10/10
Grateful Dead on a shoestring budget wonderful
28 January 2011
It's 1987, and when a long-absent son turns up with a brain tumor that robs him of immediate memory, his father (JK Simmons) struggles to deal with the past through the eyes of a son who is frozen in memories.

OK, Dead fans know the title; if you're of a generation that listened to vinyl, here's your homage to the power of records and the 60s.

Small budget written all over this, that is all heart and talented talent that has talent. Did I mention talent? Having seen it at Sundance Chicago, the director explained that he'd been studying neurological science material and THAT is reflected in how uncommonly well the young actor, Gabe, nails his role as a person whose brain injury sometimes clicks on... and off. Director spoke about the editing down of the tale, and I think we'd really like to see it expanded back to a longer film; there's a few lessons here worthy of more screen time.

There's a jaw-dropping "how'd they do that?" in here worthy of cheers and worth the ticket price. Hope they "expand" that for the DVD!!!

This is a great little film without special effects but packed with the true mastery of a small story told very, emotionally, well. Familiar faces deliver for all they're worth and well-done filmmakers techniques bless MUSIC with obvious "extra efforts" that put all of the money up on the screen.
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