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Heartbeats
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70 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 21 Critics What's this?

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7.0 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 6 Ratings

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  • Summary: Francis and Marie are close friends. One day, during a lunch, they meet Nicolas, a young man from the country newly arrived in town. As one rendezvous leads troublingly to another – whether real or imagined, the signs are all bad – each of the two friends slides deeper into obsessive fantasies around the same object of desire. And the deeper they slide, the more their once cast-iron friendship begins to crack under the pressure of competing for the new kid on the block. Xavier Dolan's second film, Heartbeats, is a study of the fall into love. We follow each stage of the typical love story’s progress – it starts with a meeting and ends in tears. The film reveals a fundamentally simple intrigue that careers through a whole gamut of poetic craziness: passions unleashed, expectations, sorrow, humiliation and, finally, loneliness. (IFC Films)… Expand

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 21
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 21
  3. Negative: 0 out of 21
  1. Entertainment Weekly
    Reviewed by: Lisa Schwarzbaum
    Feb 23, 2011
    91
    Xavier Dolan is back with another madly stylish Montreal-made delight.
  2. Boxoffice Magazine
    Reviewed by: Pam Grady
    Feb 26, 2011
    90
    Stylish and funny.
  3. Village Voice
    Reviewed by: Karina Longworth
    Feb 22, 2011
    60
    If Dolan is able to derive a certain comic tension from the simple threat of what could happen with these three in close quarters, he and his co-actors often spoil the mystery of the unsaid with the tells on their faces.

See all 21 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 2
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 2
  3. Negative: 0 out of 2
  1. Tomislav
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The newest film by Xavier Dolan "Heartbeats" (2010) is James Joyce’s "Ulises" of longing, hope and sincere, naive love. This metaphysical shipwreck occurs in the triangle made up of young Marie, Nicolas and Francis. Marie and Francis being alone contemplatively, receive Nicolas as his idol, the love of their life, identifying him as Michelangelo's David and ancient boy in love foreplay with another boy. In the end, but that they will transform the imaginary love with Nicolas into bitter memory, and they will lose their sincere friendship with him too. Comic note is pulled through the friendly, sometimes impulsive, match between Marie and Francis during their feat of conquering the attention of Nicolas. Each in its own way is trying to appeal to Nicolas. Francis imagines that the sincerity of his feelings will magnetize Nicolas (which is no exception Marie too!). Marie who is in error because of a casual impression from Nicolas in the bookstore, she sends a poem to him but apparently even that approach will not exalt her relationship with him at the levels reflected in her head because Nicolas remained deaf for her lonely cry behind the poem. Francis gives him a poster with the love of his life on it. The immediate confession by Francis and Mary in front of Nicolas eventually destroys their dreams. But is really Nicolas the destroyer of their dreams? In my opinion, not at all. But also unrequited love is a tragedy, because, ultimately, the ancient boy around whose radiant charisma and beauty Marie and Francis vegetate, to them he suddenly becomes a barbarian in their hearts, anathemized by the animal outcry of Francis, driving out the "predator". After two years, shortly after meeting with Nicolas, Marie and Francis again ran confidently and with a strong yearning for – a requited love. Undoubtedly "Heartbeats" is better achievement of Dolan than "I killed my mother", at least for me, because of deep philosophical message that this film brings. The rejection of Nicolas, as a way of rejecting the imaginary love as mediated survival of Marie and Francis and retention on the contradiction in its very existence, also means keeping the new imaginary love. Neither vegetating nor contemplation that cannot radically overcome it, can cross the imaginary horizon of love. Imaginary love in the minds of Marie and Francis did not invent the issues that plague them. In their questions and answers there is one mode of responding to reality. Once Marie and Francis ask questions, their love thought comes across their existential vegetation, this love thought is already on the road to overcome it. But unfortunately, their imaginary love for Nicolas proved itself as a light over the dark road that leads to the "abyss". Embodying’s picture of this imaginary love in a poetry language is reflected by the philosopher Karl Marx: " In your enjoyment or use of my product I would have the direct enjoyment both of being conscious of having satisfied a human need by my work" (just remember the delicate and orderly labor of Marie and Francis to win the heart of Nicolas) "that is, of having objectified man's essential nature, and of having thus created an object corresponding to the need of another man's essential nature (remember the gift of Francis of a poster with the love of Nicola’s life on it.). "I would have been for you the mediator between you and the species, and therefore would become recognised and felt by you yourself as a completion of your own essential nature and as a necessary part of yourself, and consequently would know myself to be confirmed both in your thought and your love." (which, unfortunately, this understanding and recognition of imaginary love of Marie and Francis do not exist at Nicolas’ mind, so that all their labor was not free expression of life, therefore enjoyment of life too).… Expand
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  2. filmtrashreview
    9
    I wanted to see this film badly back in October of last year at the Chicago International Film Festival but for whatever reason I just never got the chance to. Since that day I have been waiting for a limited release or press release of the film. Heck, even a screener would be nice. Months of anticipation and out of the blue the film shows up on netflix instant under new releases. No wide release, no press release, no limited release, no theater release in the US at all. I am just confused. Still, with all of that said this is my Netflix pick of the week! The story itself may start out confusing to most. The reason, well this film is foreign and the most common way for a film to open up is with it’s main character or at least a side character that is important. No spoilers here I am just trying to help you understand where the film is going; The people in the first five minutes have nothing to do with the story in the film, they work as a sort of narration to the issues evolving within the relationship. With all of that said Heartbeats is pretty simple. Two best friends Marie and Francis fall in love with the same guy Nicolas and chaos ensues. The story line isn’t what drew me to the film, rather the Cinematography and artistic choices made for the film. If you are a fan of movies like 500 days of summer and Rocket Science this film isn’t going to disappoint on a visual level because it goes above and beyond just “Indie Feel.” I never found one flaw in the look of this film, it was spot on conveying not only emotion but convoluted integrity and guidance. Every single shot was predetermined with some very serious thought. Some of the choices are avant-garde in nature but all and I mean all have true meaning. I feel that this is one of those films that you can watch over and over again and take away a different meaning or thought every time. The Cinematography and artistic views drew me to this film, but the plot was interesting enough to make me stay. The culture of the french is much different then ours and knowing that they are the most sexually active in the world was a huge plus coming into this story. Let yourself go and feel the relationship blossom and trust me you wont be disappointed but if you continue to dismiss the idea that something like this could happen in life, you will find yourself bored and ready to shut this thing off. It’s a very real and seriously mesmerizing portrayal of a love triangle and Monia Chokri, Niels Schneider and Xavier Dolan perform well enough to make the audience believe in there characters. Lets not even get started on the fact that Xavier Dolan directed, wrote and acted in this film. We all know thats an amazing feat and deserves every ones attention for that sole fact alone. It’s the perfect foreign romance and the best foreign film I have seen all year.… Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes

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