Rent Oslo, August 31st (2011)

The best film about the effects of drug addiction I have ever seen. Just superb. Should get an Oscar - Oslo, August 31st review by PV

I had low expectations of this film, based on the blurb and description - however, I found it an utter revelation.

THIS IS A BRILLIANT FILM. The writing, characters, direction, acting, the lot. Should have won an Oscar.

The way a man (talented, intelligent, educated, youngish, not poor) reevaluates his life and realises he just cannot go back to square one and start again is heart-breakingly captivating. You'll rarely see a character as complex or true in any Hollywood movie.

If I had my way, this film - not some OTT Hollywood drug morality tale movie, should be shown to every teenager in the world.

Just brilliant. Best movie I have watched this year. 5 stars - with bells on.

Strangely compelling - Oslo, August 31st review by JK

I had no expectations of this film but found the sheer 'ordinaryness' of it drawing me in to reach the conclusion. So little happens and yet so much - a whole lifetime in one day.

Not just another day. - Oslo, August 31st review by RP

'Requiem for a Dream' was a brilliant and powerful film about addiction. Covering many lives and many painful stories. 'Oslo, August 31st' is just as powerful but concentrates on one single life and one single day. There is hope as a normal young man battles with his addiction having gone through the help, advice and self loathing. What as he done with his life? He has let down family and friends. Some friends are there to help him still. Some are not and family is a broken and scattered remnant of the past. Oslo is changing but still has all the beckoning traps if somebody is willing to walk into the trap again. The question is when is the release of addiction better than the pain of normality?

A typical day when an addict tries to climb out of the trap. Just another day for some, a battle for others and a decision made for a few. Powerful stuff.