Mozart and the Whale (2005) User Reviews

Very good job on capturing spirit of inspiring real aspies....

[wholphin48 · 7/10 · 30 December 2005]

My opinion is obviously prejudiced as I am "the whale" in the title of this movie. My wife is "Mozart." I appreciate the time the cast and other principals spent with real aspergers and autism adults. It paid off. Both Josh Hartnett and Radha Mitchell did a terrific job of capturing the spirit of myself and my wife when we met.

Rahda looks much more like Mary did when we met. I was never as tall as Josh but was much slimmer at his age. There are all kinds of whales and while Josh is a nice, sleek Blue Whale by comparison, I have become an Orca in my middle age.

I have high hopes that an eventual theater release will enable this film to do a great service to my community and to anyone who feels different and wants a soulmate!

In order to not unduly influence the tally, I gave it a seven which is the current average rating although I think it merits a higher number.

"The Whale" fka Jerry Newport

Josh Hartnett proves he can act

[deconstructing · 7/10 · 17 April 2011]

Many people have doubts about Josh Hartnett's acting abilities. He's landed some good performances in his earliest roles (The Virgin Suicides, O), but once the teenagers adopted him as the next big celebrity crush he got swallowed in the hype that led to Pearl Harbor. This destroyed any credibility he might have as an actor, and he has spent the rest of the decade trying to prove himself as a serious actor and to get rid of the hearth throb image.

He completely succeeds in this goal with Mozart and the Whale. He plays Donald, a young man with Asperger's syndrome so well, you forget it's him. The performance is rough, unpolished and honest, and while it might not be technically perfect it's evident Hartnett was very inspired and motivated. It is a very good performance, and anybody who doubts his acting abilities should watch this film before making a judgment. The only problem is: not many people saw this film. And it is a shame.

Radha Mitchell plays Isabelle, a young woman with Asperger's, and the film follows the two protagonists fall in love. Mitchell is also good in her role, but is less sympathetic; that is, until you realize what it seems like annoying, shallow girl, is actually the display of her Asperger's syndrome.

The film itself, however, is full of the problems. It tries to be a romantic comedy about an unusual couple, but it doesn't work that way. Rumor says something went wrong in the production, and due to some executive meddling the film failed to be a drama it was meant to be. Allegedly, this made Josh Hartnett mad and he chose not to promote the film, which is a shame, because it's probably his best performance to date.

Sometimes, it feels like a genuine story about people with Asperger's meeting, falling in love and having a relationship (it is based on true people and events), but at the moments it is reduced to the common denominator. You simply can't do that with a theme like this; this one doesn't work as a romantic comedy with quirky protagonists. It also feels like good 30 minutes of it is missing; it's rushed, especially in the last third.

Still, even simplified and "Hollywoodised", this film is a good watch. But it's mainly because of the main cast, particularly Hartnett. He finds his voice like never before and manages to make us believe he's an individual with Asperger's living his life, falling in love, and trying to resolve everyday problems.

At the end, the film is disappointing, but the best scenes deserve to be watched over and over again. Essentially, this film is a missed potential with some great acting.

Entertaining first, thought provoking second.

[Crazyonyou · 7/10 · 27 December 2005]

A simple story of two people trying to find companionship, happiness and love in a confusing world. The fact that these two inspiring and very real characters have Asperger's Syndrome is not really important, but the fact like so many of us they struggle to connect with a soul mate and maintain a relationship, is. From what Aspies tell me, the performances of both leads, Hartnett and Mitchell, are spot on... a real credit to both actors and it's obvious they researched their roles thoroughly. Both entertaining and thought provoking, it's a romance without being gushing, but one where you genuinely care for the people involved.

Watch this film if you have or know someone with autism or if you just happen to have tried and failed to find love and happiness in this weird world we live in.

Not that good enough!!!!!!!

[kundan-nitrkl · 7/10 · 9 March 2008]

The story of the film is very strong and it could have been far better if the delicacy of the relationship and the hurdles it finds when both the companions are crazy were depicted more clearly. I was expecting more. Although I was disappointed that it didn't do proper justice but never regretted to watch the film. I think I'll like to watch it again some time. Kudos to the efforts of Josh and Radha although Josh impressed me more. While Donald's disability was more pronounced in the screen little was shown about the problem with Izzy. The subject is very daring and needs full justice. The movie does open our thoughts towards the Aspergers and thats the biggest accomplishment for it. Such social films are more encouraged. Initially I was wondering about the title selection but in the middle of the movie, I found it perfect. It couldn't have been better. Its Halloween that the real of oneself comes out and aptly, they are the whale and the Mozart.

