Indie Films to Get Your Eyes On
"This Isn't Funny"
starring: Paul Ashton, Katie Page, Ahmed Bharoocha, Gia Carides, Edi Gathegi, Mark Harelik, Anthony LaPaglia, Tim Maculan, Angie Milliken, Danielle Panabaker
written and directed by: Paul Ashton and Katie Page
This is an indie version of the rom-com complete with a "meet cute" scenario, but it explores the whole relationship with an interesting microscope- giving each of them interesting emotional baggage they are set to deal with on their own.
The film was written by the real-life couple, Paul Ashton and Katie Page, both of whom play the lead characters in the film, as well. Paul Ashton directed the film as well, and shows the audience small, out of the way spots in Southern California among a crowd of hipsters with feelings of mid-20s angst and the uncertainties of growing up among smart and funny people (in a much better way than the Judd Apatow film "Funny People" from a few years back). You know they're invested in the film when their hands are in it like that, but you have to be careful, as well, because often times when someone writes and directs you wonder if they can remain objective throughout the whole process. The couple does find a fresh angle and gives it enough wit and heart. They portray two people in their mid-20s whose romance hits a couple of snags and it is in how they deal with it that makes them who they are as people, whether we like it or not.
Among the film's strengths are the full-fledged and fully developed characters with interesting idiosyncrasies. Katie Page plays Eliot, an aspiring comedienne who hangs out at the comedy club often, gives and listens to sets, hangs out with her comedian friends. Eliot is career-focused, with aspirations of becoming a writer for someone's show. On the other hand, Jamie (Ashton) is in no particular hurry to figure out his life or what he wants to be when he grows up. Jamie also rides a bike, which apparently in California means you are on the bottom of the caste system, instead of being eco-friendly. He manages a wheatgrass emporium that just screams "hipster alert!"
In another setting, the self-conscious jokiness of the dialogue might come off as artificial, but with this set of characters it feels perfectly natural. Like most good comedy, the quipping also reveals whole worlds of unease without lapsing into psychologizing. But the romance taps into a wholly unexpected, and welcome, emotional undercurrent with Eliot’s struggle to determine whether the anti-anxiety meds she’s been on for half her life are truly necessary. Her new awareness is spurred in large part by feelings of unaccustomed intensity, high and low, sexual and non, that she experiences with Jamie. That’s an emotional territory beyond the reach of most romantic comedies.
As Eliot’s intrusively caring mother, delivering career advice and all-purpose worries over the phone, Rogers is spot-on, while Pasquesi provides a different form of parental disappointment as Eliot’s father, a lit professor with a distaste for pop culture. Eliot’s parents are never seen together — whether or not that’s a function of scheduling on a shoestring budget, it adds an interesting subtext. Jamie’s folks (Mark Harelik, Angie Milliken), on the other hand, do show up side by side, if only to tell him they’re splitting up.
The film does get a bit sappy in certain moments, but that's still not a stumbling block with this well done script. It's a film filled with quick-wit and insightfulness about growing up. This is a wonderful find for anyone who enjoys indie films. I loved it!
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"Kristy"
starring: Ashley Greene, Haley Bennett, Lucas Till, Chris Coy, Mike Seal, Lucius Falick, Erica Ash, James Ransone, Mathew St. Patrick
written by: Anthony Jaswinski
directed by: Oliver Blackburn
What seems to come off at first as a film used as a vehicle to allow Ashley Greene to step out of the shadow of her "Twilight saga" into a darker, creepier role where she's not seen or portrayed as a "beautiful" girl/vampire- and the typical college girl alone on campus with stalkers in tow to terrorize film fashion- becomes something slightly interesting and a bit different from other slasher/horror films.
It stars Haley Bennett (an under-the-radar actress) as Justine Wills- the only girl on her college campus who has decided to not go home for Thanksgiving break (which is never really explained, but the backstory isn't necessary). Justine has a run-in with a bizarre, creepy hoodie-wearing, pierced-lip girl named Violet (Ashley Greene) at a nearby gas station/convenient store. Back at school, Justine soon discovers she's the target of Violet and her gang of masked friends on a mission to kill her after terrorizing her and calling her "Kristy" for some bizarre internet game.
