The Invisibles

How does somebody move on from trauma? This can be one of the hardest things a person could do, and so many of us go through it at some point in their life. This is explored in the new Canadian drama THE INVISIBLES. Charlie (Tim Blake Nelson) is emotionally fading in his life; his marriage to Hanna (Gretchen Mol) is strained, he gets passed over for a promotion at work. He shuts himself off from the world, so much so that he begins to physically fade. Thrown by this new perspective, he explores this new reality. He finds a group of people who call themselves Invisibles, people the world has forgotten. The de facto leader is Carl (Bruce Greenwood), an old surfer who seems to know everything. While this reality has no pain or trauma, Charlie still has doubts. Co-writer and director Andrew Currie draws inspiration from his own life to create this emotional story of grief through a surreal lens. I'm one of the lucky few who went to the Canadian premiere, where I heard him talk about his movie in person. It felt like a special moment. THE INVISIBLES is a little movie with a big heart that asks thought-provoking questions. I recommend seeing it whenever and however you can.

The word "purgatory" is never uttered, as far as I can remember, but both my wife and I viewed it that way, Charlie was in a type of purgatory.

Tim Blake Nelson (who also was Producer) is Charlie. His wife is Gretchen Mol as Hannah. As the movie begins she reminds him of the "session." They seem happy with each other, as they part one says "Love you", the other says "Love you too." So we sensed they had a difficult loss, perhaps a child, and were having difficulty getting past that.

The title is a literal reference, Charlie starts to become invisible. It starts when he is on the city train and a man comes up and sits on his lap. "Sorry, I didn't see you." It progresses until even his wife can no longer see him or hear him talking.

The audience has no idea what is happening, and Charlie has no idea what is happening. Until he wanders into an old bowling alley and encounters Bruce Greenwood as Carl the bartender. Carl sees and hears Charlie, as well as several others there. They are all in a type of purgatory, for a number of different reasons.

To write more would be introducing spoilers, but as the story moves along it is a well-conceived and well-written fable about how to deal with grief and how to get your "mojo" back.

My wife and I enjoyed it, streaming on Prime.

This captivating fantasy drama hails from Canada, featuring a screenplay co-written by Colin Aussant and Andrew Currie. I must commend Currie's meticulous direction. The narrative is both intriguing and engaging, centering on a man who begins to vanish into a dimension where others like him exist, unnoticed by the outside world.

Initially, I questioned the casting of Tim Blake Nelson as Charlie, especially alongside Gretchen Mol as his wife, Hanna. However, I was pleasantly surprised by their performances, proving my initial doubts wrong. The acting was exceptional!

This remarkable journey of a man fading from reality and discovering a realm inhabited by the INVISIBLES-those who have also disappeared-maintained a perfect pace throughout nearly two hours. I was fully invested in Charlie's struggle to reunite with his wife and embark on a new beginning.

Overall, this well-crafted film offers a delightful family experience where true love ultimately triumphs.

I've always liked Tim Blake Nelson, but there's something about this movie where TBN & Gretchen Mol seemed a little 'flat' in their performance (or maybe it was just the material or direction they were given). They weren't bad, but the frequent use of 'silence breaks' in dialogue felt like ''forced artistic'' direction instead of a more organic series of conversations.

Having said that, Nathan Alexis was fantastic in his role as Nick! He emoted and fully immersed us with every scene he was in. Hoping to see more of him in years to come. We also enjoyed the constant perspective shift of emotions the protagonist went through such that we had no idea what the ending would be.

All in all, it was a good movie and a valiant effort that may touch the real-life struggles of many people...

I just watched The Invisibles and it really stuck with me. Tim Blake Nelson is phenomenal, bringing this raw vulnerability to his character that's just heartbreaking. Gretchen Mol is equally magnetic-she adds so much depth to the story, especially when it dives into themes of loss and redemption. Director Andrew Currie creates this world where the unseen isn't just a metaphor, but a reflection of how people can feel invisible in society and in their own lives. It's a powerful meditation on what it means to be seen-or not seen-in a world that feels fractured. Honestly, it's one of those movies that makes you think long after the credits roll. Definitely a must watch.