"One" tells of two young men with checkered pasts trying to carve something out of their lives. A stylish indie, minimalistic and laconic, slow and methodical, somewhat brooding, with mostly fixed shots with no zooms or pans, "One" is an artful shoot lean on story with few feel good moments to be found. An above average low budget indie and directorial debut, "One" will rank high with indie lovers while going unnoticed by the masses.
5 Reviews
Small-scale film-making at its finest
kdufre0025 October 2000
This is one of the best films I have seen all year! It is just a shame that it hasn't gotten the huge audience that it deserves. I hope that my comments won't be the only ones posted on this great film.
"One" is about a young man, Charlie, just released from prison, and his relationship with his best friend, Nick, an ex-baseball player living at home with his parents. Though it may be simplistic in terms of plot, there is more than meets the eye. Both men are in transitional stages and each view their station in life very differently. Despite his criminal record and the restrictions it places on his life, Charlie aspires to be a teacher. He longs to begin his life afresh, and his motivations are genuine. Nick, on the other hand, foolishly quits his job as a garbage man in order to pursue a professional baseball career. What makes these two men different is what motivates them toward their respective goals. Charlie's motivation to be a teacher is intrinsic, while Nick's motivation to be a professional baseball player is extrinsic, in that he only sees a career in baseball in terms of profit.
What I really like about this movie is its unobtrusive style. As I was watching it in the theater, I had the feeling of watching a photograph develop. It lets you take in a little at a time, but you can't keep your eyes off it. Tony Barbieri's direction is very subtle, and full of depth. I really admired some of the evocative camera angles. There were several shots in the movie that place us, the audience, outside the scenes. For instance, the camera is positioned outside a door to a room where two characters are having a conversation. It made me feel like I was eavesdropping on someone. It also created a feeling of restriction. These shots were offset by a few others which place the characters in wide open spaces (a beach or a baseball field), which suggest potential for growth. Both of these themes (restriction and potential) are very much what "One" is about.
Again, I hope more people see this film and post their comments! I really hate being the only one up here! Please see "One" at your nearest theater while it is still playing. It will give you plenty to think about afterwards.
"One" is about a young man, Charlie, just released from prison, and his relationship with his best friend, Nick, an ex-baseball player living at home with his parents. Though it may be simplistic in terms of plot, there is more than meets the eye. Both men are in transitional stages and each view their station in life very differently. Despite his criminal record and the restrictions it places on his life, Charlie aspires to be a teacher. He longs to begin his life afresh, and his motivations are genuine. Nick, on the other hand, foolishly quits his job as a garbage man in order to pursue a professional baseball career. What makes these two men different is what motivates them toward their respective goals. Charlie's motivation to be a teacher is intrinsic, while Nick's motivation to be a professional baseball player is extrinsic, in that he only sees a career in baseball in terms of profit.
What I really like about this movie is its unobtrusive style. As I was watching it in the theater, I had the feeling of watching a photograph develop. It lets you take in a little at a time, but you can't keep your eyes off it. Tony Barbieri's direction is very subtle, and full of depth. I really admired some of the evocative camera angles. There were several shots in the movie that place us, the audience, outside the scenes. For instance, the camera is positioned outside a door to a room where two characters are having a conversation. It made me feel like I was eavesdropping on someone. It also created a feeling of restriction. These shots were offset by a few others which place the characters in wide open spaces (a beach or a baseball field), which suggest potential for growth. Both of these themes (restriction and potential) are very much what "One" is about.
Again, I hope more people see this film and post their comments! I really hate being the only one up here! Please see "One" at your nearest theater while it is still playing. It will give you plenty to think about afterwards.
Very uninteresting film
jbhangoo2 May 2001
It was very disappointing to see this plot progress in this film. I would have to say it was too predictable as I could tell from watching the first 20 minutes exactly what was going to happen. I was waiting for some kind of twist or surprise, but there was none.
But even worse than the story were the characters. The writer may have intended for them to be symbolic, but they came off as one-dimensional.
But even worse than the story were the characters. The writer may have intended for them to be symbolic, but they came off as one-dimensional.
best film of 1998.
dirtypuppy83 September 2001
i have seen this film twice and it is fantastic. i wrote shooting gallery and they said they plan to release it on dvd. i haven't seen it yet but i hope they do. i wish the soundtrack was available as well since the music is beautiful. i look forward to seeing more work by directory tony barbieri.
Attuned indie debut
george.schmidt29 April 2004
ONE (2000) **1/2 Kane Picoy, Jason Cairns, Autumn Macintosh, Paul Herman, Ed Lynch, Gabriell Ruvulo, Muhammed Hasan, Willie La Nere. Recently paroled convict Cairns (eerily resembling John Turturro and Christopher Walken) returns to his old neighborhood and while staying with best friend and hot-headed baseball prospect gone to seed garbageman Picoy tries to adapt to a new life by starting all over while falling in love, earning a degree and facing the inevitable his past. Well done by first time filmmaker Tony Barbieri who gives the film a unique look with his camera angles and placement and a novella feeling plotwise.
Only gripe is that it is too short and the ending is abruptly out of sync with the rest of the otherwise attuned debut.
Only gripe is that it is too short and the ending is abruptly out of sync with the rest of the otherwise attuned debut.
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