Searching (August 3, 2018) - starring John Cho, Debra Messing

[ITDEFX101]

Well I wasn't sold on the trailer for this movie as it looked predictable. Was planning on using MP on this one but something at the last minute said save it. Paid out of pocket for this one and I was so glad I did. Worth a second viewing! I didn't expect that twist. 4 out of 5!

In my audience a

[Show spoiler]bunch of **** heads started laughing when the service stream stopped just before the detective was taken into custody.

[GasmaskAvenger]

[Show spoiler]When that scene happened, I assumed she went ham on everyone shooting spree style.

That's how tense the film is. You really had no idea what the outcome was going to be.

[ITDEFX101]

Originally Posted by GasmaskAvenger

[Show spoiler]When that scene happened, I assumed she went ham on everyone shooting spree style.

That's how tense the film is. You really had no idea what the outcome was going to be.

[Show spoiler]
As shocked/surprised I was by this twist, did the movie mention the charges she and her son where facing? Obviously since the girl didn't die, he is not going to be charged with Murder (attempted maybe?) but the Mom.....oh boy were to start with that list??

I didn't like that part where all of a sudden people cared about her when she was missing over when she was a live....like her acquiescence became her friends in the time of her need. I was like you FAKER!!!

[shrex]

Originally Posted by ITDEFX101

[Show spoiler]
As shocked/surprised I was by this twist, did the movie mention the charges she and her son where facing? Obviously since the girl didn't die, he is not going to be charged with Murder (attempted maybe?) but the Mom.....oh boy were to start with that list??

I didn't like that part where all of a sudden people cared about her when she was missing over when she was a live....like her acquiescence became her friends in the time of her need. I was like you FAKER!!!

I feel like that’s the reality of it, as sad as it sounds.

[MazeRunner]

Went yesterday. Was surprised at how quiet everyone in the theatre was. I didn't even hear any snacks being eaten.

GREAT movie. My theory was

[Show spoiler]the uncle

but they went there.. then they didn't.. then more things happen and happen. Great red herrings and small clues placed throughout.

People were crying in the hallway after as they waited by the bathrooms but I never got emotional. John Cho killed it though.

[Leonidas King]

I have literally never seen a TV spot, YouTube ad, or anything for this.

Not even sure how it's making money other than the little word of mouth.

[ITDEFX101]

Originally Posted by shrex

I feel like that’s the reality of it, as sad as it sounds.

Sad I know

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by GasmaskAvenger

[Show spoiler]When that scene happened, I assumed she went ham on everyone shooting spree style.

That's how tense the film is. You really had no idea what the outcome was going to be.

[Show spoiler]I thought that she was going to put a gun to her head and blow her brains out in the middle of the memorial service when the cops showed up.

I was preemptively wincing and trying to prepare for it.

[MazeRunner]

Also.. the first 5 minutes or so of the movie.. Windows computers are so ugly lmao. I'm glad these laptop movies take place on Macbooks.

[Foggy]

Just got out of it and I think it's likely to make my end of year list.

[The Great Owl]

Three and a half stars...

Over the years, David Kim, an everyman father played by John Cho, has used computers to chronicle his family's daily adventures and standout occasions, in the form of piano recital videos, first-day-of-school photos, vacation pictures, and such. As his teenage daughter, Margot, makes her way through the busy rigors of high school life, David, now a widower, lovingly watches over her by way of text messages, FaceTime conversations, and amusing reminders for her to remember her chores. One night, his daughter goes to a study session at a friend's house and does not return home.

After exhausting the normal venues of inquiry to no avail, David files a missing persons call with the local authorities and is assigned a police detective, played by Debra Messing. As the hours tick by with no clues to Margot's whereabouts, her father opens her laptop and begins to backtrack though her digital footprints. As he traces her past social media interactions, David learns some unsettling secrets and realizes that he did not know his daughter as well as he thought.

The 2018 mystery thriller, Searching, is not the first film to structure its entire narrative within the confines of electronic devices, but its utilization of point-of-view images from computer monitors and smartphones to outline the email and social media interactions of the key characters as they investigate the case at hand is a surprisingly effective way of pointing out to viewers how much of our lives is devoted to multitasking on various screens. The exposition sequence, which takes cues from the Disney Pixar film, Up, establishes a emotional rapport with the Kim family by displaying a myriad of videos and photos that document David's daughter's early childhood and his late wife's cancer treatments. John Cho, who first rose to fame by way of comedic roles in movies like American Pie and Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle, shows surprising versatility here in his role as a beleaguered parent whose facial expressions on camera monitor displays convey that he is carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. Many peripheral aspects of this story hit home with me for a number of present-day reasons, and I suspect that many viewers will feel the same way, since the struggles of the characters, most of which are universally relatable, are brought to our eyes by way of their online existences in a seemingly effortless fashion.

