The Party's Just Beginning (2018) Reviews

• An assured debut from Karen Gillan

  ilovegod-459562018-02-27

  I'm not going to spoil anything here, but I will say that Karen Gillan's "The Party's Just Beginning" isn't a perfect film. There's a lot of stuff going on and not all of it gets a resolution. But it's still very well acted (Gillan's best performance yet), well written, and beautifully directed. It's a very confident debut and Gillan's voice really shines through. I've seen reviews angry at the film, saying that it "exploits" people who identify as transgender or that she "exploits" suicide, which I think is just ridiculous. I really believe that all of that is just down to the fact that Gillan tried to include a lot of different topics and themes in this film. Some are included unsuccessfully, and the film can feel a bit overstuffed, but in my opinion, most of the themes have a good pay off. Without spoiling anything, I can say that The Party's Just Beginning is an incredibly assured debut. It's got a strong cast, a socially relevant, poignant, and funny script, and even when it doesn't land every punch, The Party's Just Beginning is still an admirable, emotional, and immensely enjoyable directorial debut that marks Karen Gillan as an actor and a director to watch. 9 out of 10.

• Important and Powerful

  dogmaticdogs2018-12-08

  This movie is not for everyone. It is about those of us who are outsiders that often feel so dead on the inside we give up on life or seek self destructive behavior to feel alive or human, whether that be through drugs, sex, abusive relationships, risking one's life, intentional infliction of pain, or whatever else makes us feel alive for a moment, or a combination of all of the above, and the devastation it can leave behind. As someone that deals with depression and addiction to self-destructive behavioral patterns, I can tell you this movie was dead on in capturing what it truly feels like, and the impact it has on us and those around us. For those that don't have such feelings, or know people plagued with them, I am not sure if they will get it. For those of us that do, it is hard not to view this movie as a masterpiece. It was not judgmental, overacted, or built on false assumptions. Rather, it was a brilliant showing of understanding and awareness for those of us that do not often feel understood or valued. You will not feel good or happy leaving this movie. In fact, it was so realistic and on point it brought me straight to my dark place. However, for a change, I did not feel alone in my blackness, but felt like I was with friends that understood and wanted me to make better choices in life. For that I am grateful this important movie was made. Absolutely exceptional. And again, I thank all of those involved for taking this so seriously. I have no idea why IMDB has this movie listed as a comedy. It is a dark movie about depression, emptiness and suicide.

• "Where Does That Leave Me?"

  keithparks422019-04-01

  TPJB Before watching, all I knew was that Karen G wrote/directed/and starred in this. I knew nothing of the story. That being said, I think the title is out of place. The title of this review is my opinion of what it should've been called. This picture is full of heartbreaking moments, that build and build, leading up to clarity. It's definitely a 'stages of depression,' type. The progressive themes, fair dialogue, grand acting and beautiful music splash onto the canvas that is 'The Party's Just Beginning." I will however think of the title as the tagline for Miss G's future art yet to come.

• PARTY GIRL

  js-661302019-03-13

  Chastising small town Scottish life to indifferent yet surly pubsters more interested in their drink than this open mic looney, Liusaidh delivers her trash talk with poetic vigour before stumbling out for her nightly shag and take away. As Liusaidh, (Lucy or Loosey) Karen Gillan owns the screen, as she trudges through her insufferable existence, something her best friend decided against a year's past. Her nightly drink/shag/fries concludes with a stagger over the train bridge favoured by local jumpers, and visions of her dear departed, departing. This unsettling tragedy of events soon becomes mundane with repetition, as is everything in the unfortunate ville of Inverness. Staring into deep dead space from the local deli counter, under harsh fluorescents and a tight hairnet, she encounters a new bloke interested in more than just processed meats, and we are off. "The Party's Just Beginning" doesn't follow the paint by numbers movie canvass, instead delivering a choppy story in jumpy time slices, with equal doses of edgy humour and dark pathos. Attention must be paid. Although there are glimmers of hope, the film, like it's perpetually grey, dead end town, has trouble finding a rainbow among the clouds, and that may be the point. This one, for better or worse, or both, stays with you.

• It's intense.... ly intense

  Daveybryce2018-12-17

  It's certainly not a comedy, even coming from NE Scotland. It's really engaging!! It's not obvious where the story is leading or how it should turn out. Karen is amazing and her cast is very well chosen. Think of it as more real life... not cliche'd... Eastenders (over dramatised). Enjoy it!!! Ps i love the fact the reviews are honest for once!