The High Cost of Living

Zach Braff and Isabell Blais give great performances in this emotionally dark picture.The awkward way that they interact at first gives way to a budding friendship that is portrayed very well.The confidence of the filmmaker's in the story is evident in that they kept the focus firmly on the main characters and never shy away from showing the full range of emotions these characters have.The ending was very good and left some questions unanswered.

The main problem with independent filmmaking is that while novel in its attempts to tackle the subjects that mainstream cinema ignores or marginalizes it is ill-equipped to actually do so substantively. Is there any reason why a small time drug dealer would want to help out the very same pregnant woman that he ran over in a hit-and-run? It's not even remotely plausible but the film insists within its own framework that it is, that this guilt is so overwhelming he must insert himself in her life.

This movie makes me want to move to Canada and become a drug dealer. No it doesn't.

Zach Braff is doing bad things in Montreal, and he deserves to feel bad.

Another "why haven't you told me" you might think, but no. Somehow this one's different.

I'm a big fan of low-key dramas, but this goes to extremes.

Such a twisted friendship development.

"The High Cost of Living is yet another example of the high cost (for moviegoers) of lowered production barriers for aspiring filmmakers." - Nick Schager

Subtracted points for having so much of the movie in French, even though everyone speaks fluent English. A complicated plot with some really touching moments. I really liked Isabelle Blais as the distraught pregnant woman, she was fresh and believable. Zach Braff was also surprisingly good in this unexpected role. It is a painful story, but it is told well. I'm glad they did not mess it all up by adding a feel good ending, instead they left it feeling very real.

Zach Braff and Isabelle Blais' performances keep the show running, but the film is still a bit mellow-Dramatic.