end, and the best thing I can say about it is that it did, finally, end. I hated it.