Indie Film Spotlight - Like Sunday, Like Rain

Film: Like Sunday, Like Rain
Released: 2014
Rated: R
Writer/Director: Frank Whaley
Starring: Leighton Meester, Julian Shatkin, Deborah Messing, Billy Joe Armstrong
Short Summary: Struggling musician, Eleanor, and twelve year-old prodigy, Reggie, form an unlikely friendship when Eleanor goes to work as a nanny for Reggie's wealthy parents.

My Thoughts

Like Sunday, Like Rain kept popping up in my Netflix suggestions, so I finally decided to give it a whirl. I tend to like stories that feature music and unlikely friendship. I went into this movie expecting it to feature more about musicians playing music. It wasn't that exactly. It does feature some music playing, and there is some lovely music featured in the movie's score. However, for the most part the movie focuses on the unlikely friendship aspect of the story and that is equally as nice to watch. I enjoyed seeing how these to characters of different ages bonded a created a unique friendship. It is a simplistic journey but a pleasant one to watch.

This movie is a bit slow paced. However, because the scenes have a good writing structure and are well edited it still kept my interest. It helped a great deal that the actors are very good. I especially like how they displayed such subtle yet important emotions. The cinematography did a good job at helping to capture those emotions.

Overall I enjoyed this movie. However, I think I would have enjoyed the story a lot more if it had been a book. The pacing in the movie made it like I was watching a short story. I found that wanted to know more about that thoughts of the characters, and I felt that some story-lines could have been explored a bit more. It also is a movie type of movie where everything happens and nothing happens at the same time. I tend to prefer reading stories like that instead of watching them. Despite this feeling I still feel that this is a solid film. I kind of wish it didn't have quite so much bad language in it, because I think that would make it more open for a variety of ages to watch it. Still I would watch Like Sunday, Like Rain more than once. It's a bitter-sweet relaxing type of movie. The world needs movies like that too.

Indie Film Spotlight - Not Another Happy Ending

Film: Not Another Happy Ending
Released: 2013
Director: John McKay
Writer: David Solomons
Starring: Karen Gillan, Stanley Weber, Iain De Caestecker, Amy Manson
Summary: When a struggling publisher discovers that his only successful writer has writing block, he decides the problem is that she is too happy. He creates a scheme to make her miserable enough to finish her book. High-jinks and argumentative romance ensues.

My Thoughts

I picked Not Another Happy Ending to watch because the Netflix summary explained so little about it. That sounds odd but the fact that I didn't know exactly what it was about interested me. I didn't have any kind of expectations for it other than the fact that it featured some actors that I seen on TV shows and the rating was at least four out five stars. It just seemed like something that would be fun to watch and luckily this movie did not disappoint. I am definitely putting Not Another Happy Ending on my list awesome feel good films.

What I enjoyed most about this film is that a rom-com that is actually genuinely funny. Of course it is one the quirkiest of quirky romances which is, as some of you might know, the only type of romance I find genuinely amusing anyway. Not Another Happy Ending is really smart about setting up comedic circumstances to put the characters in. It also has excellent characters that have a variety of realistic yet amusing habits which can be equally as hilarious. The most notable funny habit is that the female protagonist Jane starts seeing and talking to the fictional character she has been writing her book about. Good grief that just cracked me up. In fact the whole movie had me laughing out loud.

I also loved that this movie has excellent pacing. It's the type of movie that gets right to the point. It didn't waste time with any dialogue or scenes that didn't propel the story. I really appreciate that. I feel like a lot of indie films feel the need to keep scenes in that slow the movie down. This movie didn't do that. Thus, it was fast paced and kept my interest all the way through. It is also a rom-com that manages not to be completely predictable. I mean you know that it is probably going to end well but you can't predict how many bumps will happen on the way to the happy ending.

If you are looking for a feel good funny film with great actors, storytelling, and a nice soundtrack this or maybe Not Another Happy Ending is a movie you should try out. It should at least give you a giggle.

Indie Film Spotlight - Dear Frankie

Film: Dear Frankie
Released: 2004
Director: Shona Auerbach
Writer: Andra Gibb
Starring: Emily Mortimer, Jack McElhone, Gerard Butler
Short Summary: When Lizzie responds to numerous letters her son Frankie has written to his absent father herself. Then she finds herself hiring a stranger to play Frankie's father when she is forced to produce the writer to these letters.

My Thoughts

I had heard of Dear Frankie before and I had wanted to watch it for a long while. It just so happened that I discovered it on Netflix last night. Yay!

