Greetings from Lithuania.
"To the Bone" (2017) is a pretty good movie that deals with people suffering from anorexia. Yet it doesn't go very deep on that subject matter, and that is pretty shame.
Acting was good by all involved, and although Keanu Reeves does not remind of doctor by any means in here, he is always a joy simply watch - he that screen presence.
Overall, "To the Bone" is a pretty good drama which at running time 1 h 40 min drags here and there but its a pretty involving movie to recommend it to see it on some boring evening.
To the Bone
2017
Action / Drama
To the Bone
2017
Action / Drama
Plot summary
Ellen is a 20 year old woman struggling with anorexia nervosa. In the midst of family problems and her own fears, she is accepted into a group home run by an unusual doctor. Through the people she meets and the journey she takes, Ellen follows a path of self discovery and acceptance that will lead her to a surprising place she never would have thought possible
Uploaded by: FREEMAN
Director
Top cast
Tech specs
720p.BLU 1080p.BLUMovie Reviews
Not bad movie
Well balanced treatment of an eating disorder with humor and drama
Eating disorders have been shown in many TV movies before but this is probably one of the best on screen treatments of the subject. Movies like this can be painful to watch and not because the subject is painful but because they are often clichéd and not handled well. This movie is actually very watchable.
The A list cast deserves special mention. Lily Collins shows she can do drama as well as romantic comedy. She lost weight for the role. I wish these actors and actresses wouldn't do this to their bodies it can't be good for them. Although they have won awards, I think Matthew and Matt never recovered without some damage their looks from their weight loss roles. Nevertheless Lily was quite moving.
Supporting cast is good. Tony winning British actor Alex Sharp does a charming and witty fellow sufferer love interest quite well. Lily Taylor as her rather unhelpful but well meaning mother is a good actress but a strange choice - how could she have such a drop dead gorgeous daughter? Keanu Reeves - ever since that rom com with Diane Keaton it seems okay to cast him as a doctor. The dude speak is kind of hilarious.
The story has a good balance of humor and drama with well written dialog. Liked the date in the Chinese restaurant. The family therapy session was quite funny too. Also the part about the Holocaust Museum. The characters are interesting and not clichéd. Liked the fact that she got along with her stepmother who cared for her more than her father. Her rapport with the love interest is quite refreshing - not clichéd.
Worth watching
Deals with a serious health issue, that I don't fully understand, but I still can relate to it.
'TO THE BONE': Four Stars (Out of Five)
The new drama released by Netflix, through their streaming site, about a woman battling anorexia. It stars Lily Collins, Keanu Reeves, Alex Sharp, Carrie Preston, Lili Taylor and Liana Liberato. The film was written and directed by first time feature filmmaker Marti Noxon, and it's received mostly positive reviews from critics. I found it to be a well made, and pretty involving film as well.
Ellen (Collins) is a 20-year-old suffering from severe anorexia. She's also an aspiring artist, and a college dropout, who has failed to make any progress (with her severe illness) at the recent inpatient program she attended. Ellen moves back in with her stepmother Susan (Preston),her younger half-sister Kelly (Liberato),and a father who's never home. Susan insists that Ellen sees a specialist, named Dr. William Beckham (Reeves),and that she joins his inpatient program. Ellen reluctantly agrees to her stepmother's plan, after Kelly convinces her to do so. Once there she meets a very unique group of people, with similar health issues, that she also slowly bonds with.
The movie is disturbing. It deals with a serious health issue, that I don't fully understand, but I still can relate to it. So I also found the characters to be very relatable too, because of this, and despite their obvious flaws, I also found them to be likable and inspiring (in some ways) as well. Collins gives a great performance in the lead, and I think Noxon proves herself to be a talented filmmaker to watch for. I wanted just a little bit more from the film's climax, but it's still a somewhat moving and important movie in my opinion.