A warm and gripping film

[Gordon-11 · 6 July 2007]

This film is about a young man and a young woman, who have Asperger's Syndrome, falling in love with each other.

This film is very impressive. Josh Hartnett portrays the main character, Donald, who has poor social skills and social relatedness. His lack of eye contact, shyness, inability to comprehend facial expressions and body language are all portrayed well in the movie. It shows that Josh Hartnett can seriously act. The film is bright, warm and sweet. As for the visuals, there is always abundant colours in the film, and adequate lighting is ensured throughout the movie. I really like this point because it adds a positive feel to the film. I am glad to have watched this film, and even more glad that it can help to raise awareness of Asperger's syndrome.

I wish there were more films like it...

[johnslegers · 7/10 · 29 March 2011]

Having Asperger's Syndrome basically means that you're born without emotional intuition (which includes emotional empathy) and while the symptoms that are a consequence of this are largely the same among most (if not all) individuals, there is nevertheless a significant difference in intelligence and personality between people with Asperger's Syndrome.

"Mozart and the Whale" focuses on two extremes within the diverse ranges of people with Asperger's Syndrome, this being the quiet introverted conventional guy and the loud extroverted anti-conventional woman, both having higher than average intelligence. As a man born with Asperger's Syndrome, I recognize myself for about 75% in Isabelle (we even have the same laugh) and about 25% in Donald and I regard both of them as very accurate representations of Asperger's Syndrome.

For me, this makes "Mozart and the Whale" a very personal movie. It's not a perfect movie by any standards, but it's a great movie for those who like to see how people with Asperger's Syndrome can function in society and have a meaningful relationship in spite of their social difficulties.

Mozart and the Whale is Excellent

[ellyt · 10/10 · 17 December 2006]

We waited in anticipation for the release of Mozart and the Whale for 2 years. We kept writing the company and asking when it would be released. We met Jerry Newport at ASA 2 years ago (my son, Josh, aged 11 has Asperger's Syndrome) and wanted so much to see the story of him and Mary. As an aside, I wish you could have heard the conversation between Jerry and Michael John Carley on the various Beethoven movements...it was the most amazing impromptu music theory talk I have ever heard.

At any rate, Mozart and the Whale was in limited release and so we waited for the DVD to be out. Finally it is!! And we watched it last night. We were not disappointed. It was wonderful. There was so much truth in it. We saw the range of autism in the group that Donald formed. Then there was the quirkiness of the various people. But it showed the love and caring that can form among any person, no matter what the diagnosis. We loved Izzy's laugh...that HA! We know kids with Asperger's who can't modulate their sounds and sound way loud in their approach to life.

I also loved the sequences about his living style. This is so much like my son....the stacks of stuff...the collections....the freaking out when his stuff is moved around....this is all real folks. And it is portrayed with a sensitivity and humor that can't help but to make you smile and/or laugh....not at Donald and Izzy, but with the cherishing of the moments that parents feel when they experience the familiarity of the moments.

But to me, the big question was what would Josh (my son) think of how Asperger's was depicted. Now, remember, he met Jerry and really thinks he is COOL. Josh said "see mom, that means that I can meet someone and get married too, so don't worry anymore". This movie gives me hope that a life of independence and companionship is possible for Josh.

Yes, we adore Jerry Newport. He knows a lot...he shares some of it with us in this film. Do yourself a favor...get this DVD and let's hope that Sundance will show the world that Mozart and the Whale is a film that needs to be shown.

Interesting movie

[jolien · 7/10 · 31 December 2006]

This movie seemed designed to simply show the wide range of abilities and disabilities in Asperger's syndrome. Early in the movie, I had a hard time believing the female character. She seemed to have so much more self-insight than I would expect, and seemed so much more able to interact with others in a somewhat normal way, such that I wasn't convinced that she had Asperger's. Reading some of the comments from others, however, have made me change my mind. Knowing that the cast and director spent a considerable amount of time with the real people on whom the film was based and hearing from other people who are close to someone with Asperger's convinced me that her portrayal was indeed accurate for some people with AS. I think that there is such a wide range of behaviors and personalities in the syndrome that it would be impossible to make a movie that shows "what someone with AS is like". Just like any movie about a particular American woman would not be reflective of what every American woman is like. I was quite disappointed to find out from internet sources that the Asperger's support group that is run by the male character in the movie was made up. It seemed too good to be true, but I had hoped that it was. I wish that instead of making that up, some other accurate and interesting facet of his life was made into the focus of the movie. I also wished that there were more scenes showing how the Asperger's characters are functional rather that just dysfunctional and how they are able to interact with non-Asperger's characters.

