One and Two (2015) User Reviews (21)

Weird, very weird

[bkoganbing · 4/10 · 22 October 2018]

Probably One And Two would be consigned to obscurity save for the fact that one of the four principal cast member Timothee Chalamet has gone on to stardom in the movie big leagues. Chalamet and Kiernan Shipka play a brother and sister who live on a remote farm and have some unusual abilities, abilities inherited from their mother Elizabeth Reaser who is subject to seizures and not long for the world.

His own kids scare the pants off their father Grant Bowler who punishes them every time they use their powers to transport themselves. The idea was clearly taken from the British science fiction series The Tomorrow People where kids could just transport themselves anywhere on a whim.

An interesting concept but the film moves so slowly it becomes unbearably dull. In the end I'm not sure what the point was.

Kids Go Poof - Movie Goes Nowhere

[seriouscritic-42569 · 4/10 · 4 July 2019]

Weird little film. Starts off promising and remains promising throughout, it just never does anything with that promise. Smart enough to come up with believable constraints on children who can teleport themselves (and yet are confined; i.e. there has to be line of sight to where they are going to poof to next, so put a bag over their head and their powers are gone), and equally clever enough to figure out ways around that.

But it moves at a pace that is, at first, leisurely, and later as the "action" ramps up (or more accurately as there are changes in the situation) the film slips even further into sleepwalking. It sets up interesting developments but then deliberately doesn't really do anything with them. The filmmakers seem averse to exploring any of the multiple concepts that are sprinkled throughout. Perhaps it's as simple as they were not as clever and smart as their own premise.

It's frustrating that so much could have been addressed but the filmmakers act just like the film's characters; dour and non-communicative to an extreme. Simple visual effects are believably handled; performances are strong; there is even a whole scene here or there that is everything you might want it to be, but then the film meanders away as if it has no clear idea where it wants to go or why it wants to get there. Or why we should stick around for the ride.

Good enough, especially if you have nothing else to see..

[too-limpy · 5/10 · 26 January 2016]

It was a promising premise for a 'supernatural' movie, with strong development for the teenage characters. Revelation of mysterious circumstances began to unfold, but unfortunately stop cold in giving rewarding and satisfying conclusions.

The producers/director have done a remarkable job in raising expectations and heightening the audience curiosity, but failed miserably to bring closure to the very same question. In the end, the movie seems to simply took a snapshot of events that occur over a period of, say 1 week, and took the audience through it, and left without a shred of answers.

If the purpose is to do just that, then, they have achieved it greatly.

WTF

[fimleikastjarna · 5/10 · 20 May 2020]

I am so confused, what did I just watch? It feels like a movie that is arty and philosophical but it isn't. The only reason to watch this movie is if you have an hour and a half to kill and you really like Timotheé Chalamet. It is a beautiful film at times, aesthetically pleasing. The story goes nowhere and if there is a meaning to it, it is lost on me. Maybe I am not deep or arty enough to understand it. It seems to have some religious undertones. Sometimes it is meditative though to watch something that has a beautiful boy in it and some nice nature shots.

Adam and Eva before being expel from Eden

[vajrayogini · 29 August 2016]

"One & Two" is a new interpretation of how Eva is tempted to "see" and to "feel" what is outside Eden. She really craves to know the real world (to taste good and evil). When we are born in this 3D world we are put in a fleshy body in order to know pleasure and pain by our five senses. The Father knows that if Adam and Eva run away they will face the cruelties of the outside world. That's why he is warning them not to cross the barrier. The Mother however is willing to give them a chance. In this film the omnipotent God the Creator is represented in his dualistic form - the Father and his female consort the Divine Mother(Sofia, Prakriti)- something that is omitted in the Bible, but well explained in the Gnostic scriptures and in the Vedic texts. In the beginning Elochim (plural)created the human being as two united parts - so to say in its precelestial state every human being (man or woman)is an ideal creature made of both male and female forces/energies/substances. When we descend in fleshy body from Heaven to our 3D world a dichotomy takes place - from One we became Two. We are no longer the ideal precelestial creature. We are separated and it causes us pain and suffering.

Please see for reference the Gospel of Thomas (11): "When you were one, you became two. But when you become two, what will you do?" In "One & Two" the director traces the painful process of postcelestial separation, the rage of the Father and the rejection of the Father's will. In the end of the movie Adam and Eva tried to destroy the heaven they came from. Did they succeed to burn out all the ways to return there or there is still a small possibility for the human being to recreate his/her original state?

Jumper: There and back again.