Haley Bennett does a great job as a rather one-dimensional scream queen, fully committed to her role as the girl who must survive. This is a decent under-the-radar horror film that probably won't be seen by many people, but it is streaming on Netflix so give it a chance, knowing it's certainly not trying to reinvent the wheel.
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"Bottled Up"
starring: Marin Ireland, Melissa Leo, Josh Hamilton, Jamie Harrold, Fredric Lehne
written and directed by: Enid Zentelis
There are some great films about addiction. Some of my favorites include:
I'm going to have to add this film to the list, perhaps for the sole reason that it is an interesting look at co-dependency in another person related to the addict. Melissa Leo has proven herself an amazing actress and unfortunately she has flown under the radar for years, but thanks to her portrayal of a mother in "The Fighter" she's been getting more attention, although she seems to pick these smaller, indie films to showcase her talents- and her talents shine in this film. This is an intense film that hits you multiple times and doesn't give up. Marin Ireland plays the daughter who is addicted to pain pills and will seemingly do just about anything to get her hands on some, although the writer/director chooses not to focus on her character very much. This is all about the mother.
This mother, Faye (Melissa Leo) thinks she loves her daughter by helping her daughter get prescription pills. She reasons that her daughter is in real pain and if that means pretending to be injured herself to get prescriptions for her daughter, then this is justified in her mind. Additionally, like many co-dependent people, Faye tends to blame herself for her daughter’s problems and acts like her own life and her own needs are unimportant. It’s sick but it’s also nice to see the filmmakers recognize that this sort of person is common and does a lot to feed the other’s addiction.
Into the film comes Becket (Josh Hamilton) who seems like the reverse answer to the manic pixie dream girl oft found in coming-of-age stories. He's environmentally conscious and otherwise comes into Faye and Sylvie's life as a vehicle to effect change in one or both of them. He lives with them, for some reason, and soon becomes attracted to Faye (for another inexplicable reason), although spends a lot of energy trying to pawn him off on her daughter, whom she thinks needs and/or deserves someone as caring and wonderful as Becket (perhaps to help save her from herself). Faye, being as co-dependent as she is- does not view herself highly enough to think she deserves Becket's affection and often deflects it. Her needs are far less important than her daughter's.
This is a great little, indie film that focuses on the characters and is really driven by their actions and emotions. Try not to be affected by their story.
..............................................................................
"Telling You"
starring: Peter Facinelli, Andy Berman, Rob DeFranco, Gary Wolf, Dash Mihok, Richard Libertini, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Gina Philips, Jennifer Jostyn, Frank Medrano, Jensen Daggett, Matthew Lillard, Shanna Moakler
directed by: Rob DeFranco
There is so much forgettable about this post-high school graduation film that fell victim to being shelved for a couple of years after it was actually filmed (1997), the least of which happens to be the dialogue between the friends that seems to be trying to hard to be introspective and intellectual (the problem being it's not believable coming from the mouths of these guys); and then, there's the problem of the actors being C-list to the much more famous actors of the same generation. This is a film that was coming off the heels and coattails of much better albeit cheesy teenage coming-of-age comedies like:
It's a boring film as well as a downright dishonest one. It presents itself as a Jennifer Love Hewitt vehicle, but she's honestly in the film for maybe 5-10 minutes and her role isn't even significant enough to write about.
The film is really about two recent graduates who work at a pizza joint in their hometown because they refuse to grow up and face the reality of moving on from their glory days. Peter Facinelli plays one of the guys and it's like he didn't learn a lesson from his role in "Can't Hardly Wait" (which was far better than this). There's also a magical homeless man who spews out advice and life-altering opinions to the other guy (Mihok, from the '90s Slim Jim commercials) who believes one of his high school girlfriends is the girl who got away. And Matthew Lillard makes a cameo as well.
I prefer films with deeper meaning and dialogue found in Noah Baumbach's films (re: "Kicking and Screaming").