I knew this film was going to be good but I found that it surpassed just being good. The movie has truly beautiful sea side locations and cinematography. It also has a lovely soundtrack. However, what I enjoyed most was the way the movie was written. It is a movie about a mother and son. As some of you might know I always find it interesting when this subject is explored in film. The relationship is particularly interesting in this film because it about a mother that will do almost anything to keep a son from his father. This gives the film a high level of mystery. I mean you get that Frankie's dad must be a nasty sort, but what you don't know is what could have possessed this woman to create such an elaborate lie. There is also a bit of mystery involved with the other characters in the film. I became totally immersed in the film because I wanted some of my questions to be answered. I loved how things were revealed, and I actually liked that some things were still a bit of a mystery in the end.

The actors and the director involved in Dear Frankie knew how to create moments that pull at the heart strings in a variety of ways. There are scenes that make you smile or bring you sadness. Sometimes you feel both happy and sad all at once. There are wonderful sections where there dialogue is full of subtext, or simple moments where characters are just looking at each other and you know what they are thinking. I love when actors can speak without words. It some ways this skill was particularly important for Jack McElhone who played Frankie, because he was playing a deaf child who quite literally didn't speak.

I completely adored this movie. It's the type of film I could see myself watching over and over. I definitely recommend checking Dear Frankie out.

Must See Movie Monday - Moonrise Kingdom

Film: Moonrise Kingdom

Released: 2012

Rated: PG-13

Director: Wes Anderson

Starring: Jared Gilman, Kara Hayward, Frances McDormand, Bill Murray, Bruce Willis, Edward Norton

Short Summary: Two pre-teens inspired by first love attempt to run away from their small New England island town. Which causes a variety of colorful characters to form a search party to find them before an impending storm arrives. 

Why It's A Must See Movie

I was torn between doing a Must See Movie post and an Indie Film Spotlight. Finding out that Moonrise Kingdom was on Netflix helped me out. It is both an indie film and a movie that must be seen. I have loved this movie since I saw it in theaters, and I've been telling people to watch it ever since. 

What I like about Moonrise Kingdom is that it is so endearingly odd. Everything in it has just a little bit of quirky comedy added to it without it entering the realm of silliness. This is because the comedy in the film is truly character based. It comes from creating an array of odd characters and putting them in a situation where they must work together. I particularly like this type of comedy because it grounds a film in reality while allowing you to suspended reality at the same time. Thus, this film ends up being an experience akin to reading an fun adventure story. Which is another element I like about this movie. It takes you into a different world for awhile with it's semi-nonlinear story telling. By the way nonlinear story telling when used well like it is in this movie can be abundantly engaging and amusing. 

I feel like Moonrise Kingdom is an excellent example of how to use the show and not tell concept. Most of the story is told with a surprisingly small amount of dialogue. It is a story predominately told with great acting, visuals, and clever uses of music and sound. It is an effective way of story telling that which in a way makes the film more of a visceral experience. Not that the movie doesn't use it's dialog excellently as well, because it does. It fact the dialogue is witty and amusing, but the moments of where the characters don't speak allow to you further appreciate the moments when they do. This movie that explores ideas about how young people and adults relate to situations and each other. In that case the subtext is just as important as the text.

I also enjoy that this movie is set in the 1960's and is shot in a way that reflects that. It's a modern film that looks like an old movie. I love how Moonrise Kingdom uses camera movements, lighting, and visual texture to express this idea. I think it is awesome that the costumes and make up choices say so much about the characters in the movie. I love when all the choices in a movie service the story and this movie does that well. 

If you haven't seen Moonrise Kingdom I suggest giving it a try. I think a lot of people can find it enjoyable or at least respect it's creative story telling. 

Indie Film Spotlight - A Long Way Down

Film: A Long Way Down
Released: 2014
Rated: R
Director: Pascal Chaumeil
Writer: Jack Thorne
Starring: Pierce Brosnan, Toni Collette, Imogen Poots, Aaron Paul
Short Summary: Four strangers meet on the top of a building all planning to commit suicide on New Year's Eve. Instead they avoid suicide in favor of forming a surrogate family to support each other.

My Thoughts

I was of course on the prowl for an indie film to watch on Netflix last night. After clicking a few movies I didn't have interest in watching I found A Long Way Down which featured Toni Collette. If it has Toni Collette in it I am watching it. She is a genius actress. Plus, premise of A Long Way Down seemed too clever to pass up.