[Reno-Rangan · 6/10 · 4 March 2016]

There are plenty of similar themes, but 'Jumper' will be the first anyone can remember. Its not a time travel theme, but a space travel film. Don't assume the outer space, very much in our Earth's atmosphere space travel like a supernatural.

This is a slow fantasy-drama about two teen siblings who are living in an isolated location and their inherited ability to cheat space within their sight. What goes wrong when they just want to play with it, but it's forbidden by their strict father is the rest of the story.

It is a weakest writing for a movie that borrowed an idea from the others. Failed to capitalise and falls into an average list. There is no particular performance to point out, but Kiernan Shipka is who had more screenspace and was decent with her show.

There's nothing much to talk about the movie, the dialogues were very rare and too short. A simple drama, mostly boring for its uninteresting under developed scenes. Surely a watchable movie, but does it worth spending your time? I don't think so, thankfully it was not the worst film I've ever seen.

6/10

What was this movie about?

[Seth_Rogue_One · 3/10 · 5 April 2016]

I don't really know what to say about this movie because frankly I don't really know much to nothing of what it's about.

A low-key indie-drama with a supernatural 'twist' (I say that lightly) that seems extremely random, but then as I can't make much sense of the movie it's not any more random than anything else in it I suppose.

The acting was fine, the cinematography was nice and but that doesn't help much when the plot is so in the air and we're never really given a chance to know why the characters do what they do and how they become to be what they are.

There is potentially some sort of philosophical or poetic meaning behind the all but colour me stupid but I don't know what that would be, and I'm not really sure I care.

A superhero movie? Jumpers? In a way, but a bit dull.

[peterp-450-298716 · 6/10 · 3 August 2016]

"Dad says it's to keep other people out. But I don't believe him anymore. We're the only ones here. I think it's just meant to keep us in."

"One and Two" is a kind of pastoral version of "The Maze Runner" and "Jumpers". A magical place at an unknown place where Eva (Kiernan Shipka) and Zac (Timothée Chalamet) live a carefree life. Under the scrutiny of their mother Elizabeth (Elizabeth Reaser) and their tyrannical father Daniel (Grant Bowler) the two teenagers grow up while they perform the assigned daily tasks. It looks a bit like "Little house on the prairie". Only the beautiful farm and the idyllic setting are surrounded by an immense wooden fence. A kind of natural barrier to separate Eva and Zac from the outside world. Why and how long this commune exists, isn't thoroughly explained in movie filled with beautiful images. And that isn't the only thing.

I wonder what genre of film they actually had in mind. A kind of superhero film in which two innocent looking teens have a limited superpower? Or a "coming of age" film with two growing teenagers whose desire it is to finally be able to discover the outside world? Or was religious fanaticism and the associated superstition the central theme? All these themes were incorporated into this film. But really well developed they weren't. The second part with Eva mainly starring in it, actually was pretty disappointing. The arising situation was ideal to add more energetic elements.

The performances are subtly executed, despite their simplicity. Brother and sister obediently carry out everything in the daytime and devoutly recite their prayers before supper. Their daily routine is only interrupted by a swim in a local pond. And in the evening their rebellious nature kicks in and they play tag in the fields while they use their mysterious force. Next there is Daniel. A devout father who fears this mystery and blames this demonic evil to be the cause of the deteriorating health of his wife. Shipka is most in the spotlight because Chalamet disappears after a while into the background. All play their roles well, even though the content is rather meager.

But especially the camera work deserves the most praise. This is already clear from the opening scene with the sunlight illuminating water, after which it's suddenly interrupted by the diving bodies of Eva and Zac. A brilliant light show which was shot very professionally. The nocturnal escapades of the two are beautifully filmed. It's just the unanswered questions that kills this film. What's the use of the great wall since Eva and Zac effortlessly can teleport through it? Also sneaking back in their bedroom at night was kind of ridiculous. Why didn't they use the same procedure as they used before? And where did this special gift come from? Eventually "One and two" was intriguing and contained an interesting topic, but it wasn't satisfactory enough. Sometimes there are films which aren't impressive in terms of content, but the design and cinematic framing still ensure that it remains fascinating and it is worthwhile to see it till the end.

More reviews here : http://bit.ly/1KIdQMT

Not Yi Yi (Edward Yang)

[BrianVLau · 5/10 · 14 August 2015]

So it's okay. It's fine. It's a movie that was made, but not made well. There's no passion, no story, no style, nothing. It's a movie that proves this director can put a movie together, outside of Rich Hill. Autumn Durald does a great job with the cinematography, despite there clearly being more budgetary constraints than Palo Alto, most notably the oval bokeh and the obvious digital grain, from the upped-ISO.