Avoid this one.
starring: Paul Ashton, Katie Page, Ahmed Bharoocha, Gia Carides, Edi Gathegi, Mark Harelik, Anthony LaPaglia, Tim Maculan, Angie Milliken, Danielle Panabaker
written and directed by: Paul Ashton and Katie Page
This is an indie version of the rom-com complete with a "meet cute" scenario, but it explores the whole relationship with an interesting microscope- giving each of them interesting emotional baggage they are set to deal with on their own.
The film was written by the real-life couple, Paul Ashton and Katie Page, both of whom play the lead characters in the film, as well. Paul Ashton directed the film as well, and shows the audience small, out of the way spots in Southern California among a crowd of hipsters with feelings of mid-20s angst and the uncertainties of growing up among smart and funny people (in a much better way than the Judd Apatow film "Funny People" from a few years back). You know they're invested in the film when their hands are in it like that, but you have to be careful, as well, because often times when someone writes and directs you wonder if they can remain objective throughout the whole process. The couple does find a fresh angle and gives it enough wit and heart. They portray two people in their mid-20s whose romance hits a couple of snags and it is in how they deal with it that makes them who they are as people, whether we like it or not.
Among the film's strengths are the full-fledged and fully developed characters with interesting idiosyncrasies. Katie Page plays Eliot, an aspiring comedienne who hangs out at the comedy club often, gives and listens to sets, hangs out with her comedian friends. Eliot is career-focused, with aspirations of becoming a writer for someone's show. On the other hand, Jamie (Ashton) is in no particular hurry to figure out his life or what he wants to be when he grows up. Jamie also rides a bike, which apparently in California means you are on the bottom of the caste system, instead of being eco-friendly. He manages a wheatgrass emporium that just screams "hipster alert!"
In another setting, the self-conscious jokiness of the dialogue might come off as artificial, but with this set of characters it feels perfectly natural. Like most good comedy, the quipping also reveals whole worlds of unease without lapsing into psychologizing. But the romance taps into a wholly unexpected, and welcome, emotional undercurrent with Eliot’s struggle to determine whether the anti-anxiety meds she’s been on for half her life are truly necessary. Her new awareness is spurred in large part by feelings of unaccustomed intensity, high and low, sexual and non, that she experiences with Jamie. That’s an emotional territory beyond the reach of most romantic comedies.
As Eliot’s intrusively caring mother, delivering career advice and all-purpose worries over the phone, Rogers is spot-on, while Pasquesi provides a different form of parental disappointment as Eliot’s father, a lit professor with a distaste for pop culture. Eliot’s parents are never seen together — whether or not that’s a function of scheduling on a shoestring budget, it adds an interesting subtext. Jamie’s folks (Mark Harelik, Angie Milliken), on the other hand, do show up side by side, if only to tell him they’re splitting up.
The film does get a bit sappy in certain moments, but that's still not a stumbling block with this well done script. It's a film filled with quick-wit and insightfulness about growing up. This is a wonderful find for anyone who enjoys indie films. I loved it!
............................................................................
"Kristy"
starring: Ashley Greene, Haley Bennett, Lucas Till, Chris Coy, Mike Seal, Lucius Falick, Erica Ash, James Ransone, Mathew St. Patrick
written by: Anthony Jaswinski
directed by: Oliver Blackburn
What seems to come off at first as a film used as a vehicle to allow Ashley Greene to step out of the shadow of her "Twilight saga" into a darker, creepier role where she's not seen or portrayed as a "beautiful" girl/vampire- and the typical college girl alone on campus with stalkers in tow to terrorize film fashion- becomes something slightly interesting and a bit different from other slasher/horror films.
It stars Haley Bennett (an under-the-radar actress) as Justine Wills- the only girl on her college campus who has decided to not go home for Thanksgiving break (which is never really explained, but the backstory isn't necessary). Justine has a run-in with a bizarre, creepy hoodie-wearing, pierced-lip girl named Violet (Ashley Greene) at a nearby gas station/convenient store. Back at school, Justine soon discovers she's the target of Violet and her gang of masked friends on a mission to kill her after terrorizing her and calling her "Kristy" for some bizarre internet game.
Haley Bennett does a great job as a rather one-dimensional scream queen, fully committed to her role as the girl who must survive. This is a decent under-the-radar horror film that probably won't be seen by many people, but it is streaming on Netflix so give it a chance, knowing it's certainly not trying to reinvent the wheel.