This film is in fact clever as well as being well written and directed. It has the perfect balance of being funny and dramatic. It gains extra points in my book for taking situations that really shouldn't be funny and making them hilarious. This is because the characters are so well developed and well acted. The writer, director, and the actors knew how to create compelling scenes that carry the viewer though the journey of the movie. Thus,I think this movie took me through every emotion while watching it. I laughed, I cried, I worried, most importantly I rooted for the characters and cared about them. It's a movie that connected with me the way the characters in A Long Way Down connect with each other.

I loved that the movie took time to show the viewer what each of the main characters had going on in their life before and after their meeting each other. They manage to do it in a interesting and not overly time consuming way but it is effective. It's very important to me to see a change in main characters in a cause and effect way in a story. This movie makes it easy to see that development. I love that.

A Long Way Down is the type of movie I would have no problem watching over and over again. I enjoyed it immensely. It's a movie that explores the importance of the bond of friendship. I love movies like that. The movie is based on a book. I need to read that book!

Indie Film Spotlight - The Road Within

Film: The Road Within
Released: 2014
Director/Writer: Gren Wells
Starring: Robert Sheehan, Dev Patel, Zoe Kravitz, Robert Patrick, Kyra Sedgwick
Short Summary: Vincent is a young man with Tourettes Syndrome, who escapes a treatment facility with two other patients in order to travel to the ocean to scatter the ashes of his recently deceased mother.

My Thoughts

People seem to want to read these Indie Film Spotlight posts and I am in the mood to write them. Thus, I thought I would focus on that for a few weeks. This week I watched a new independent on Netflix called The Road Within. Usually what draws me to trying an indie film is who the actors are in it. Though this film does contain many actors from shows that have enjoyed what actually drew me to The Road Within was the summary. I can't pass up a wacky road trip movie. Road trip films usually mean that you're going to get an emotional journey with in an actual journey. Who doesn't like that?

This movie is well shot, edited, written, and has a pretty well put together soundtrack to boot. However, what I enjoyed the most about this film was how character driven the story was. All three of the main characters have quite a few a quirks and ticks due to their disorders. This results in entertaining scenes that are emotional and often comedic. If the idea of guy with Tourettes Syndrome road tripping with a guy with OCD and a girl with anorexia doesn't turn out a having some funny moments I don't know what will. What is important though is that these amusing moments are grounded in reality. I think that it would have been very easy for the characters in this movie to come off cartoonish. Luckily the actors do an excellent job at making all their ticks and mental problems come across in a realistic way. This made me root for the characters. Every time one of them overcame their disorder in the slightest way I felt a sense of victory for them. I love how the movie showed how each of these three characters had their own part in helping each other try to push through their obstacles.

What is great about this movie is that in addition to the wonderful main plot there is also a great sub-plot. Vincent's father and the psychologist that heads the facility that these young people have run away from get to have a road trip of their own while trying to track down said young people. First of all I have to love this just because Kyra Sedwick and Robert Patrick in one scene is the bomb. They both know how to rock a scene. I also enjoyed the fact that through the scenes in this sub-plot the older characters came to revelations of their own. It's awesome when a film can come through with a good sub-plot.

I enjoyed this movie immensely. I had a great time seeing the literal and figurative journeys of these characters. Though it is realistic about the fact that people with these disorders will always struggle, it does show how important being around people that except your quirks can be to your mental health. I think that is an important message. If you're looking for a inventive road trip movie you might want to check The Road Within out.

Indie Movie Spotlight - Ride (2014)

Film: Ride
Released: 2014
Writer/Director: Helen Hunt
Starring: Helen Hunt, Brenton Thwaites, Luke Wilson, David Zayas
Short Summary: Jackie follows her son from New York to California when he tells her he wants to drop out of college and become a surfer.

My Thoughts

It's an indie film spotlight moment again. Last night I was in the mood to try a new independent film and decided to check out a movie that had caught my eye when it a couple weeks ago Ride. Why did Ride catch my eye? Helen Hunt of course. I have always admired her as an actress. I love how she continues to work at developing her craft. She wrote and directed this movie so I decided to give Ride a try. Even though the Netflix summary made it sound like some film about an older woman finding a new zeal for life because of her relationship with a surfing instructor. Which is a type of film I probably wouldn't have found all that impressive. Luckily that is not what the film is about at all. It was a small element of the film but it wasn't the main story arch. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this movie.

