99 Homes (Blu-ray)

This film meets my criteria for 5 stars.1.) It was excellently acted. No one seemed fake. In fact at times I wondered if the actors were real people in the situations. Even the "hero" of the story acted so well, and or he was made up so well, that I actually thought he might have a heart attack.2.) It was an important film. Not just for right now, or at the time; but it is an important comment about humans: the haves and the have nots, those in power and those lacking power, the big picture vs the tunnel vision picture, government in bed with money vs. the individual.3.) It caused a strong reaction in me. I am not sure what it is, or how to name it. This film was too complicated for simple feelings. Dread, fear, impending doom, helplessness, anger, sadness, anxiety, frustration.... (by the way this is NOT a thriller...it is a drama.)4.) It was a film I would like people from the age of 10 up to see. (there was some cussing, and the subject was mature and upsetting...and if a child saw it, I would schedule some time after it to talk with them about what they saw, what it meant, and life lessons they could pull from it like:-here is one place the homeless come from-this is why you have to invest your time in watching your government and knowing who you are voting for-just because someone has money, things, and power doesn't make them good...and just because they don't have those things doesn't make them bad.-the cost of cheating, when at first you see the gain...eventually you will see the payment you have to give. The bigger the cheat, the bigger the payment. Sometimes you don't get caught, but you pay anyway; often in who you become, and who you lose.-how it is easy to lose sight of what is really important, often due to fear, or anger, or pain.5. Intelligent writing.A.) Initially how the movie was playing out left me confused as if I was being hit from many sides and I could not make sense of what was attacking me. I was in the dark. This was disconcerting and irritating. BUT this is exactly what it feels like to be in a situation where the government has sold what you thought were your rights to powerful concerns like the banking and real estate industry. It doesn't make sense. You can't get your mind around the idea that the government that is supposed to represent you and protect you would do this; and all the many slippery loop holes to screw you over. The overwhelming problems that seem there are no ways out of. The writing, was purposefully confusing to CAUSE you to experience some of the impact the characters were experiencing!B.) The writers knew what they were doing not only emotionally but even down to the local they were writing about. There was a conversation between the leads at a dock on a lake in Florida, and the man that lived on the lake warned the other that alligators could come out of nowhere and take you, to be on the watch. This is so true in Florida, but not many know,;even just walking by a lake in Florida can get you, your dog, your child killed by a gator.5. Photography. Usually I crave beautiful places and ideas in film; but that would not have served this film. The director used the colors, the lighting, costuming, actors...all...to build the same sense of anxiety.I know why so many gave it a 4 instead of a 5 star rating. I was tempted too myself. It is because after watching this you don't feel good, full, satisfied. You are left worried, concerned, and anxious, and like you need something but you don't know what. Not good feelings. But exactly what you should feel after watching this film, about these topics.I think that we OWE it to those who have been in situations like this to not look away from their pain, or what happens. I hope we hold on to the anxiety to take a better look in those dark closets of our society and politics that make what this film depicts a reality. I hope we hold on to that discomfort so that we insist that lights be turned on in our legislative branches so we can see what is being done, and who is paying who for their votes and influence.That we allow: lobbying, huge amounts of money to be spent campaigning, and restrict the debates to just the few approved and appointed by the parties in power is or should be criminal. And we allow it.There is a difference between a democracy and a republic. Most of us think America is a democracy. We were taught it was. But it is a republic. Who ever has the most power, has the most justice. And since most of us don't or didn't know this was how the system worked; we are trying to use the wrong rules to survive. IF we want a democracy, we will need to educate ourselves and understand what is happening and vote those into government that will stand up, stand firm, and be true to those ideals.The facts are, that after the "Great Depression", laws were enacted to prevent another depression. But slowly, behind closed doors, with lobbyists hobnobbing with OUR "supposed" representatives; these laws were invalidated so that the money industries could once again do what they wanted, to get rich, any which way. And we paid the price...again. How many more times?It is true that IF we do not learn from history, then we are doomed to repeat it. This film asks that we look...and think...and learn.For those of you old enough...."Government or Civics" used to be required just like English to graduate from high school. These classes explained our government and how we could move in our system to make our country "OUR" country. Those classes, those requirements are gone now. And we are more at the mercy of those who manipulate us. How were they taken out? Why did not one raise an alarm?We are sedated in this country. We are sedated with possessions, TV, movies, sex, violence, drugs, video games and all sorts of activities and belongings that NUMB us to what is going on around us. We ARE birds in gilded cages, imagining we are free. We have become the nation of those that are FAT, DUMB, and "HAPPY."Freedom, what is it worth to you? We have been told only some need to stand in front of enemies with guns, and do damage to their souls shooting at others to defend our country and our freedoms.BUT we have been tricked. WE, ALL OF US need to serve.We NEED to educate ourselves, boring though it is, confusing and convoluted though it may be; about our political system and the influences on it. We need to be as involved in researching who we want to run, and who we will vote for...as we are in which refrigerator, or car, or laxative we will buy! Instead we turn on the TV, or computer to escape. But when we do that, we close the bars on our cells.Then what happens is that in this GREAT country, filled with true geniuses; is that we have a very limited choice of presidential candidates. These were not the only people wanting to make our country great or who could do a good job, or who were qualified; these were the only ones MONEY would allow. And most of us, don't even know how we got in this predicament. Because we are fat, dumb, and happy....and already getting used to the idea that THESE are our choices...and IT will be OK....because THIS is America!-

