5-25-77
A movie 15 years in the making (for me at least) about Star War's first fan. As a avid fan of Star Wars myself, my interest was piqued when I first saw the trailer so many years ago. I followed the news of its release closely, patiently waiting for my time to view it. Each time I saw there had been a special showing of the unfinished product somewhere far, far away, I grew jealous, and perhaps frustrated that I had to continue to wait, and wait some more, for my time to come. And then it finally happened. The movie had come to a theater near me. My patience had paid off as this was not the movie I had originally expected. It was so much more.
5-25-77 is less of a movie about a fan of Star Wars and more of a movie about a fan of cinema itself. Our protagonist, Patrick Read Johnson, shares with us what it was like growing up in the 70's and seeing films as more than just flickering pictures in front of your eyes while you eat popcorn. Patrick sees the art in the storytelling laid out before him. He finds deeper meaning and nuance in films that others find tedious, like 2001: A Space Odyssey. Yet, no matter how much his friends and family can't see cinema in the same way no matter how many times he explains it to them, they still support his love for film without much pushback (except time like when their backyard pool is used as an insert tank for his home version of Jaws). Friends and family actively, and some even eagerly, participate in his home films just so he gets the right shot, even if the finished product takes years to complete.
This story of Star Wars' first fan would not have even been possible without its supporting characters, especially his mother whose perseverance allows Patrick a one in a million chance to visit those in the industry with whom he idolizes. Though on the surface it may appear Patrick is alienated as the lone cinemaphile in a small town, I could argued that the support he receives at home could be considered a character in itself as it plays that much of an important role in the story.
This movie is wonderfully acted, especially by John Francis Daley (Patrick) and Colleen Camp (Mrs. Johnson, Patrick's mom). The art style itself is also a love letter to the art of filmmaking as different sequences utilize the amateurish techniques and special effects from homemade films to segue from one scene to another or to illustrate specific emotions. As I watched this film from the acoustical center of the theater(something which Patrick himself does in the film) I couldn't help but see a lot of myself in this.
If you go into this experience expecting to see a movie about fans of Star Wars in the vein of Fanboys, you'll be disappointed. But if you want to see what it is to truly love film so deeply that it takes you to experiences in galaxies far, far away, I implore you to seek out 5-25-77.
5-25-77 is less of a movie about a fan of Star Wars and more of a movie about a fan of cinema itself. Our protagonist, Patrick Read Johnson, shares with us what it was like growing up in the 70's and seeing films as more than just flickering pictures in front of your eyes while you eat popcorn. Patrick sees the art in the storytelling laid out before him. He finds deeper meaning and nuance in films that others find tedious, like 2001: A Space Odyssey. Yet, no matter how much his friends and family can't see cinema in the same way no matter how many times he explains it to them, they still support his love for film without much pushback (except time like when their backyard pool is used as an insert tank for his home version of Jaws). Friends and family actively, and some even eagerly, participate in his home films just so he gets the right shot, even if the finished product takes years to complete.
This story of Star Wars' first fan would not have even been possible without its supporting characters, especially his mother whose perseverance allows Patrick a one in a million chance to visit those in the industry with whom he idolizes. Though on the surface it may appear Patrick is alienated as the lone cinemaphile in a small town, I could argued that the support he receives at home could be considered a character in itself as it plays that much of an important role in the story.
This movie is wonderfully acted, especially by John Francis Daley (Patrick) and Colleen Camp (Mrs. Johnson, Patrick's mom). The art style itself is also a love letter to the art of filmmaking as different sequences utilize the amateurish techniques and special effects from homemade films to segue from one scene to another or to illustrate specific emotions. As I watched this film from the acoustical center of the theater(something which Patrick himself does in the film) I couldn't help but see a lot of myself in this.
If you go into this experience expecting to see a movie about fans of Star Wars in the vein of Fanboys, you'll be disappointed. But if you want to see what it is to truly love film so deeply that it takes you to experiences in galaxies far, far away, I implore you to seek out 5-25-77.