Jack Bennett An all-star cast shine a little light on the true story of the internal power struggle in the days following the death of Soviet Union leader Joseph Stalin.It all starts innocently enough - after the first shots of a broken Janet (Thomas) pointing a gun at the camera - with vol-au-vents in the oven. The titular party is meant to celebrate her rise to be the Government minister for an unnamed political opposition, but her husband Bill (Spall) doesn't seem to be himself as he sits in the living room nursing a glass of red wine. As more guests arrive to join the festivities, long kept secrets begin to tumble into the light culminating in an ending that will leave you laughing over the end credits.And that's what surprised me the most; it's a comedy, I was expecting that, but I wasn't expecting it to be as funny as it was knowing it's also an ultimately tragic story. The stinging one-liners and friendly barbs coming from her guests (who happen to work for her rival, politically speaking) hide the bile and baggage they have each brought to this once-jovial event. Even the host has secrets of her own which she keeps well-hidden (at least from her guests) until the gut-busting closing scenes.The whole film takes place in a house and its tiny patio garden, meaning the audience feel as trapped in the goldfish bowl of upper-middle class pomp as the guests do by the time the third or fourth revelation is revealed. Throughout the hour-long ordeal (for it is only 71 minutes including credits) Bill is constantly fidgeting with his record player, swapping a jazz LP for a bluesy vinyl, thereby giving the soundtrack to the film as the drama unfolds on screen in real time.The Party is a film which some will like and some will loath, depending on whether you can sit through a 'talky piece' and pick out the wittiness. The cast is superb, the comedy is handled well among the dramatic moments, and the entire film culminates at the end to leave the audience reeling from the final reveal ... with a gasp and a laugh.Best Quote: "Tickle an aromatherapist and you find a fascist."

Gordon-11 This film tells the story of a group of friends who gather at a party, but unexpected news hit them one after another.I normally do not like single location films that feature a lot of bickering, but "The Party" is really quite a cut above the rest. Though there is a lot of negative energy in the room, the characters do not appear obnoxious or unbearable. The flow is great, and events happen naturally one after another. One problem with single location bickering films is that the bickering continues just for the sake of it, but in this film an event drive another, and feels very real. I liked this intense story.

adonis98-743-186503 Janet hosts a party to celebrate her new promotion, but once the guests arrive it becomes clear that not everything is going to go down as smoothly as the red wine. Despite an amazing and talented cast of actors 'The Party' is a 1hr and 10min film that will bore and make viewers sleep to death. It's boring, slow paced and the characters are badly written with an entire film being about them and their stupid little lives as a whole. The black and white cinematography or direction in general wasn't needed either. This movie reminded me that other film with Richard Gere and Rebeca Hall that had a similar plot as well. Overall a big waste of time skip it!!! (0/10)

iggi_1 A simple to understand film, not overlong, that is laugh out loud funny, well worth a watch.