Arlington Road

* My favorite IMDB user reviews about Arlington Road

Thrilling and ultimately chilling - 19 December 2000
This movie requires that you do not have any expectations of it. As long as you can keep from thinking it'll be like every other Hollywood piece of crap thriller out there, you will be . . . well, probably a little stunned.

That ending -14 December 2000
I love movies with a twist at the end (I promise I won't reveal it here). A good final twist can elevate a film to new levels. It can make a good film out of a mediocre one (Alien 3) or a masterpiece out of an already good one (Fight Club). (For the record, the only thing I don't like is when a film is so obviously built around its twist, that until it comes, it seems plot less; I mean The Sixth Sense). But Arlington Road certainly belongs to the Fight Club category. It had me gripped from the start, even if the plot seemed at times predictable and contrived, the manic energy of Jeff Bridges and the calm menace of the cast-against-type Tim Robbins were enough to hook me. And then it all comes together so beautifully, and all the contrivances are explained in one swift stroke. Chapeau. When a film makes you want to see it again immediately, that's a good sign. Watch this one twice. At least.

Stunning. - 4 June 2000
At the end of 'Arlington Road' I was stunned. I mean, I actually let the end credits roll before pressing stop on the video remote, it was that good. Really thought-provoking, harrowing, well-conceived stuff.

So why, relatively speaking, did it flop at the box office? This is the type of truly amazing thriller that would be a runaway success if Bruce Willis had taken the lead, or Christopher Walken had a go as the villain. But it's better than that - Jeff Bridges is perfect as the nervy, paranoid lecturer and Tim Robbins particularly creepy as his odd, possibly terrorist-related neighbour.

And what an ending!

This is the kind of film that deserves trumpeting as a major cinematic triumph, but will instead languish in that category filled with films like 'Breakdown' and 'Wild Things' - movies that will become forgotten gems. So watch it before you forget about it!

How Did That Movie Get Made? - 18 November 2000
I cannot recall a more disturbing edgy creepy movie coming out of a mainstream Hollywood studio. How did it get made? And more specifically, how did the studio, with all its focus groups and test screenings, let it get released with such a suprising ending?

I don't know, but I'm certainly glad we've got the fluke to show for it; a creepy twisty movie that really grabs you right from the start and won't let you go. I got that line from Jeff Craig. Go 60 Second Preview.

Seriously though, I'm not surprised this movie made zero at the box office, it's not a crowd pleaser. And I'm also not surprised everyone said I should go see it. They were right, I dug it big time. From the unnerving performances by Joan Cusack and Jeff Bridges, to the interesting script and plot, down to the nice direction and cinematography, I was hooked from start to finish.

Yes there are plot holes, but a lot of them can be argued away, and the film is just way too good in the moment not to enjoy it. This isn't a groundbreaking flick, but it is well made, and looks pretty good too. Any film that can make flipping through a yearbook visually interesting is doing its job.

Not for the faint of heart, or for those who need formulaic films.

The "how to" on making a good thriller. - 27 March 2004
"Arlington Road" is the perfect example for how thrillers should be made.

A good story, a good atmosphere, good actors and voila! you have got a good thriller. "Arlington Road" has got it all and it's a near perfect movie that is a must see for the thriller fans.

The intense beginning sets the mood for the rest of the movie. It's atmospheric and tense right till the good ending. I'll admit that there are some slow moments and some distracting plot lines but it doesn't take away the tension or ruins the atmosphere in any kind of way.

The movie is very well casted with Jeff Bridges as the more and more paranoid getting Michael Faraday and Tim Robbins as his neighbour that he begins to suspects of being a terrorist. Both main actors pull of really well and help to created the good thriller atmosphere that this movie has.

Good thriller with a great atmosphere, story, actors and ending that will stay with you forever.

Whoah - 15 October 2000
This is a heavy movie about the people who's paranoia and suspicion turn out to be the truth. In Arlington Road, we have a college professor who teaches a course on terrorism, so when the ideal neighbors move in next door well i know i'd like tim robbins and joan cusack next door to me) we slowly grows suspicious. As it appears his class is getting to his head, he really is correct, and whoah.

