3/4  Good Family Drama
I enjoyed this film quite a bit because of its acting and it dealt with the emotions with such honesty. Without Halle Berry, I think this would've turned out to be a typical drama about death and healing. The second half of the film wasn't... (read full)

3.5/4  Great Performances Transform Average Story
Basically what this movie has done is take an average story and throw in a superb cast, good camera work, and a way of telling an emotional story and what you are left with is pretty damn good movie.

Del Toro and Berry are superb and ... (read full)

3/4  Things We Lost in the Fire Quick Review
This movie was strong and full of emotion. Del Toro and Berry gave some great performances.

3/4  Things We Lost in the Fire Quick Review
I think the movie was a pretty good depiction of addiction and loss.

5/5 Things We Lost in the Fire/DVD
  by G. Furch
This movie took a couple of weeks to be delivered, so if you order it be prepare to wait. But did arrive in great condition. I would do it again.

4/5 An underrated and unheralded movie.
  by Frank Rizzo (Dallas, TX)
I was really suprised by this film. The acting is strong and obviously well directed. Del Torro, Duchoveny, and Berry really shine here. Berry has chops that she seems to not get credited for very often. This film explores very profound issues and themes like grief, friendship, addiction, and our fleet and seemingly fragile existence on this planet. How do we relate to our loved ones, the people we don't really like, and strangers, and how those relationships evolve in the face of some of these themes/issues? It's that rare combination of the material asking the right questions with the right performers and performances. It seems very real to me, and I'm very critical of that realistic element of a film. Do I buy what this character is saying, and is this situation real enough to warrant the investment of my attention? I think this production warrants anyone's attention who appreciates it when they're seeing more than just a walk through, or even a good try. This film just about nails it.

4/5 Surprisingly Good!
  by Morten Lokkegaard (Copenhagen, Denmark)
Not a major Halle Berry fan I was sceptical if she could carry a 'heavy' role like this but she blew the audience away as did her fellow academy award winner (Benicio Del Toro)

A heavy topic and a very sad setting nevertheless the story was told with such intensity and dare I say in such a 'non Hollywood manner' ... by the oscar nominated Danish Director Bier who had already previously shined in many movies and is an up and coming director. This was the (almost) mainstream version of her highly acclaimed dogme movie 'Celebration' without going too mainstream.

Excellent story telling and acting performances made this a truly amazing movie that deserve much more credit at the box office and award ceremonies than it received. Truly a movie to take time out to see.

4/5 Soft, delicate and very moving despite its clichéd construction...
  by Andrew Ellington (Mulholland Drive)
Susanne Bier's 2004 masterpiece `Brodre' was far and away one of the best films I've seen this decade. Having seen that recently again I decided that, despite my preconceived notions of her English film `Things we Lost in the Fire' (mainly that I find Berry rather uneven as an actress and doubted her ability to sell the film), I really wanted to see it.

So I did, this past Saturday.

While I have some reservations about the plot in general, I have to admit that this film was very moving and at times very, very sincere. The acting is nearly flawless on all accounts, which is not shocking when looking at Del Toro (who is one of the finest actors working today) but it is rather shocking when looking at Berry. She blew me away here with her ability to just sink into her role without the seemingly forced spasms of uncontrollable grief she exhibited in her Oscar winning performance in `Monster's Ball'.

The film begins with a tragedy, as Audrey Burke loses her husband in a horrific crime. Left to handle the raising of her two children alone, not to mention picking up the pieces of her shattered existence, Audrey is moved to offer her husband's best friend (and recovering drug addict) Jerry a place to stay. She needs to help around the house but mostly she needs someone there, to talk to and to feel connected to. As much as she at one point despised him, the reality is that he is the closest connection she has to her late husband. As time goes by their bond grows, and her children begin to move on as Jerry takes the place of their father. While this is a good thing, it also lays another burden on Audrey as she witnesses her husband being replaced; his memory slowly fading from their lives.

I'll just blurt this out right here; the film has its fare share of clichéd plot points. It follows that general formula of `things have to go great then get really bad before they can reach the happy ending' and I really was hoping for a different structure to this film, especially since the film opened so strong. I also thought that the way the script handled Jerry's addiction was rather `by the books' (you can smell that relapse coming from a mile away, but honestly, I don't think he ever stopped using), but Del Toro elevates that character so much it doesn't really matter in the end.

Yes, the acting makes this film a definite MUST-SEE. Halle Berry and Benicio Del Toro are practically flawless here, both of them completely understanding how to play to their strengths and deliver a subtle, moving and realistic portrait of two lives spun out of control by the demise of a mutual friend. Moreso than that, Brian (Audrey's husband) was their rock. He was the only person still standing strong beside Jerry, and he was Audrey's world and her only comfort. Together, Jerry and Audrey find the strength to move past this terrible moment in their lives. Alexis Llewellyn is also marvelous as Audrey's daughter Harper, and John Carroll Lynch has some soft and sincere moments as their neighbor Howard.

This is a very good film with some very memorable performances. Sure, it could have been stronger, had the script been a little less conventional and a little more `un-Hollywood' (I mean, `Brodre' was as `un-Hollywood' as they come, so I was really looking forward to that same process here) but the acting is a saving grace, and Bier's delicate direction makes this film poignant and moving.

5/5 Sucked Me In...Very Intense!
  by Kimmie
The title of the movie wasn't much attraction for me. I never heard of the movie before, I just happened to have it on TV. I started watching it and it sucked me in! I mean I could NOT stop watching it. I love movies but I must admit, when I'm at home watching them I tend to get up and do something...never happened with this movie! It was so intense...so passionate...and plenty of great acting. Pleasantly surprised...and yes, you will need a kleenex or two.