#BLISS MOVIE MOVIE#

The unanswered questions make it pretty much impossible for the audience to decipher the film and form an opinion on the ending, as well as realize and understand the implications of Greg’s fate. Despite that, the film leaves a plethora of loose ends, as it juggles too many facets and narratives. Much of the film is left for viewer interpretation. However, the excessive science-fiction features, including the telekinesis and futuristic human experiments within the movie, muddle its essence and main ideas. In “Bliss”, Cahill uses the two realities juxtaposed with the question as to what is real and what is in Greg’s head to communicate that for addicts, there is little distinction between their sober reality and high reality, and oftentimes, addicts find their world when on drugs more ‘real’ than actuality. The stark contrast in colors both easily conveys the mood of the scenes and contributes to the overall message of the film. The scenes in the city are dull, muted, and one-toned, whereas the second paradisal reality is vibrant and sunny. The narrative offers a new perspective on escapism, as well as the impacts of addiction on relationships and mental well being, especially through Greg’s bond with Emily.Īdditionally, Cahill uses color beautifully within the movie. Although a discrepant plot is not what most movies strive to boast, the jarring and chaotic storytelling works in favor of “Bliss” in this sense. Through the cinematography and Wilson’s and Hayek’s acting, the tension and confusion experienced by the characters in the film are tangible through the screen.

One of the stronger points of the film is that watching it truly feels like what one would perceive a drug trip to feel like.

#BLISS MOVIE MOVIE#

When the two realities within the movie start bleeding together, Greg grapples with what is ‘real’, and what isn’t, and ultimately has to choose whether he wants to stay in the utopia provided to him by the crystals, or return to his previous destitute condition with his daughter’s help. Upon taking the crystals, Greg and Isabel are transported from the city to an alternate idyllic reality, where it is indicated that Greg and Isabel were a part of an experiment that shifted them to an impoverished setting so they could “experience the good to appreciate the bad”. Thus, Greg and Isabel manipulate and harm their environment by using their powers from the crystals with no sense of guilt or wrongdoing.Īfter living in severe poverty, Isabel introduces ‘blue crystals’ to Greg. Isabel tells Greg that the reality that they are in and the people around them, including Greg’s daughter Emily (Nesta Cooper), are not ‘real’. The drugs are portrayed as magical ‘yellow crystals’, which give Isabel and Greg telekinetic abilities. It is established from the very beginning that Greg has a dependency on painkillers, and he unintentionally overlooks his responsibilities and his children because of his daydreaming tendencies.Īfter his deficiencies get him fired from his job, he meets Isabel Clemens (Salma Hayek), who gets him addicted to a form of stronger drugs. Written and directed by Mark Cahill, the movie follows Greg Wittle (Owen Wilson), a recent divorcé who works at a company called Technical Difficulties. The film “Bliss”, which released on Amazon Prime on February 5, attempts to better depict substance abuse through the use of a plot that incorporates science-fiction elements and alternate realities. Although many movies have portrayed the experiences of an addict, they often fall short in terms of giving viewers a sense of understanding of the lives and choices of those who abuse drugs. Addiction is at most times a disagreeable and uncomfortable topic to discuss in today’s society.

Bliss movie