A great movie on Asperger Syndrome

[inge_mill · 10/10 · 11 September 2006]

This movie is one of my favorite movies. Why? I simply love the theme of this story. I know what Asperger is like, and this story came so very close to the truth. The situations are very realistic. Also, the responds from the characters are also very realistic.

I'm sure everyone recognizes a little of themselves in at least one of the characters. Even though these characteristics may not be as strong, they are still there. Everyone is a little autistic you know. Some just have it a little more than others.

The acting is very good, and even though I'm not a really big fan of Josh Hartnett (blame Pearl Harbor), I found myself really liking him in this movie. Radha Mitchell is simply magnificent.

I recommend this movie to everyone!

Unconventional Love Story

[claudio_carvalho · 6/10 · 24 December 2005]

"Mozart and the Whale" is really a very unconventional love story. Telling the romance of Donald Morton (Josh Hartnett) and Isabelle Sorenson (Radha Mitchell), both of them suffering of Asperger's syndrome, a kind of autism, the situations are very weird for those like me that are not familiarized with and do not know the symptoms of this disease. The lead couple is very charming, and what I liked in this movie is that the story is totally different from the usual romantic comedies, recalling "Crazy People" with a romance. The Brazilian title of this movie is hilarious, playing with the words. There are four favorable reviews of this movie (in a total of six) written by users with only one review issued in IMDb, apparently to make a fake promotion of this film. My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): "Loucos de Amor" ("Crazy of Love")

Disappointed nearly to the point of anger

[derrick_jeffries · 2/10 · 26 December 2006]

Being a person diagnosed with Asperger's Sydrome, the father of a child with moderate Autism, and the brother of a sister with severe Autism, I am very disappointed with this movie. The part of Donald Morton was't too bad, as his overall presentation, facial expressions, eye contact, high anxiety, etc, seemed close to realistic. Isabelle was just not real to me. The look in her eyes was that of a neuro-typical person with a wide range of emotions revealed in them. She had some scenes wherein she behaved similar to someone with Asperger's or Autism, but without her overall behavior being accurate it was a let down. She is a good actress, but she needed to do more homework for this role.

The support group scenes were some of the most disappointing of the movie. There are many highly functional individuals who attend AS support groups in the real world, however, even the most functional do not exhibit the type of empathy that this group did. Trust me, real Aspies would have had little to no interest in the love life of these two group members. It is not believable to me that Donald could have formed this group. Perhaps the real Jerry Newport could have. Donald does not demonstrate enough leadership or functional independence, and his anxiety is debilitating. There are Aspies who have leadership qualities, but they are usually very rigid and opinionated thinkers, who also have a type of personality that other people with Asperger's Syndrome, who are less out spoken, gather around. That level of rigid/concrete thinking is just not depicted in this movie, nor is the reality of the tempers that often go along with it.

I wish there was more focus on the useful and functional aspects of Asperger's Syndrome. Why didn't they show us more of what Donald did in his work? How were his mathematical abilities benefiting him in the real world? Isabelle was gifted in music and art. Reveal more of her passion for this. Let people see more of an inside view of Autism rather just playing around with the quirkiness in ways that were sometimes irreverent.

I now fear that thousands, or perhaps millions more people know even less about Autism and Asperger's Syndrome than they did before! Yes, I have read the glowing reviews, and I am extremely disappointed in them. I have lived around Autism from every possible perspective that you can imagine. Trust me, what you will see in this movie is Hollywood and not the real world.

Its all about A-S-P-E-R-G-E-R-S

[somethingtotallyoriginal · 9/10 · 27 December 2005]

This is the only film about Aspergers and I value it. It is GREAT to see star-power giving awareness.

Having Aspergers myself, I could do what most people ('nero-typicals') couldn't- understand and associate with the characters. Though at the same time there were differences... because everyone with Aspergers is different.

So I found myself going, "Hey thats me!" Or, "Hey thats not me!" throughout. It varies from one thing to the other- it can be right on the money or the polar opposite. It was fun/nice to recognize all the small/not so small things-in-common. As for the differences, they were irritable!