What I like about the movie is that it is a story about a mother and son. I always find stories that focus on the relationship between parents and children interesting. There are always so many dynamics to be explored in the bond between parent an child. Jackie and her son Angelo have a very very tight knit parent/child relationship despite the fact that they argue quite a lot. There are several underlying reasons why they are the way they are that are revealed through out the movie. I love how all this was shown and how well the dialogue demonstrated the quirks in the mother and son relationship. They are both trying to find a way to both hold on to each other and let go and it is an interesting emotional conflict to watch.

I enjoyed how all the characters were developed in general. I think what is always excellent about Helen Hunt's acting is that she incorporates the physical into her roles. By that I mean that she doesn't just say lines with inflection she thinks about the character's posture, vocal quality, and motivations. All the actors in this film do this same thing pretty well, and it is so important to the storytelling in Ride. It helps you get a since of what the characters are about very quickly and I like to see that happen.

I loved that this movie made me laugh. Not because it is trying to be funny, but because life is on occasion hilarious. The situations and snappy dialogue are what make the film funny. That brings a lot of realism to the experience of watching it. I'm not saying this movie does have bumpy moments. There were one or two moments where I thought plot points could have had a soother transition. However, I think those bumpy moments can be overlooked because journey of the characters is so well communicated. It's a witty film with a fast paced rhythm to it that I highly enjoyed. Though surfing kind of takes a back seat to the emotional journey in this film I got what the movie was going for by using it. Life hits you with waves. Sometimes you can ride them. Sometimes you just have to fall down a lot. In the end life works out the way it needs to help us grow and let go. I just got very poetic there. Ha ha!

Indie Film Spotlight - October Gale (2014)

Film: October Gale
Released: 2014
Writer/Director: Ruba Nadda
Starring: Patricia Clarkson, Scott Speedman, Tim Roth
Summary: A doctor escapes to a remote cottage to deal with the death of her husband. Things get crazy when she takes in a mysterious stranger who has been shot, and discovers his would be killer is on his way to finish the job.

My Thoughts

I was in the mood to do a Indie Film Spotlight this week. I haven't done one in some time. I figured I would shake things up. Last night I went on Netflix and chose to watch one of the newer independent films they put on stream October Gale.

I think many people will at least find October Gale interesting as long as they don't go in to it expecting an epic thriller. I went into it with no expectations and for the most part found myself entertained. I feel that trailer is fooling, because it does depict it as a thriller. I didn't feel like it completely was. Half of it is quiet and thoughtful. The other have does have an element of suspense, but in an understated way. I felt that the film was more about two main characters dealing with loss and the mistakes they made more than anything else. The action element was there so that the characters would be pushed a new direction in their lives. The movie gave me a experience similar what it feels like when you are reading a short story. I think that it is meant to be taken that way.

The movie could be considered a bit slow, but I didn't feel that it was done in a way that made it boring. Every scene propelled to the next. I didn't get that feeling I occasionally get in indie films where I feel like half of the movie could be edited out. Every scene in October Gale severed a purpose even if it was a flashback. I think of the goal of the film was to create a mood to keep the viewer's interest. In that respect I felt that it was successful. This movie does a excellent job a shaping a mood. It uses well placed music, well placed silence, and wonderful camera work to accomplish this. If you are looking for something to study for cinematography this movie might be something you want to check out. For both beautiful landscape shots and shots that convey the emotion to the scene.

I was drawn to this film mostly because I am open to watching anything with Patricia Clarkson or Scott Speedman. Considering both of them are in this I had to watch it. Both actors always manage to be in a film that at will have interesting characters, and this film is no different. All the actors did an excellent job at shaping their characters. Which was very important in this film, because it doesn't have much dialogue and the backstories of the characters have to be inferred by the viewer. Which made them interesting to me because it kept me wondering what the characters had going on in the parts of their lives that I didn't get to see.

Overall, I found this film intriguing. Even though it wasn't extremely fast paced it still kept my interest from start to finish. It didn't blow me away with amazement, but it is a good solid movie. I would watch it more than once just for the acting and cinematography alone.

Indie Film Spotlight - The Other Woman (2009)

Film: The Other Woman
Released : 2009
Director/Writer: Don Roos
Starring: Natalie Portman, Scott Cohen, Lisa Kudrow, Charlie Tahan
Short Summary: Emilia falls in love with her married boss. Which leads to his subsequent divorce and remarriage. All is not fun and games when Emilia finds herself struggling with her relationship her step son, the ex-wife, and her new husband after the death of her baby.

