While there were elements to enjoy and plenty of great twists along the way, "The Party" is an overall dull and oftentimes boring film that never really feels like it's trying to get anywhere.

It's like Potter staged only Act 2 of a decent play, revelations abound but we aren't invested in any of them. One hell of cast can't make up for the weak characters

A really complicated movie and needs patience to get to the end. The pacing was slow but still kept me thrilled.

I need ending explanation LOL. Its very funny movie

Brilliant performances and a deep exploration of relationships, truth and betrayal but I just wanted an ending. I don't need these characters banging around my head. Love Sally Potter but come on, could we have had five more minutes?

Sharp, smartly written drama about a gathering that goes off the rails. Set in a few rooms this movie relies on character interaction rather than some grand story.

Sadly it is too short... Otherwise it's a really good movie behind closed doors

The Party (2017), written and directed by Sally Potter, is a dark delicious steaming comedy where celebration meets existential angst and misery. It's the story of Janet's party. Janet hosts an intimate group of friends to celebrate a milestone event which quickly unravels and all hell breaks loose. Potter weaves together many visual elements to create an intriguing film. Potter juxtaposes the narrative of the party against the simmering tensions amongst the characters and their revelations to create dramatic tension that moves the film. Close ups and medium angle shots are interspersed with wide angle shots. The film is beautifully shot in black and white, giving the film a richness and complexity, which helps to focus your attention on the superb acting and dialogue and the content of the film without the distraction of color. The characters are beautifully lit, and Patricia Clarkson never looked more gorgeous, sensuous, and beautiful. And Potter has chosen to end her film in a cliffhanger leaving me wanting more and hoping that a sequel is in the works. It is a marvelous film made up of a stellar cast where each of the seven characters is allowed to shine and play complex scenes. Kristin Scott Thomas plays Janet, the middle-aged hostess, a plain "Jane", who is a member of parliament. Timothy Spall plays her philandering academic husband Bill. Cherry Jones plays Martha, an academic and Bill's long-time friend. Emily Mortimer plays Jinny, Martha's spouse. Martha and Ginny are expecting triplets. Patricia Clarkson plays April, Janet's glamorous best friend with a loose tongue. Bruno Ganz plays April's spouse, Gottfried, a life coach, aromatherapist and healer. Cillian Murphy plays Tom, a successful businessman, whose wife Marianne is Bill's former student, and Janet's colleague. The film resonated with me on a personal level posing important existential questions such as the transitory nature of life, the meaning of life, the impermanence of life, realism, faith, and karma. I thought The Party one of the best philosophical movies I have ever seen and highly recommend it for the superb acting and dialogue.

A gem. Brilliant cast. There's a bit near the end where it seems to slog briefly, but it's a great lead to the ending.

Honestly not bad 2.6

Spoilers: What a hoot! Pretentiousness reigns, even with the "artsy" black and white, as overstatement rules, Emily not just pregnant but with triplets; Cillian not just a blow user, but uses a lot, and his angst at fever pitch, too; Mary Ann, whom we never see, is sleeping with about everyone; Patricia beyond acerbic of mouth but so condescendingly insulting, you wonder how she is not punched. Kristin overwrought that near-death hubby Spall is sleeping with Mary Ann, when she is, too. Bruno so unctiously considerate, you just want him to shut up; Cherry so fearful the life with Emily will end that she blows it up. So everything takes it on the chin -- academics, a financier, a high-ranking Brit government minister, medical science, pregnant ladies, and the proclivity for violence among even the smart people. Everyone played this to the hilt, and I laughed out loud a lot at the prevalent inappropriate comments, done for darkly comedic, satiric laughs. All the right notes, gang. Bravo, bravo, bravo, bravo, etc,

This movie is SO different. Everyone's acting was just excellent and the way the plot unfolded was very enjoyable. I do admit some of the characters definitely had some points where I don't think the dramatic effect of the film was needed . But it was tastefully done in the way that it didn't turn away from the best parts of the film. I didn't see the ending coming at all and it was a huge shock I thorough enjoyed this movie.

A pretentious piece of garbage.

I'm 26 minutes in. Someone tell me it picks up, because I'm as witty & open-minded as any American and I can't find one reason to continue. I think the black-and-white somehow amplifies the boredom. I think I blew $4.37 on Redbox streaming. I think..... Zzzzzz.... that this... zzz... zzzzzzzzz

Love this movie. Have seen it 3 times and will certainly watch it again. Wonderful performances and sharp wit. A gem!

Loved the film --pokes fun at everything from Liberals to feminism to Germans! Only the English could pull off something like this (though its premise is much like Roman Polanski's 2011 Carnage). The pick of the actors was just spot on- the ever ravishing Kristin Scott Thomas, Timothy Spall (a man whose facial expressions could tell stories), and the ever so frightening Cillian Murphy. Just brilliant!

An assembly of greats: Kristen Scott Thomas, Patricia Clarkson and Bruno Ganz, joined now by Timothy Spall.

One of those stripped down movies that could be a play. Outstanding human drama and black comedy, excellent script, plot and performances, very intelligent and engaging. Here's a game: the actor who plays Gottfried - where have you seen him before?

The party es la carta de amor de Sally Potter al cine clásico con formulas narrativas dignas de la filmografia de Hitchcock ,este film logra superar las expectativas del publico siendo una historia impecable de drama muy a la antigua, las actuaciones en este film son impecables ,su cinematografia es hermosa y conmovedora ,cada complemento de este film es una gran referencia del cine clásico, una excepcional ejecución para un guion de esta altura.

I absolutely adored this movie darling! The mixture of characters who know each other through a mutual friend but are not actually friends describes a London dinner party to a tee. Yes the characters are self absorbed and flaky but that is how most Londoners are, perhaps the detractors from the reviews below have never been to a London party! Spall's acting was so convincing that I thought he was actually going to die for real at any moment and Murphy's portrayal of the 'wanker banker'. I was in hysterical for most of the second half but be warned that this is a black comedy and the jokes are not actually funny.