When I first heard of this movie a while ago, I didn't understand why it was called "Mozart And The Whale". But now I do, and you will too. It is beautiful and has multiple meanings.

Only thing is it may portray people with Aspergers as being out of control nuts or retards, which is not the way they really are. So they may be overexaggerating and misconcepting just a little there.

All in all, curious and informative. Its guaranteed to please and inspire any Aspie who watches it. May bring them together too. HOORAY!

It's no Rain Man, but it is unique!

[kathycfg · 7/10 · 2 March 2007]

WHAT THE BOX DOESN'T TELL YOU The movie will be hard to withstand in some parts purely because this is a movie about Asperger's Syndrome (a functional form of autism). If you are renting this movie because of either of the primary characters, Josh Hartnett and Radha Mithcell, be prepared for this to be a departure from those films. If you like the synopsis on the box, you'll like this movie.

WHY I WOULD RENT IT AGAIN I like to pick quirky movies, which sit on the shelves by themselves, or with only one or two other copies. There's a uniqueness about this movie, and those like it. I am sure it has something to do with Ron Bass's (screenplay, Rain Man) intricately woven storytelling about persons with disabilities. Although I liked Josh Hartnett in other roles, this really sheds some light on his potential growth ability when it comes to acting.

Grossly exaggerated and very insulting

[BDeWittP · 5/10 · 18 March 2007]

Asperger's syndrome is an impediment, but people can live normal lives with it. If this were the premise of the movie, it would have been much more refreshing. Instead, it seems to be showing us a portrait of people with uncontrolled aspects of the disorder, so grossly exaggerated to the point that these people look like a bunch of freaks, rather than people trying to live with their disorder. That's too bad, because this movie really had an opportunity to reach a lot of people.

I know Aperger's Syndrome, because I have it. Yes, there are some characteristics of the disorder that need to be recognized and toned down. Some of them can be irritating and a turn-off to people. Sometimes the tendencies are unusual intense interest in certain topics, not recognizing when to leave things alone, failing to read body language, taking things too literally, and not noticing things or subjects that people aren't interested in. Okay. Not everyone with it is a person who irritates the heck out of people without Asperger's. I wonder how many of us so-called "aspies," will find this movie to be insulting or even infuriating.

None of the support group scenes in this story work. There is very little discussion about the problems and social difficulties that people with Asperger's have. No talk about behavior modification or improving the lives of the people involved. It looks more like a hangout for social rejects, rather than a support group. For crying out loud, why wouldn't anyone with Asperger's be insulted by a movie like this?

The love story is never really developed, but simply rushed into. We see a physical attraction between these two characters, but no chemistry. There is no real dialog about anything except their disorder, and nothing to convince us that their attraction is any more than physical. Frankly, Josh Hartnett and Radha Mitchell give these two characters better performances than they really deserve. Ron Bass did a wonderful job of writing the screenplay "Rain Man." Did he realize that people with Asperger's are much higher functioning? It didn't seem that way in this movie. So two people with an impediment can fall in love, so what?

A quite different and good movie about two people with personal challenges.

[TxMike · 24 October 2008]

We are told this is a fictional story inspired by real people and real events. Asperger's autism is the diagnosis. Many with this affliction can get along just fine in the world, hold down jobs, even be an example to others, but certain characteristics make it hard for them to function "normally" around others and especially enter into positive love relationships.

Josh Hartnett is Donald Morton and in the opening minutes we find out (1) he is perhaps on his last cab gig, having lost all the others and (2) he assembles and facilitates a group of others with social disorders and helps them cope. However, talking too much to his fares and not paying attention, he crashes his cab into a parked flower delivery truck, and just walks away from the accident. We can clearly see he has some issues.

A new person shows up in the group, Radha Mitchell as Isabelle Sorenson. She works as a hair stylist and also paints. She is very pretty and articulate in an interesting way, and she and Donald start to fall for each other. They become friends then lovers, but it is filled with surprises, and nothing works out very smoothly.

Donald is a savant of sorts with numbers, and Isabelle helps him get a job where he has to look over very complex computer print outs and check them for validity or inconsistency, something he is perfect for.

I enjoyed the story and the acting seemed very real. The title comes from their choices of costume for an event, she as Mozart and he as a Whale.