Searching is not a perfect film by any stretch, and it almost lost me during the final half hour, when a series of convenient coincidences paves the way toward the conclusion, and when the storytelling format slightly cheats by relying on televised news updates and confidential police station camera footage. Still, the center manages to hold, and one particular “A-ha!” moment that I picked up on just before the film made it apparent to the audience is golden.

Since I've found that there is nothing more hellishly godawful than watching over someone else's shoulder while that person is using a computer, whether I'm at a work office or elsewhere, I have to tip my hat enthusiastically to this movie for the mere fact that I did not lose my mind while observing the characters type text words or hover their mouse cursors on web links for 102 minutes.

On an unpleasant note, this film is a reminder of how online activity is conducive to vile and despicable behavior. At one point, our lead protagonist is reading Reddit messages about the investigation of his daughter's disappearance and seeing careless quips from random people about how bad parenting is to blame or about how the father is probably the guilty party. These scenes brought to mind the increasing disdain that I have with the way that people on social media casually cast judgment on strangers from the other side of the country in a caustic way that they would hopefully never resort to in a face-to-face scenario.

Observations and vents aside, Searching has my recommendation if you are looking for a strong slice of suspense to kick off your fall season, or if you're looking for a gentle nod of encouragement for us to not to take the casual iPhone text conversations with a loved one for granted, because we never know when a text message or an Instagram comment might be our final interaction with that person. It's also a not-so-gentle validation of why I prefer Apple Mac interfaces to Microsoft Windows interfaces any day of the week.

[Kevinicus]

Originally Posted by MazeRunner

Also.. the first 5 minutes or so of the movie.. Windows computers are so ugly lmao. I'm glad these laptop movies take place on Macbooks.

You realize that was a very old version of Windows, right?

Seems the mom was the sensible one in the family. Macbooks? Such a waste.

[MazeRunner]

Originally Posted by Kevinicus

You realize that was a very old version of Windows, right?

Seems the mom was the sensible one in the family. Macbooks? Such a waste.

Yes, it was Windows XP. But every other upgrade after is ugly too.

[The Great Owl]

This movie reminded me a lot of the book, Songs for the Missing, by Stewart O'Nan.

If you're never read this book, then get thee to Amazon immediately, lest you be vexed. It's a great read.

[The Great Owl]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

Many peripheral aspects of this story hit home with me for a number of present-day reasons

Just because I don't like to leave y'all hanging with the above vague comment, I'll share the main reason.

A few days ago, my brother called me and informed me that his wife, my sister-in-law, was just diagnosed with breast cancer.

It's a mild stage of cancer, my sister-in-law is in great health, and we're all optimistic, but the movie still went a little deeper into my head than expected.

Oh, and, in the event of the worst case scenario...

[Show spoiler]1.) I've never smoked weed.
2.) Even if I did, I wouldn't give any to my teenage nieces, like the uncle did in this movie.

[Batman1980]

Originally Posted by Leonidas_King

I have literally never seen a TV spot, YouTube ad, or anything for this.

Not even sure how it's making money other than the little word of mouth.

I saw trailers for it twice, I believe. Gotta imagine it's riding on the coat-tails of CRA a bit. Fantastic film I thought, even though I saw a couple of the twists coming and it has a couple of fake endings.

[Leonidas King]

Originally Posted by Batman1980

I saw trailers for it twice, I believe. Gotta imagine it's riding on the coat-tails of CRA a bit. Fantastic film I thought, even though I saw a couple of the twists coming and it has a couple of fake endings.

I have to agree with this statement since the lead is Asian.

[syrajuice]

One thing I didn't like about this movie

[Show spoiler] Why does almost every movie have to have a happy ending when it does not even make sense? The daughter surviving was just stupid. The movie should've ended with the cop getting arrested and the daughter being buried next to her mother. But everyone needs a happy ending or they won't like the movie.

[John1701D]

Originally Posted by syrajuice

One thing I didn't like about this movie

[Show spoiler] Why does almost every movie have to have a happy ending when it does not even make sense? The daughter surviving was just stupid. The movie should've ended with the cop getting arrested and the daughter being buried next to her mother. But everyone needs a happy ending or they won't like the movie.

[Show spoiler]What's wrong with a happy ending?! Isn't real life bad enough? The guy already lost his wife, you want him to lose his daughter too?! The bloodylust of people today is concerning.

[Batman1980]

Originally Posted by Leonidas_King

I have to agree with this statement since the lead is Asian.

The lead is Asian, his wife is Asian, his brother is Asian and his daughter is Asian.