Unforgettable chiller - 8 August 2000
This is one chilling movie. It begins with the opening sequence, when we see a little boy dazed in the street, his hand bloody, and Prof. Michael Farraday (Jeff Bridges) comes to his aid. The boy is the son of Oliver and Cheryl Lang (Tim Robbins and Joan Cusack), a nice, suburban couple. But things start to change. Behind the façade of suburbia, Farraday, already paranoid as a terrorism expert and as the widower of an FBI agent murdered in a Waco-style raid, starts to suspect that the Langs are quite different that he expected. From there, the story twists and turns towards one disturbing conclusion.

Arlington Road not only has a bizarre and twisting story, but has a unique visual look as well, thanks to director Mark Pellington. In fact, the film at times looks similar the the music video for Pearl Jam's song `Jeremy', which Pellington also directed. Bridges, perhaps the most underrated actor there is, is terrific and has a similar role in many ways to 1994's Blown Away. Robbins is an actor who is so versatile, that he can play both the innocent simpleton (The Hudsucker Proxy) or a conniving senatorial candidate (Bob Roberts), here displays a few new sides to his personality. Joan Cusack is also excellent in perhaps what is even a creepier role. This one will stay with you after the lights come up.

Under-Rated and Unappreciated Film - 10 October 2002
This is one of those films that will be dug up many decades from now and folks will be questioning why it wasn't one of the best films of that year.

This film is shocking, it's makes one feel paranoid, it makes one question government, security, makes one realize how deep love can go and that is love of spouse/country/political beliefs.

This film provides a great performance by Jeff Bridges, with excellent performances by Tim Robbins and Joan Cusack. Most of all, it will get you to think. This is not a film for those who do not want to venture into a different type of a mind of a "terrorist", this is not the film for those who want to see happy endings, especially if you want the government to come in and save characters. It doesn't. This is a film that takes every notion and bends them, especially the subject matter.

In 1999, who would wonder if their neighbors harbored any ill will? You do now. In 1999 who would think that terrorist think this way? You do now. In 1999 who would think that anyone as normal looking, white upper middle classed, as those neighbors were associated with fanatics? You do now. this film, for all its glory and mistakes, IS a view into a future..or a past..or both?

Many posters are upset with the ending. The ending is shocking, I'll agree. A let down? Nope. Did I see it coming? NO. Hence my like for the film.

There is so much in this film from the opening frame to the end, its a shame just to call it suspense, its a shame to just call it a thriller, its a shame just to call it political and its a shame just to say it terrorist get away with it all....it does all of those things, but what it does the most is have you look into the faces of all of this and understand how the innocent can be made into "whatever" by "whomever". The question is, whom do we trust in the climate as the movie proposes? The non-happy ending provides a clue.

I recommend this film highly, but only if you are prepared to view it at least twice, open minded, and without politics. It's a hard swallow, but a damn good script that will have you biting your nails at points, and maybe upset you in the end because of the conclusion. But taking risks are important in film, making you think far beyond the time the film has ended are too. Take a chance and view this one, see for yourself.

Great movie, esp Jeff Bridges - 23 June 2000
To go from "The Dude" in Big Lebowski to David Farraday only proves Bridges is one of the most versatile actors out there. He over-emotes a little in this film but he's great all the same.

The film itself is chilling and leaves you asking a lot of questions. Even if you don't believe in right-wing conspiracies and govt. conspiracies you have to acknowledge that this anti-government sentiment is out there in a lot of people; most people are merely annoyed but many are angry and their invisibility is their greatest asset. The way the film portrayed Tim Robbins' associates is one of the best examples.

Arlington Road was one of the few films in recent years that really affected me.

(WARNING: ** SPOILERS** ONLY READ THIS LAST ONE IF YOU HAVE SEEN THE MOVIE)

You are all missing the point.. - 23 March 2004
**spoilers**
Many of the comments I've read refer to coincidences and the like with this film. The point, and I'm surprised no one else seems to have noticed, was that these WEREN'T coincidences. These people set the guy up from the very beginning. They had him watched, and they led him with a carrot on a stick the whole way to get HIM to be the one to take the blame, the "single man" theory. If you need any proof of this, refer to the last lines of the movie, where Mrs. Lang asks "Any word yet?" and Mr. Lang answers "No, but they'll let us know.". Looking for their next victim. The fact that Bridges' wife was killed and that he is a conspiracy theory nut was the whole reason they sought him out.

Great movie, phenomenal ending.