The movie is bearable, it's watchable, but not interesting. The dialogue, however, is laughable, and the Tree of Life internal monologues are baffling. This movie is practically a series of events, albeit beautiful to look at and competently put together, with no real satisfying conclusion nor moral.

This movie doesn't deserve the critical panning it has from RottenTomatoes, it's one of the better movies of the year, which I guess isn't saying much.

Kiernan Shipka, and everyone really, look bored and brooding. They have nothing to work with, and when they do, it's executed laughably and obnoxiously. I have no doubt Shipka has acting chops, but this doesn't prove it, she mopes around with a vaguely confused face the whole movie.

Timothee Chalamet is the best actor in the movie, and he barely has anything to show, possibly because no one has any characterization besides "quiet, distant, scared." I hope he stops being type-casted as Tom Cooper, because even when he's given the opportunity to act in these movies, it's quickly cut short (in this, his screaming and clawing are drowned out by a glaring score, muting any actual skill required to show emotion or character struggle).

Hopefully Jeff Nichols' Midnight Special shows this movie up, I'm pretty disappointed. (If at any point you think I'm blindly "hating" on this movie, the very fact that I was even looking forward to a movie that wasn't advertised or talked about shows my initial interest.)

No resolution

[sjcmark · 6/10 · 22 April 2023]

Where is the rest of the script? It's so strange. There were many questions raised, and most remained unanswered. Where the film ends should have been a transition point, but it just stops, and the credits roll. It held my interest, but I have to agree with other reviewers who asked "what was the point?" I found the cinematography to be dark, often hard to see what was going on. There was so much more that could've, and should've been done . It feels like such a waste. I thought all of the actors did a good job, so if you are a fan of any of them it might be worth your time. Other than that, don't bother.

Am I Missing Something?

[crimson-17255 · 5/10 · 9 October 2017]

So I ended up checking this movie out because I'm in the CMBYN craze faze. Ie. I'm checking out some of Timothee and Arime's filmography

Since this one was on Netflix I thought I'd give it a try and I'm sort of conflicted. I really liked some of the things in this movie, like the whole teleportation that both Zac and Eva have, I like how dark this film gets (what with Daniel's actions towards his children), the relationship between Zac and Eva made me smile, Timothee's acting during emotional scenes were great, but that's about it

I really felt like I was missing something vital, something that would make or break this movie for me. For the whole of it I felt like I was in the dark and I constantly asked myself what the purpose of it was. The two characters don't feel like they grow or develop but we also never really get inside Daniel's (the father) head: why did he do the things he did, why was he afraid of this gift, why did he blame his children? There is no explanation for the teleportation or even what happens when Eva does this in front of others (were they surprised? is this kind of normal in this society? why them?)

If anything, it was interesting for me, but don't think I'd recommend it

A beautiful but a bit sad story

[cul-952-852929 · 8/10 · 8 August 2016]

This is a slow but very beautiful movie. If you only are in to action then this is nothing for you. But if you like movies that will challenge and dare your mind and if you not are afraid of something more deep than a couple of men punching each other, then this is a film for you.

The film will get you in a state of mind that will begin to think, to wonder. Will this be possible? Can a father be like that? Loving and still so demanding and ... cruel.

And then you realize that it's the way people, mostly men, dictates their women and children to live exactly as they want them to do. It also shows how hard it is to break free from a family bond. Hard even if you don't want to be a part of it, if you do want to go. You can't go, there is too much holding you back. Fear, love, obedience even respect holds you back from leaving although you don't want to be there.

You know what you have but you don't know what you will get.

For me the film was not about their ability to "jump". It was about the fear of something new, something you don't understand, the will to have everything as it always have been. Their ability was just the unknown in the world. The film for me was also about breaking free and leaving old habits behind, leaving (killing) the tyranny, the dictatorship and seeking the freedom.

I liked the film and I will remember it a long time - maybe see it again in a month or two.

Absolute Rubbish- No sense what's so ever

[djbvk21 · 1/10 · 14 July 2022]

Why this film was made is beyond me. The lack of a script to start with. There is no mention of anything to make light of the reason what this film is about. Everyone is sad mopey and dopey because of the horrid excuse of a script.

old pictures

[Kirpianuscus · 19 December 2016]

a photo album more than a film. because it reminds old themes, in right mix, well known characters, gestures and facts expected after the the first moments. the special children, the isolated space, the pressure of past, the father who does the right things in the wrong manner are pieces of a film who not surprise but it is far to be a disappointment. the only problem is the status of reminder. the director not propose a story, his story. only replace the same ingredients in a neutral manner. result - a beautiful film, first for its fragility, for images, for the references to Gothic, Scandinavian art, Sci. Fi. and a trend about special young people. the problem - the story has a fine potential and the silence, so generous used, could be better made.after its end remains only the flavor of a special form of poetry. like old pictures from an album.