My Thoughts

I watched The Other Woman not long ago, and it intrigues me. It intrigues me because though it is not the new movie love of my life there were several things the I liked about it.

First of all I enjoyed that story shifted from what was going on in the present to flashbacks. I was fascinated by the juxtaposition of the flashback scenes and the scenes in the present. The flashbacks show you perhaps more joyful excited by life characters. The present is full of emotional turmoil that life sometimes hands people, or they sometimes hand themselves with their choices.

I like how this movie handles character choices in this film with a high level of realism. The characters are flawed people that occasionally make bad choices based on emotion. Sometimes those choices cause the people in their lives to react and behave badly. However, that doesn't mean that any of those people are bad people. There are no heroes or villains in this movie. Sometimes people make mistakes. All of us have our annoying qualities. I think this film does a good job of showing us a variety of characters with a normal balance of good and bad qualities. That makes them human to the audience. While you might not agree with everything that they do you understand where those actions are coming from. You could easily put the characters in the types of home wrecker, adulterous husband, annoying ex-wife, and annoying step-son, but the movie doesn't let you make them that one dimensional. I think it's great that movie also doesn't let the relationships between these characters be one dimensional either. Sometimes loving people is hard work and this movie shows us that element of love.

The film has pretty good pacing for a slice of life type movie. That means the editing is very much on point. The film features some lovely cinematography. I highly admire the emotional depth of the actors. I loved how all the actors approached their characters in this film. Even Lisa Kudrow. I usually don't like her in the acting department, but this movie showed me that she can play really layered characters if given the opportunity.

Overall this the story of The Other Woman kept me interested through out the film. I probably wouldn't watch it over and over. It isn't one of my favorite films. However, I'm glad that I watched it at least once. It's is a great way to study the craft of creating realistic layered characters. The film made me interested to read the book it is based on Love and Other Impossible Pursuits by Ayelet Waldman. It's always good when a movie adaptation makes me want to read the book.

Indie Film Spotlight: In Your Eyes

Hey everyone. Before I get started I'm going to explain this new segment. While I love the Must See Monday blog post I've found that I occasionally want to talk about something else. However, I still wanted to chat about movies on Monday on this blog. I realized that there are so many independent films featured on Netflix that I would be interested in reviewing. Thus, I have decided to review one of those films every once and awhile. I think I'm going to switch off every other week with this segment, but I'm not sure yet. Anyway, on with the show.




Film: In Your Eyes
Released: 2014
Director: Brin Hill
Writer: Joss Whedon
Starring: Michael Stahl-David, Zoe Kazan
Short Summary: Two people from different corners of the United States discover that they have a telepathic bond which allows them to see, hear, and feel the others experience.  

My Thoughts

I very much enjoyed watching In Your Eyes. As I hoped that I would, because the premise of the story was just too interesting to pass up. What I think is cool about this movie is that it has a premise that is very supernatural in nature, but it wouldn't be very expensive to make. Most of how the telepathic connection is shown is with camera shots and simple editing tricks. However, the result is really quite effective.

 I like to that the film doesn't waste time trying to explain why this telepathic bond exists. I know for some people that would probably make them crazy. However, I liked this element for a couple of reasons. First of all it doesn't slow the movie down with a ton of exposition, which allows the plot to have tension in other elements of the story. Basically things happen because the characters look pretty insane talking to themselves. Secondly, it allows you as an audience to get to know the characters themselves and for them to get to know each other. I suppose it makes the connection more genuine as well because the characters become so connected that they don't really care why it works. That facilitates the romance component of the film. I know I've said it fifty times, but I'll say it again. I love a quirky romance! Hey, it's romance without getting to mushy or predictable. I just have to love that.

I must give the two lead actors kudos. Though the main characters do have conversations through their telepathic bond they don't share the same space for the majority of the movie. This means the in actuality they spend much of the film acting and reacting to themselves instead of the other actor. I would be really interested in knowing is these actors had the other actor there to read lines off screen or something to that effect. Still there are moments where one character is getting hit in the face and the other has to feel the effect of it and fall in a similar manor. Which is cool but kind of difficult to do in practice.

With independent films it can be kind of the a hit or miss experience. This one was a hit for me. I think if the idea of it sounds remotely interesting to you then you should give In Your Eyes a watch. It's a film that keeps you interested and has a nice soundtrack to boot. I do so love when that happens.