The people who got foreclosed, the ones who agreed to the terms of there loan, mostly would not have qualified had the mortgage loan dealers been honest with the buyer and not given the loan to begin with. I know people who lied about their income to qualify. The mortgage lender told them how to do it. Lender motivated by greed. The buyer has, I have to have it now syndrome. Not even smart enough to ask the right questions about the arm of rate increase. To me it was doom to begin with. Fraud on every side right down to the end, from buying ING to the point of when buyer decides to stop making payment. Then they act like victims. Great acting.

Exquisitely depicts what can and does happen when homeowners make poor decisions, lose their jobs, or otherwise ‘hit a rough patch.’ Great casting and acting. I’ll never take my home for granted again!

If you're someone who loves films about the 2008 Financial Crisis, such as "The Big Short", "Inside Job", or "Margin Call", this relatively unknown film is also a must-watch that can proudly stand alongside them. Read no further. Buy it, watch it, and you won't regret it."99 Homes" has a feel most similar to "Margin Call". It's a fictitious drama with a narrow focus that's gripping and feels completely real. It's a serious subject and a serious film on the foreclosure crisis, set on the ground-level in Orlando, FL.The other films on the crisis treat it on almost a conceptual level. We don't really see the actual consequences for the average American. Here, we see it. We see the pain of being foreclosed on. We see the horrible moment when the police are knocking on your door, ready to rip you from your home. It's brutal.Andrew Garfield and Michael Shannon were both fantastic. Their characters each had a lot of depth and we how see the decisions they each make, both before and during the film, impact themselves and others in profound ways.I'm trying not to spoil the plot, but what I loved most about this film is that the viewer will likely have a different opinion about the main characters depending on their own value systems. Every decision has a consequence and I didn't feel like anything was black and white. What would you do if you were in their positions?This truly is a hidden gem. It's about as serious as cancer, but it's an important film to see and I thought it was really well done.

All suspense with a marvellous story line that will give you a punch, A greedy man in business who makes a killing reprocessing homes playing the real estate market. So a man he evicts gets offered a job with him, desperate to provide for his mother he must accept the invitation. There's more but now it's your time to discover more about this movie as telling you all you won't have to watch it. I rated this an A grade plus for the acting the ideas that will have you spinning around in your seat biting your nails. Time to relax put your feet up and watch a fantastic show wwith munchies in hand what more can you ask for. Enjoy!

Having seen a short clip of this film when watching another DVD, I decided to order this to add to our film collection. Both my husband and I thought it was a really good film and it was 'one of those' that played on my mind for several days after I'd watched it. I don't want to mention anything that might be a spoiler but it really makes you think!

This was a very good film, it showed a side of America people don't really want to see, of normal everyday people losing their homes which happens everyday... The characters were very good and the film keeps you watching it to the last scene..

Great film. Not what you might be expecting.Fast delivery. Flawless service.

A great thriller