***The very last sentence of this comment may be considered a spoiler for some. It's a statement about the positive or negative outcome for the viewer. It answers the question, "Might I feel uplifted or empty at the end?" Nothing more than that.
Awake works on some very interesting levels. I commend Joby Harold, the first-time writer-director, for writing it. It takes a lot of time and focus to weave this kind of tale, to pull all the threads together into an effective experience.
It takes a little effort to reconstruct the story in my mind even though I've just seen it. It's not disjointed storytelling in the recent fashion. It has levels or maybe perspectives that are woven effectively without drawing attention. I expected the story to fall apart, but it didn't. I expected to be let down several times because the story seemed to display ambitions, but I was not let down. Maybe I'll see it again.
I saw it on a Tuesday night in the second or third week in release here in Nashville. There were a hand full of folks. Two folks began clapping at the end and I joined in. It was brief, but when was the last time that happened? I don't remember.
This is a first-film and it's on par with the major releases that I've seen lately. I've seen three or four films a week for the last few weeks, everything in wide release except the family fare and chick flicks, and this stands up to everything. It was way down my list, but Awake was lurking as a possible and was a pleasant surprise.
The film has complexity, thrills, mystery, and love. Although there is real tragedy we are not left out in the cold.
Awake works on some very interesting levels. I commend Joby Harold, the first-time writer-director, for writing it. It takes a lot of time and focus to weave this kind of tale, to pull all the threads together into an effective experience.
It takes a little effort to reconstruct the story in my mind even though I've just seen it. It's not disjointed storytelling in the recent fashion. It has levels or maybe perspectives that are woven effectively without drawing attention. I expected the story to fall apart, but it didn't. I expected to be let down several times because the story seemed to display ambitions, but I was not let down. Maybe I'll see it again.
I saw it on a Tuesday night in the second or third week in release here in Nashville. There were a hand full of folks. Two folks began clapping at the end and I joined in. It was brief, but when was the last time that happened? I don't remember.
This is a first-film and it's on par with the major releases that I've seen lately. I've seen three or four films a week for the last few weeks, everything in wide release except the family fare and chick flicks, and this stands up to everything. It was way down my list, but Awake was lurking as a possible and was a pleasant surprise.
The film has complexity, thrills, mystery, and love. Although there is real tragedy we are not left out in the cold.