source: White Orchid

From the Legitimate Critic: You know there are times, more often than not, when we gaze at the big screen just hoping perhaps too much that a film's gonna give you everything but too often when we expect truly great things to somehow organize - developed plot, thesis, antithesis, and finally synthesis - or that moment when that one third party element snuggles in and throws in a twist that makes for the greatest of Hollywood films, or even at times when we've watched and criticized, been a bit over powering and nothing seems to work! Yep, we all know that truly disappointing feeling when a film has all of the ingredients, such as proper development, an incident or two that guarantees that variation event that changes the entire film, or those winding and wringing set of hands that either rotate with ease, or screw things up for ever, then again on that smaller but searched by so many you know, when a little twirl sets the stage for the interweaving loop that surprises us all... Well this definitely sets the stage for the mind-bender I was overwhelmingly astonished and astounded by this past week whilst marveling at Olivia Thirlby's (Juno, The Darkest Hour) "The White Orchid." Not only does Olivia Thirlby dominate the entire show whist pleasantly delighting us all with her startling and stunning from cruise to formal outfits; somehow one feels coming away from the film that she had a lot of input with the costume experts. She dressed as I have pictured her in real life. There is enough twists, turns, and flabbergasting movements in this film to keep all of us as well as Mr. Sherlock Holmes bounding about the theater trying to figure something else out. However, what clearly goes beyond the mark for me is Olivia Thirlby herself. We all remember her of Juno's best friend, or even the tumultuous turnabout with Emile Hirsh in The Darkest Hour. Along those lines, it is wonderful seeing her act again with Rachel Taylor. But I, perhaps just the same as you have been waiting for her career all along when MSS. Thirlby puts on her best performance to date. And she never disappoints - her chops, mannerisms, and timing are on full display in The White Orchid - albeit from her French lingerie, to the stunning formals, or even her working professional attire at home is spectacular!

From the Legitimate Critic: You know there are times, more often than not, when we gaze at the big screen just hoping perhaps too much that a film's gonna give you everything but too often when we expect truly great things to somehow organize - developed plot, thesis, antithesis, and finally synthesis - or that moment when that one third party element snuggles in and throws in a twist that makes for the greatest of Hollywood films, or even at times when we've watched and criticized, been a bit over powering and nothing seems to work! Yep, we all know that truly disappointing feeling when a film has all of the ingredients, such as proper development, an incident or two that guarantees that variation event that changes the entire film, or those winding and wringing set of hands that either rotate with ease, or screw things up for ever, then again on that smaller but searched by so many you know, when a little twirl sets the stage for the interweaving loop that surprises us all... Well this definitely sets the stage for the mind-bender I was overwhelmingly astonished and astounded by this past week whilst marveling at Olivia Thirlby's (Juno, The Darkest Hour) The White Orchid. Not only does Olivia Thirlby dominate the entire show whist pleasantly delighting us all with her startling and stunning from cruise, chic, to formal outfits; somehow one feels coming away from the film that she had a lot of input with the costume experts. She dressed as I have pictured her in real life. There is enough twists, turns, and flabbergasting movements in this film to keep all of us as well as Mr. Sherlock Holmes bounding about the theater trying to figure something else out. However, what clearly goes beyond the mark for me is Olivia Thirlby herself. We all remember her of Juno's best friend, or even the tumultuous turnabout with Emile Hirsh in The Darkest Hour. It was wonderful, if not telling to see her working with Rachel Taylor again. But I, perhaps just the same as you have been waiting for her career all along when MSS. Thirlby puts on her best performance to date. And she never disappoints - her chops, mannerisms, and timing are on full display in The White Orchid - albeit from her French lingerie, to the stunning formals, or even her working professional attire at home is spectacular! This is not the film for the ever-going -to-entertain-me gang. However, if one enjoys using the brain to figure out art, then The White Orchid is for you.

Don't waste your time - not a worthwhile movie. I can not figure out how this poor attempt at a "film noir" got such a high rating. It is short (1 hr 52 min) and wanders around at the beginning then rushes the ending with what the author must have thought was a plot twist. It is so rushed it leaves loose ends laying around. The lack of a plot leaves me to believe that it was either the first attempt at a film or was on such a low budget the production could figure how to tie off the various open ends. The climax is so poorly constructed and rushed it doesn't answer what happened. I started watching it because I went to Cal Poly; I wanted to turn it off after 20 minutes but my wife was doing the ironing and wanted to see if there were more shots of SLO,

The story makes little sense but the acting gives it some validity. I.got bored rather quickly. Olivia Thirlby rescues it from complete boredom. Can't we get a better script?

I am a bit loathe to criticize a young actor, but ... I know me some acting, and good for her she got job and paycheck, but Ms Thirlby does not command her part or hold up the film as lead. And together with the otherwise in several ways failed realization of a being a good modern 'noir', this movie is a failed use of budget or much of your attention. Even though the script and directing are not tops, all the other actors do their parts well. And yes, as others have stated, Ms Beals shines as always. I wonder if this is an example of using the advantage of blinded male control. Ms Thirlby openly states her bi-sexuality, and is very relaxed and natural in that onscreen. Did that unduly gain her the lead? Otherwise I can see her 'thinking' and visibly 'controlling' her acting, be a 'small' presence on screen, and not commanding as the lead detective/character. And together with her acting, hair and makeup, Ms Thirlby, contrary to the needs of plot and film, is an unconvincing blonde 'beauty' (she is a lovely person and figure in her own self). I was fascinated not because it was good.

Incredibly brainless, not sure how this film made it to the screen, the main character is on a spectrum. the only reason I gave it 2 stars because I like Jennifer Beals.

Northern California - check Crazy women - check Hot women - check (debatable) Psychological thriller - Check (debatable) Hot Lesbian Love - Check (kind of) Crazy cop - yes Crazy doctor - yes Crazy insane Italian sports car - check Terrible dialogue - CHECK Awful wigs/disguises - check Confusing as hell story - check check check Femme fatale buddying you with old lady - check! You get the drift.

The acting was terrible. The plot was contrived. One really poor movie. Could have been a decent film noir. It failed.

The story has potential. The main character "shy investigator" is not credible at all as an investigator. The loud exhaling she does is just plain bad and annoying.