Very average romantic movie with Aspergers

[KineticSeoul · 6/10 · 8 October 2009]

This film is basically about a romantic relations of individuals who suffer from Asperger syndrome and they run into some conflicts cause of there syndrome. Although at some points it seems exaggerated, it works okay. The support group scenes was sort of disappointing and not very creative and although Radha Mitchell was pretty decent Josh Hartnett wasn't that convincing even if it's good to see him in a role where he doesn't act as cocky. It's a average romantic movie cause they throw Asperger syndrome in there. It wasn't a bad romantic movie but it just wasn't that good either.

6.8/10

Good Insights

[moviespaz · 7/10 · 29 January 2013]

I like this movie because it brings attention to AS. Its not an outstanding movie because it does not accurately portray aspies, over emphasising AS symptoms and portraying them as more helpless than most actually are. It is mentioned more than once in the reviews that this is the only movie about AS. Others mention Rainman. I am wondering why the TV movie "Temple Grandin" wasn't mentioned. I realize that the autism scale gets a little blurry, but Temple Grandin is another movie that is certainly worth watching and like this one is based on real people, although not move is perfect, I believe Temple Grandin is more true to the facts.

Lovely Asperger's Rom-com

[UniqueParticle · 9/10 · 1 May 2020]

Josh Harnet (Ronald Martin) did so good as a unique being that falls in love with another being with ASD Radha Mitchell which is awkward and precious! I have Asperger's too, I love this movie for what it is! The cinematography is fair, the accuracy with everything is delightful, and the writing is impressive. I love the quirkiness throughout and the endearing animals. Mozart and the Whale is delightfully enjoyable, I recommend anyone with differences see it.

Good but could be better.

[mayday1978 · 7/10 · 29 September 2006]

I've seen this movie twice now. I think it's great that someone decided to tell a story about people with autism, specifically Asperger's, but I would have liked to have seen more interaction between the characters with autism and people without it.

Overall, I really liked the movie. It had a good storyline and helped you get to know the main characters. However, I don't think this will be a big box office hit. I agree with the other comment. It will probably just got straight to DVD or Lifetime. Also, I don't think people who aren't effected by autism in some way will enjoy the movie very much.

Very satisfying

[john_mace58 · 9/10 · 16 June 2006]

I have just watched this movie and loved it. It is the sort of movie that if you get involved from a technical point you will be disappointed and miss the point, I believe this movie needs to be watched at least twice so that you can savour every emotional moment and enjoy this immensely satisfying story. I enjoyed the performance of both the lead actors, and felt there was a chemistry between Josh Hartnett and Radha Mitchell that made the story even better and think that the support cast gave a fine performance in so far as depicting people with handicaps. This movie has a good musical score which adds to its attraction for me and is visually stimulating

Small-Scale Love Story Highlights the Effects of Asperger's Syndrome

[EUyeshima · 5/10 · 24 January 2007]

Based on a true story, this small-scale 2005 drama is well-intentioned in illuminating the plight of those with a form of autism, Asperger's syndrome, a neurological disorder that causes those who have it to be limited in their abilities to fit in with the larger culture. Their condition is generally marked by narrow but intense interests in few subjects at the exclusion of others, displays of socially inappropriate behavior, and peculiarities in speech and thought patterns. Portraying this type of mental illness on screen is particularly challenging since it requires some distancing from the actors trying hard to stay true to the often alienating medical condition.

Written by Ron Bass, who wrote the similarly themed "Rain Man" back in 1988, and directed by Norwegian filmmaker Petter Næss, this simple film focuses on the burgeoning love story between Donald and Isabelle, two young, attractive people afflicted with Asperger's syndrome. Donald runs a self-help group afflicted with autism, and Isabelle joins the group upon the insistence of her therapist. The bulk of the film deals with their often frustrating attempts to communicate and work toward a more permanent relationship, while at the same time, supporting the needs of the group to curb their affectations and live satisfying lives. If this sounds like the classic trappings of a Lifetime TV-movie, it pretty much reflects that oeuvre with its video camera quality and barebones production values. In fact, except for the clever Halloween set-up which explains the film's title, the plot turns have a fairly predictable flavor, and Næss displays little flair in making the emotional impact more resonant.

