Colin Farrell stars in 'The Lobster,' a brilliantly weird movie about dating

The Lobster is the superbly original English-language debut by Greek writer-director Yorgos Lanthimos, which strategically molds together cinema elements like science-fiction, chase thriller, and ultra-deadpan comedy. A 2015 Cannes jury favorite, The Lobster is a disconcerting riff on the absurdities of romantic relationships. Colin Farrell plays the role of protagonist David, a paunchy sadsack freshly ditched by his wife for another man. However, there's no time for indulging in traditional reactions to such trauma like instances of rebound sex. Rather, in accordance with the strictly enforced rules of the mysterious City, David is immediately transferred to a coastal hotel populated by fellow singletons, all of whom are afforded 45 days from arrival to partner up. Those who miss the mark are then transformed, by some magical, never-quite-revealed process, into an animal of their choice, and left to fend for themselves in the ominous nearby Forest.