............................................................................
"Bottled Up"
starring: Marin Ireland, Melissa Leo, Josh Hamilton, Jamie Harrold, Fredric Lehne
written and directed by: Enid Zentelis
There are some great films about addiction. Some of my favorites include:
Requiem for a Dream
Trainspotting
Drugstore Cowboy
The Basketball Diaries
When a Man Loves a Woman
Permanent Midnight
Rachel Getting Married
Rush
Sherrybaby
Down to the Bone
I'm going to have to add this film to the list, perhaps for the sole reason that it is an interesting look at co-dependency in another person related to the addict. Melissa Leo has proven herself an amazing actress and unfortunately she has flown under the radar for years, but thanks to her portrayal of a mother in "The Fighter" she's been getting more attention, although she seems to pick these smaller, indie films to showcase her talents- and her talents shine in this film. This is an intense film that hits you multiple times and doesn't give up. Marin Ireland plays the daughter who is addicted to pain pills and will seemingly do just about anything to get her hands on some, although the writer/director chooses not to focus on her character very much. This is all about the mother.
This mother, Faye (Melissa Leo) thinks she loves her daughter by helping her daughter get prescription pills. She reasons that her daughter is in real pain and if that means pretending to be injured herself to get prescriptions for her daughter, then this is justified in her mind. Additionally, like many co-dependent people, Faye tends to blame herself for her daughter’s problems and acts like her own life and her own needs are unimportant. It’s sick but it’s also nice to see the filmmakers recognize that this sort of person is common and does a lot to feed the other’s addiction.
Into the film comes Becket (Josh Hamilton) who seems like the reverse answer to the manic pixie dream girl oft found in coming-of-age stories. He's environmentally conscious and otherwise comes into Faye and Sylvie's life as a vehicle to effect change in one or both of them. He lives with them, for some reason, and soon becomes attracted to Faye (for another inexplicable reason), although spends a lot of energy trying to pawn him off on her daughter, whom she thinks needs and/or deserves someone as caring and wonderful as Becket (perhaps to help save her from herself). Faye, being as co-dependent as she is- does not view herself highly enough to think she deserves Becket's affection and often deflects it. Her needs are far less important than her daughter's.
This is a great little, indie film that focuses on the characters and is really driven by their actions and emotions. Try not to be affected by their story.
..............................................................................
"Telling You"
starring: Peter Facinelli, Andy Berman, Rob DeFranco, Gary Wolf, Dash Mihok, Richard Libertini, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Gina Philips, Jennifer Jostyn, Frank Medrano, Jensen Daggett, Matthew Lillard, Shanna Moakler
directed by: Rob DeFranco
There is so much forgettable about this post-high school graduation film that fell victim to being shelved for a couple of years after it was actually filmed (1997), the least of which happens to be the dialogue between the friends that seems to be trying to hard to be introspective and intellectual (the problem being it's not believable coming from the mouths of these guys); and then, there's the problem of the actors being C-list to the much more famous actors of the same generation. This is a film that was coming off the heels and coattails of much better albeit cheesy teenage coming-of-age comedies like:
Varsity Blues
She's All That
Can't Hardly Wait
Dead Man on Campus
Overnight Delivery
Mallrats (the best of the bunch)
Empire Records (a classic)
American Pie
It's a boring film as well as a downright dishonest one. It presents itself as a Jennifer Love Hewitt vehicle, but she's honestly in the film for maybe 5-10 minutes and her role isn't even significant enough to write about.
The film is really about two recent graduates who work at a pizza joint in their hometown because they refuse to grow up and face the reality of moving on from their glory days. Peter Facinelli plays one of the guys and it's like he didn't learn a lesson from his role in "Can't Hardly Wait" (which was far better than this). There's also a magical homeless man who spews out advice and life-altering opinions to the other guy (Mihok, from the '90s Slim Jim commercials) who believes one of his high school girlfriends is the girl who got away. And Matthew Lillard makes a cameo as well.
I prefer films with deeper meaning and dialogue found in Noah Baumbach's films (re: "Kicking and Screaming").
Avoid this one.
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