Dedicated New York psychiatrist Sam Foster (Ewan McGregor) tries to stop a secretive and unusual young patient he inherited, Henry Lethem (Ryan Gosling), from carrying out a planned suicide on the eve of his 21st birthday. But Henry starts to have a reality-shattering effect on Sam. As Sam is drawn deeper into the web of Henry’s life -- and then into the labyrinth of his subconscious -- at first it simply puts stress on Sam’s relationship with his artist girlfriend and former patient Lila (Naomi Watts). But soon Sam’s own tightly-held grip on the rational world begins to melt away. Faced with increasingly surreal encounters and a Manhattan transformed into a wildly shifting dreamscape, Sam can no longer figure out what is true and what is happening only in his head, nor where he begins and Henry ends. As clues and suspense simultaneously build to the story’s climax on the Brooklyn Bridge, Sam must grapple with thought-provoking questions about perception, awareness, forgiveness and final moments of redemption. For it soon becomes clear that what is happening to Sam and Henry is taking place not in this world but in the twilight state between living and dying . . . a place where no one can stay for long.

Ah, I have such a soft spot for movies like this and its because after seeing so many movies a year its nice to see a movie that doesn’t follow a formula and that loves to the confuse the hell out of you. You have no idea what is going on for most of the movie which is great because it fits the story so well, like the characters of the film you can’t tell what’s real from illusion and it just keep your mind wheeling trying to figure out what is going on. I was literally riveted in the movie as my puzzle solving mind tried to unravel a movie that is meant to be a mess, it’s not getting from point A to point B but the journey that matters in the film. It’s the mean to an end; it’s the anticipation rather than the gratification of getting exactly what you want. Eventually the movie makes, eventually all the pieces fall together but its so much fun watching them do so that makes the movie so enjoyable. The movie takes a deeper look at things too like life and death but not intentionally but more s a matter of fact. I loved the movie, sure it had its faults at times but in the end I was glad I went and saw the movie and that is compliment any movie should be proud to have.

Ewan McGregor is fast becoming one of my favorite actors, he is just so gifted that any movie he is becomes riveting just because he’s in it. He sells his roles so well you have to trouble believing him to be anybody he wants to play. Whether it be a mystical knight, a down on his luck writer or psychiatrist faced with not knowing what’s real and what’s an illusion anymore he’s that person %100 of the way. He makes the movie, pure and simple, he’s one of those actors that you can’t see anyone else playing his part and he makes the movie better just by being in it. The tension is there between him and Ryan Gosling and you can see them almost butting heads determined in their own ways. All the parts fit, all the characters seem so real, its almost as if you can reach out and touch them as they leap from the screen pulling you in. If you loved movies like Donnie Darko or the Jacket where you can’t entirely say what is happening until the credits role you will love Stay as you will want to watch it several times to catch all the things you missed the first time.
4 stars out of 5