In ascolto (2006) Reviews

• Fantastic Film

  hoxenfelt2006-06-12

  This is an absolutely fantastic film. It's a very clever spy thriller....the kind that few make any longer. The fact that the technology is accurate made it even more absorbing. The direction and acting were superb. The was fast-paced, enthralling and full of suspense. And the cinematography was absolutely beautiful. The attention to detail was spectacular. Reports are that it was exceptionally well received at the New York Film Festival. Its truly a moving film and a come-together bonding experience for the whole audience. Really a superb bit of film.

• Not bad for a Hollywood-style thriller

  rasecz2006-12-16

  Those who enjoy Hollywood thrillers, a la the recent Manchurian Candidate, should not be disappointed. Refreshingly we find the US NSA and its American corporate partners in the role of bad guys. The saving grace for the American side is that the hero is a conscientious NSA staff in the role of master saboteur of a new Big Brother spying technology called Tumbleweeds that can listen to conversations even when cell phones are not in use (but ON of course). Clearly a potential concern of the moment. To some all this may appear far-fetched, even conspiratorial, but it is within the realm of the possible, especially considering the increasing collaboration of phone companies with the NSA. Would you rely on Nokia, Samsung and other phone manufacturers to protect your privacy?

• a stunning visual trip

  bathshebathree2006-08-31

  I saw this beautifully shot film recently.... to be honest I was expecting to watch a good thriller, pass a couple of hours and that's about it. What I discovered was an incredibly fascinating story where, wonder of wonders, I actually felt I was learning something valuable without being preached to... But the biggest surprise was how moving, honest and sensitive the performances were .... and most of all - how visually stunning the film was.. I was taken on a journey through all the atmospheric 'landscapes', both literal and metaphorical. Great stuff! A quiet but powerful film. The Listening is undoubtedly one of the best movie surprises of 2006.

• Lighten up ...... it's only science fiction ...... or is it ?

  merklekranz2010-04-02

  Like something out of the pages of "The National Enquirer", "The Listening" is entertaining, as long as you don't let facts get in the way of a good story. After all, the best science fiction, is believable science fiction. Michael Parks goes up against the government's National Security Agency and a private corporation supplier, trying to save an innocent Italian woman from their abusive silencing techniques. Though the movie has it's flaws in the logic department, the intriguing subject matter overcomes any glitches in the story. If you are one of those people who is paranoid about "big brother" listening, this is a film you might want to avoid, because it will definitely strike a nerve. - MERK

• Pretty Bad

  fakeusername2006-08-25

  This movie was pretty bad. As a thriller, it would've been bad even if the technology were right; Michael Parks is terrible in this -- completely emotionless -- and any sort of sympathy that they try to drum up for him and his ex-girlfriend is completely lost. From a technological standpoint, this movie requires more than a leap of faith. It requires a lobotomy. Some of the technology, it gets right. Most of it, it gets wrong, wrong, wrong. That bit at the end, the bit with the super-duper signal that deafened the girl and blew up all of the computing hardware, is one of the stupidest things I've ever seen in a movie. Ever. I stopped the film at this point. I can't believe that a technology adviser for a movie would let the scriptwriters get away with this ridiculous junk. Have you ever accidentally turned your headphones all the way up? Did you have a seizure? Did blood leak from your ears while your stereo exploded in your face? Come on. Anyway, there's a lot more that I could say, but the gist of it is: Not Worth Your Time.