Fortunately, the leads do well by their difficult roles, especially when each displays their savant wizardry, Donald's mathematical skills and Isabelle's concurrent artistic and musical gifts. At first, Radha Mitchell seems to be playing a variation of the darker half of "Melinda and Melinda" as Isabelle, but she ultimately manages to convey the troubling soul beneath the façade of her flashy bohemian. As the helplessly reticent Donald, Josh Hartnett is surprisingly affecting most of the time, though there are moments when he gets burdened by his character's mannered passivity. Several familiar faces show up in the supporting cast, including Sheila Kelley and a belligerent John Carroll Lynch as two of the group members and Gary Cole as Donald's patient boss. All do good work, but the movie has such a shapeless, haphazard feel that the inevitable ending feels rushed and truncated. The only significant extra of the 2006 DVD is Bass' thoughtful if overly effusive commentary track.

Better than any expectations I had....solid for what it intends and not entirely commercial as I thought

[rodrigo2t · 8/10 · 14 October 2005]

I am not quite sure why it has not been released in any county other than Brazil, however I must say it definitely exceed my expectations. The idea I had for it of it being a poorly prepared romantic commercial comedy was proved in some ways wrong....in fact close to a feeling of Rainman I must confess it is a solid film based on what it intends and point to achieve, and it does it successfully.

A good and creative direction for its wise and innovative use in romantic relations of not so normal individuals, which has been seen to be misused and standardized in the past due to the little effort to use the element of the peculiar aspects of the condition of the characters in new areas of human relations, especially when it comes to romantic relations of two of them.

Also Radha Mitchell gives a better than average performance to which Hartnetts falls short, but not by much.

I recommend this film as a good and solid film work that achieves it's intentions to whoever has in mind the aims and limitations of such a romantic comedy, and takes it for what it is, sells and promises.

A waste of time

[jandtkelly · 3/10 · 5 May 2008]

First, I have to say that my wife and I have raised an autistic boy. He is now an adult and doing well. So, we have known autistic and Aspergers individuals for years. The movie purports to be a story about the romance of an autistic woman and a young man with Aspergers. (based on real events.) Modine does a decent job of "performing" like a person with Aspergers. But, the lead actress is a major joke. She is quirky, like Diane Keaton is quirky in "Annie Hall." This is NO autistic individual. She has this dumb laugh that is annoying-- but, oh, is that acting??? It was torture to see autism trivialized by her lame attempt to portray a heart breaking condition. The script is unrealistic. The situations and the things she says are ridiculous. Autistic individuals find it very hard to express emotion. She says things that sound like a Lifetime Channel production...Someone said Spielberg was going to make this? He would have started with a major re-write AND an actress with major skills willing to do some research.... Big disappointment.

Sunday Afternoon Movie at its best

[spiceman19 · 8/10 · 11 December 2005]

If you like Rainman or Benny and Joon you will enjoy this film. It is sentimental, moving and has all the usual gushy stuff a love story should have. Nevertheless I enjoyed it. I thought the adaptation of Autism especially Asperger's syndrome was very well done. If you don't expect too much and just sit back and look forward to some light entertainment then you will not be disappointed. As someone who works with adults with autism I am disappointed this has not been released everywhere as it depicts autism in a very different light. I would recommend that everyone at least gives it a go. Probably best described as a "chick flick" and the fact that Josh Hartnell plays the lead probably helps.

Unlike most films, this one seems to get it right.

[jillswift · 9/10 · 7 November 2005]

It's unusual for a film to portray something like Asperger's with any accuracy, being so often more interested in spectacle over substance. This film manages to portray quite a range of Asperger's and other high-functioning autistics rather well. I think the proof of it's extraordinary portrayals lies not with me seeing so much of how my life as an Aspie (a person with Asperger's) but in sitting down with my husband to watch it and having him so often say "Oh, you do that!" and ask "Is that really how it is?" and get a yes from me.

Josh Hartnett's overall performance lacked a bit in some areas, but he had the eye-averting and not-sure-what-to-say looks down near perfectly. Radha Mitchell manages to nigh-flawlessly convey the sheer frustration I feel daily. Sheila Kelley's performance, though a small part of the picture, went far in making the support group scenes believable, and John Carroll Lynch's lost-but-denying-it performance made a fabulous foil for Hartnett.

As for plot: I'm a bit of a sucker for a romance anyway, so I can't help but have enjoyed this. Seeing these two characters try so hard to work around their autism to connect at some level was occasionally hard to watch. Every mistake they made set me at the edge of my seat, and when Isabelle's psychiatrist asks Donald to never contact her again, I shouted "No!" at the screen. And when they finally let the audience know that, after all that supreme effort, they do manage to make that connection, the relief and joy was undeniable.

Why this movie is having a hard time getting released, I do not know.