Well, okay, now what?

[info-90701 · 3/10 · 27 May 2023]

Not sure what the Director wanted us to come away with with this film. It is just too slow to have any meaning more than home is where your heart is. Really not much more to say.

Acting was adequate, direction was adequate, just not a very interesting treatment of what could have been a vey interesting subject.

What will they do with these powers? What will she teach him about what she learned "outside?" Are they destined to die like the mother, in agonizing pain? Why just try to stifle them instead of teaching them what they can and can't do? What about this "colony" of people where they are? Did they all just disappear or die off? No successful people in this colony?

Really. You almost have to work harder to make this film boring, than to make it interesting when you start with an interesting subject. Back to film school buddy! Less self obsession and contemplation of navel lint.

Not Good Enough

[PennyReviews · 3/10 · 28 July 2023]

One And Two is a fantasy drama about two siblings that live a secluded life, being forced to do so by their father.

The movie has an interesting story on paper, and the dynamics of the family were strong and created the right tension for the melodrama to really shine.

However, the story was not well delivered, as it was obvious by the ending. The whole magic-super power theme was not explained, neither was the wall that seperated the family from the outside world. And those are only two of the questions that the films leave unanswered.

The performances, finally, were enjoyable enough by everyone in the cast.

Not worth your time

[gressman07 · 5/10 · 21 October 2023]

There really is nothing worth investing this movies length to endure for what you get. It was a happy enough ending but the journey there was pointless. It's basically Jumper only they truly do nothing with said abilities. Movie is composed well enough but again there's no real point for any of it. The only positive is it ending with Outro by M83, but even then I wouldn't give this a +1 even (or 6/10). It isn't good it isn't bad, it's just a neutral 5, flat and entirely nothing. If my only purpose in life is to leave some sometimes helpful reviews and sway others from wasting more valuable time then I can live with that.

Timothee Chalamet!

[dmm1953 · 8/10 · 23 December 2020]

He shines. The acting is excellent. But Timothee excels. Though they are modern, they seem to be filled with ancient beliefs and superstitions. When their children are revealed as gifted, the father is scared. Imagine if they were unleashed. Live the photography, the music. It's mesmerizing.

Mystic

[a-h-guicherit · 7 October 2020]

This film is a mystic story about a boy and a girl with supernatural gifts. The family lives in an enclosure surrounded by a high fence. The mother dies of an epileptic seisure and their father mistrusts his siblings. He tries to kill his daughter by leaving her in a boat on the river. She wakes up in a 20th century town, far from home. The boy is threatened by his father, who tells him that his sister is dead. In a fight the boy kills his father. He and his sister communicate and they are reunited. The film is haunting. The acting is very good, especialy Timothee Chalamet, who has the gift to let you feel his inner emotions.

Stylish and alternative

[christy-1960 · 8/10 · 24 June 2019]

In a world of high budget thin films this is refreshingly robust if you take the trouble to engage. The four leads do Stirling work in an atmospheric quiet film which avoids cliche. The whole is a metaphor for the generational procession of society. Thoroughly enjoyed thisin a similar way to my enjoyment of , say, Midnight Special it Take Shelter.

fantastic - cant wait for part 2 please! (dont make it cheesy either if possible)

[bhoffman-08804 · 10/10 · 30 January 2016]

The 4 main actors were phenomena. I have seen practically every English movie ever made in my 45 years and with piles of crap coming out daily, high quality and intriguing films like this one are far and few.

I am not going to get into a plot analysis because my family loved it and didn't find any faults at all with the film.

I can tell you this though, and to give you an example of what to expect with this film; I just watched Chloe Moretz in a new film called the 5th wave and by comparison, this Kiernan Shipka completely blows Chloe out of the water as far as acting goes.

Kiernan acted so convincingly that you believe she is the actual person who she is playing in this movie, so much so that watching Chloe made it appear that Chloe has lost entirely her acting ability.

Excellent flick and a must see.

Ps: There was absolutely no filth or vulgarity in this movie. No lesbo scenes or anything else normal folks have no interest in. Major props to the directors, writers and producers who created an awesome movie the whole family can watch and enjoy (excluding little kids).