: Hartley uses standard thriller tropes—incriminating floppy disks, international crime bosses, and bungling henchmen—not for suspense, but as "found objects" to explore language and absurdity.
: Isabelle's character provides a "sweet gravity" that grounds the film's more outlandish premise. Critical Perspective subtitle Amateur.1994.720p.BluRay.H264.AAC-RARBG
Hal Hartley's 1994 film is a hallmark of '90s independent cinema, characterized by a "maddening and smiling ambiguity" that blends crime thriller elements with a highly stylized, deadpan philosophy. The title likely refers as much to the characters—each tentatively navigating a new world—as it does to Hartley himself, who was a "newcomer" to the action genre at the time. Narrative and Themes The title likely refers as much to the
Critics have described the film as a "beautifully precise essay on personality" and "Hartley heaven". However, its "monotone" and "mechanical" nature has also led some to call it "cool nothingness" or a "sloppy first draft". Key highlights from major reviews include: Key highlights from major reviews include: The story
The story follows Thomas (Martin Donovan), an amnesiac who wakes up in a New York City alley, and Isabelle (Isabelle Huppert), a former nun and virgin who now writes pornography. Their encounter triggers a series of events involving:
: The film interrogates whether a "blank slate" can be forgiven for sins they can no longer remember.