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Reviews
The Falls (2003)
awful
This wannabe film noir is dreadful. First and foremost, there is WAY too much narration. Apparently the writer/ director worried that the audience wouldn't understand his derivative stab at a story, so in most scenes points are made visually while the narrator explains what we're seeing .. it's insulting to an audience and just plain awful filmmaking. At the Phoenix Film Festival the director introduced the movie (shot on DV), clearly proud of its "225 visual effects shots" -- which obviously took precedence over an actual story. Yes, guys, digital toys are fun, but don't make a movie just so you can play with them. Yuck.
Break a Leg (2005)
terrific
Easily the best feature I saw at the Phoenix Film Festival, it deserved the best film award it received. The story is original. The writing is clever, funny and dark, and has a ring of veracity thanks to the writers' experience in the industry. The story structure is right on, with a satisfying climax. The acting was mostly terrific, especially Jennifer Beals -- I've never witnessed a better performance from her. John Cassini is right on the money, and the always great Molly Parker is great yet again. It's very well cast. My only complaint is that the psychedelic Shakespeare scene went on for far too long. Thanks for brightening an otherwise dreary Phoenix Film Festival.
You Got Nothin' (2002)
too derivative
I don't see this movie getting wide distribution, not because there are no big names attached but because it's just not interesting enough, uses too many recycled elements, from characters to cinematography to plot points. The acting is competent, the technical side is fine, but these can't make up for the script, which really does need some doctoring, and a fresh set of eyes, sorry guys. I think the filmmakers have become too close to the work to see its problems. I do respect the time and effort put into this movie, though.
I Died (2004)
"Look under my door and I'll kick your a--"
I really wanted to like this movie, the concept holds promise. Sadly, it reeks of student film, replete with amateurish acting. The script is abysmal; characters behave inexplicably, unrealistically, leaving almost no way to suspend disbelief. The low-budget approach is admirable .. the grainy, shadowy images complement the subject matter quite well, and the budget FX (compositing, sound) are just fine. But unfortunately, in this case the content does not transcend limitations of the DV format (unlike 28 Days Later). With some script doctoring and many rewrites this film could be a contender. As is, it's unlikely to make much of an impression.
Noon Blue Apples (2002)
the truth ain't here
Saw this at the Phoenix Film Festival .. it's essentially a college short gone horribly wrong and running far too long. Though the research into conspiracy theory here is admirable, the film's endless monologues do nothing more than say, "Look at all the research I did!" Nary a character has a motivation--save for the protagonist, whose only goal (aside from writing a term paper) is to listen to strange people rant and say spookily, "Are you ready for this?" Clearly the writer/director was aiming for something akin to Fincher's "The Game", but alas, unlike that film, there's no coherency to all the pontification and creepy side-glances in this mess, no method to support the madness. The truth is out there, but it ain't here.