Comatose

Author(s): Steven
Location: Louisiana

“Comatose”

Directed by: Michael Gondry
Written by: Michael Gondry
Score by: Clint Mansell

Principal Cast:

Rachel McAdams (Claire Watts)
Jake Gyllenhaal (Michael Watts)
Jude Law (John McIntyre)
Jane Fonda (Ethel Richards)
Robin Williams (Bill Richards)

Tagline: “Love knows no boundaries"

Synopsis: Claire and Michael Watts live a normal, happy life until one day when everything changes. Driving home, they get into a car accident which puts Claire in a coma. This incident leaves Claire trapped inside her own head in a fantasy world. Soon Claire meets John McIntyre, who she instantly falls in love with. Claire is undecided whether she wants to live out her life with John in this fantasy world or return to Michael in the real world.

Meanwhile, Claire’s parents, Ethel and Billy, arrive at the hospital to watch over their daughter. They are going to give Claire two months to wake, and if she doesn’t then they are going to ask the doctors to pull the plug. They don’t believe that a human being should be kept alive by a machine. Michael, however, believes that Claire will return to him and that nothing should be done. Michael fervently begins to speak to Claire in the hopes that she will hear his pleas.

Back in Claire’s fantasy world, Claire begins to hear Michael’s voice in her head. She decides to return to the real world, and she begs John to come with her. John is reluctant to go because of how miserable he was before he moved to this world, but he decides to go with Claire. In a surprising twist, John is also a coma patient in the hospital. When they meet each other Claire has decide whether she wants to spend the rest of her life with Michael or leave him for John.

What the press would say:

Critics are calling Michael Gondry’s “Comatose” the best film of the year! What works most for the film is its amazing screenplay. Gondry will hands down win the Best Original Screenplay award. Another surefire winner is Rachel McAdams who delivers her best performance to date. She has great chemistry with both Gyllenhaal and Law. Her best scene is when she is standing between Michael and John, and she has to decide who she wants to be with. The audience can feel the longing and passion she has for John, but does she really want to leave Michael and throw away her life? Jude Law also delivers a magnificent performance. He gives the most sensual emotional performance of the year. His whole body quivers when he is with Claire. Gyllenhaal is also excellent as a man who is praying for his wife to wake. All the audience has to do is watch his eyes; Gyllenhaal could have had no dialogue, and his performance would have been just as remarkable. Jane Fonda and Robin Williams are also quite good, especially Fonda who has to cope with the actuality of possibly losing her daughter. Her best scene is when she lashes out at Michael and blames him for Claire’s condition.

For Your Consideration:
Best Picture
Best Director, Michael Gondry
Best Actress, Rachel McAdams
Best Actor, Jake Gyllenhaal
Best Supporting Actor, Jude Law
Best Supporting Actress, Jane Fonda
Best Original Screenplay
Best Score
Best Editing