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Reviews
City Baby (2013)
Does Indie Filmmaking and PDX Proud!
I just witnessed this gem at a local theater in Portland, OR, where this movie is staged. Having gone to many independent films in the local area, I was actually a bit skeptical and my expectations were low going into it, due to having seen many recent duds. But boy, from the very beginning of the screen roll, I fell in love with this movie! The directing and shooting were stellar - I was truly blown away by the artsy yet purposeful way in which it was shot (at one point, there is a "rainbow" lens flare that protrudes subtly across the screen during a scene that was masterfully done - I wondered: was this a brilliant mistake or done on purpose? But then decided it didn't even matter, because it just made sense with the rest of the film and coincided with the hilarious "play within a play"). But digressions aside, it was also the acting that truly carries this film. Cora Benesh is so damn sweet and natural in her lead performance that you want to just watch her all day long. Jillian Leigh is stunning in a multi-faceted role. Andrew Harris brings us a complex portrayal of a seemingly dark douche bag, and Richard Keith and Dustin Rush knock it out of the park with their suave and fantastic performances as well. Great job, I'm a big fan! Three words: See. This. Movie.
Wake Before I Die (2011)
Sorry to Say... I Wasted Two Hours of My Life
I just saw the premiere for this film on May 15, 2011. I heard rumor (and I pray it could have been just that) this actually soft premiered about 6 months earlier, so I was excited to be able to see something which had the opportunity to be approved upon from an earlier audience reaction. Obviously, there was excitement in the air as most of the cast and crew were present and anyone who actually completes an independent feature should be applauded for their work. Now, it is dangerous to think you'll get an honest reaction from these types of "premiere" showings as they are ultimately biased. However, when there is more shouts of joy and applause in seeing the opening credits than the markedly quiet response upon the film's completion, you know you have a stinker on your hands. But, first the positive: some of the performances were decent for what the actors' had to work with, which made be feel bad for them throughout the movie. When the acting was bad (and there are definitely plenty of those moments), it was mostly due to the storyline or motivations just not making any sense, which I fault mainly the director and/or screenwriter. This was apparently based on a novel that the Brothers Freeman's father wrote, but in this case, I certainly hope the book was better than the movie. As for the production, where does one begin to rip it apart? From the get-go, the musical score (as is the film) does not make any sense. It continually attempts to create tension where it doesn't exist on the screen. It is monotonous and cheesy. It almost lulled me asleep, and I wished it had. But I kept expecting the movie would get better, so I continued to force myself to watch. The lighting was horribly flat and boring for a thriller. Jib shots were great to have in there, but it was always the same type of up-down shot just about any monkey could pull off. The party scenes reminded me of amateur b-movies from the 80's - wow, they were bad. I liked the performance by Mike Prosser but it was almost laughable when he was killed in the middle of the film (I don't think that was the director's intention and I was a little sad in knowing that one of the few good performances got killed off - now what?). But, really it seemed like this was filmed without a script, because it was a mess. I could go on more about the production, but I've already wasted enough of my time watching it and writing this, so I think I'll just stop there. What I want to end with is this: I know this movie received matching funds from an Oregon grant (the first to do so) and it makes me sick to my stomach that this is what was churned from it. There is some great filmmaking done in Oregon and I pray that this does not tarnish a committee's or taxpayer's desire to help others out. On behalf of the fine Oregon filmmaking community, please offer them a second chance to do better next time. I can't imagine it will be difficult to do so.