Because Why (1993) User Reviews

A thoughtful movie well worth the time spent on watching it.

[misterlei · 9/10 · 27 December 2007]

This movie has the feel of a continental movie about it. It is infinitely memorable, i loved the space the director gave the movie for the characters to grow and for things to happen. It is a quirky movie as other reviewers have written, and the humour is dry (though slapstick in places, which is really funny); but i liked the randomness of a lot of things in the movie because life is really like that. I was impressed by the scenery of Montreal. There are some very clever shots - for example one shot of the ceiling, to represent the hopelessness that a couple feel whilst lying in bed discussing the state of their relationship. I liked the character of Alex, who is somebody that life sort of happens to, and who finds himself resisting the urge to run when he starts being responsible for what happens around him.

I think you have to either be in the mood for this sort of movie, or be appreciative of the measured pace. A thoughtful movie well worth the time spent on watching it.

Brilliant movie. Charming and well played. Quirky and funny!

[sirkelsag-1 · 5 January 2005]

I remember I saw this movie back in 1996 or 1997 on TV in Norway. Me and my buddy just though "Hey, let's watch this Canadian movie thats on tonight called Because Why", without knowing anything about it. One hour and 30 minutes after we quite stunned by the experience. Brilliant movie Today many years later, we both share this as one of our favorite movies of all time. I personally bought the DVD a couple of years back, and I've seen it lots of times. Such great characters, mostly named A something... Quirky and fun, yet very charming and philosophical script.

Some surprising moments that will make you laugh! Some awesome scenes... among my favorite scenes are the Tenor-singing Garbagemen, the Black-Eyed janitor, he cigarette incident, the piano-playing smoking man and of course the beauty of the whole building going on a canoe-trip One to watch if you like charming, quirky movies :)

Shockingly Meaningful!

[metafuente · 8/10 · 12 March 2009]

I first thought this film was a bit over the top with the simple and minimalistic dialogs but then the entire thing exploded in my head! This is what it meant to me: some people go through life reacting to whatever happens to them, that is, floating through each day, taking in events as they come and reacting spontaneously on the spot.

Flowing, flowing, letting the river take them, so to speak...

They don't have goals or dreams to follow. Some are just mindless, others are actually very smart but choose to experience reality this way, bypassing their logical minds and leaning more towards feelings, intuition, finding meanings in symbolism or like a surfer friend would say: "tripping things out".

In comes Alex, a character who seems to NOT have his own mind at all which frustrates a few around him and lead the way for some ridiculously funny situations. I personally thought the key to understanding his persona in the film happens during the scene where he sits in front of the piano. Is he just a simple and dumb guy? You'll definitely have a say after watching that bit! This excellent movie made me feel, somehow, ashamed of myself, that is, thinking about the couple years I spent being even worse than Alex and pissing a bunch of people off (as a result).

A Canadian gem!

[Blue-Harvest · 30 June 2006]

If you like movies like "Lost in Translation" and "Garden state" - you'll love this.

It's a low key movie which in places has very little dialog. What is said, is often done so with without the characters speaking. They do it with a look or action. Some subtle, some predictable... always entertaining.

The movie has a quiet charm and quirky music which runs through the movie like a red thread, punctuated by hilariously funny scenes. (Keep a look out for the hairspray scene. It makes me laugh every time.) ;-)

I can't say enough nice things about this movie. It's been a favorite of mine for over 10 years and I wish more people knew about it.

Can't find this anywhere

[jguth-85337 · 10/10 · 15 September 2018]

I loved this film, the cinematography and minimal dialogue have stayed with me for 20 years. I would love to watch it again if I could find it.

Nothing is ten times as big as being

[Erich-8 · 10/10 · 2 April 1999]

Granted, I did watch this movie at 12:30 am and was rather punchy at the time, but I still think this was a tremendously funny film. I love the dry humor and purposely stumbling mannerisms of all the characters. Those two kids were excellent. This movie had some of the most interesting and new humorous situations that I have ever seen. I especially liked the slow-moving firetruck, the opera-singing garbagemen, and the two old guys who tried to be pseudo-intellectuals ("Which is bigger, being or nothingness?"). Even though some things were predictable, i.e. Alex burning his bottom with a cigarette in the toilet, I still thought that they were performed with excellence (or was it purposely non-acting that made it funny?). All in all, I must say I liked the movie and it has provided me with some hilarious thoughts that I can continue to use to cheer me up.

Where's the skating?!

[olliegrind · 14 October 2002]

Although this is an alright movie, I rented it because I was under the impression that somewhere, at some point in the movie, there would be some reference to skateboarding, what with there being a skateboard on the front AND back cover. After viewing the entire movie I was quite upset and upon closer inspection of the cover it appears the skateboards were superimposed to attract idiots like me to rent and/or buy this movie. I guess the movie would've been okay if I hadn't been waiting for skateboarding to come into the plot or at least be referenced to at some point.

Just plain boring!!

[Camden003 · 17 August 2004]

There is absolutely no point to this movie! The directors must have had nothing better to do with their time. It is the worst movie I have seen in I think my entire life! What a pure waste of time and energy...!

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