An excellent short feature that is exceptional in its development of character in a twenty minute span. Ms. Adler's work was perhaps the highlight of the Sundance Shorts collection she was featured at in the 2010 festival. This piece tells a very complex story of a NY-based dentist who seeks to market his product 'snore no more' through viral video. Meeting two new neighbors who work in 'new media' he invites them to his home to preview his work (best described as a low budget infomercial). The reaction of the two neighbors is priceless. JJ Adler has a very promising future in TV or feature films and is a director to watch.
Reviews
6 Reviews
This Revolution
(2005)
Introducing the "Docu-Drama"
30 January 2005
I had the opportunity to see "This Revolution" at the 2005 Sundance Festival. This film is the work of director Stephen Marshall, known for his innovative short films, music videos (including the Eminem video "Mosh"), and documentaries. "This Revolution" represents Stephen's first foray into a full length dramatic production.
I had a great experience seeing this film. I was very surprised while, buying popcorn, I looked up to see Roger Ebert standing next to me. Also attending the festival, Roger took in "This Revolution" along with other features.
The film begins rather awkwardly, perhaps reflective of the very tight filming which took place (Stephen Marshall rushed production to hit the deadline for entry into Sundance). However, as the narrative unfolds, the film begins to come together quite nicely.
"This Revolution" explores the interactions of a network broadcaster, Jake Cassavetes, as he collects interviews and footage of the 2004 RNC convention in NYC. Jake's relationships with two women, one a producer at his network, the other Tina Santiago (well played by Rosario Dawson), the widow of a slain Iraqi occupation soldier.
As the narrative unwinds, we learn that Jake's network is relaying the footage he collects to the Department of Homeland Security, which is building profiles on each of the "enemy combatants" involved in the protests.
Stephen Marshall succeeds in crafting a highly compelling film with "This Revolution." He combines the best of his work as a documentary and short film director, including his signature "scratch" technique. The scenes between the leads, Dawson and Nathan Crooker, are effective, and relay excellent chemistry.
While the production contains several flaws, these can be excused as the work of a first time director. The overall end production is very powerful, and memorable. It is worth seeing if only for the footage of the RNC protest, suppressed in our mainstream media. Watch for the cameos by Marshall, including the scene where he is arrested.
Enjoy!
I had a great experience seeing this film. I was very surprised while, buying popcorn, I looked up to see Roger Ebert standing next to me. Also attending the festival, Roger took in "This Revolution" along with other features.
The film begins rather awkwardly, perhaps reflective of the very tight filming which took place (Stephen Marshall rushed production to hit the deadline for entry into Sundance). However, as the narrative unfolds, the film begins to come together quite nicely.
"This Revolution" explores the interactions of a network broadcaster, Jake Cassavetes, as he collects interviews and footage of the 2004 RNC convention in NYC. Jake's relationships with two women, one a producer at his network, the other Tina Santiago (well played by Rosario Dawson), the widow of a slain Iraqi occupation soldier.
As the narrative unwinds, we learn that Jake's network is relaying the footage he collects to the Department of Homeland Security, which is building profiles on each of the "enemy combatants" involved in the protests.
Stephen Marshall succeeds in crafting a highly compelling film with "This Revolution." He combines the best of his work as a documentary and short film director, including his signature "scratch" technique. The scenes between the leads, Dawson and Nathan Crooker, are effective, and relay excellent chemistry.
While the production contains several flaws, these can be excused as the work of a first time director. The overall end production is very powerful, and memorable. It is worth seeing if only for the footage of the RNC protest, suppressed in our mainstream media. Watch for the cameos by Marshall, including the scene where he is arrested.
Enjoy!
After Innocence
(2005)
A Compelling, Impactful Documentary
29 January 2005
Bringing to light recent exoneration's made possible through newly admissible DNA evidence, Jessica Sander's "After Innocence" is a very compelling and important documentary.
The film focuses on the Project Innocence group, a team of lawyers dedicated to freeing those imprisoned unjustly. This film focused on several Project Innocence cases, where individuals were sentenced, largely based on eyewitness identification, and without physical evidence. Through the use of DNA, the lawyers are able to have their subjects released.
As the film relates, being released from prison is not the end of the inmates' struggles. They return to society with nary an apology (much less restitution for unjust imprisonment) from the state's where they were incarcerated. The exonerees then deal with a whole host of complications (such as getting their records expunged of their crimes) after they are released, partly due to the lack of provision for such releases on behalf of the judicial system, and partly due to the uncertain status they are accorded by society.
This film was well received at the 2005 Sundance festival. At the end of each showing, the exonerees stood for question and answer sessions, which were highly memorable for all involved.
I highly recommend this film, and hope to see it picked up by a film distributor for general release in 2005.
The film focuses on the Project Innocence group, a team of lawyers dedicated to freeing those imprisoned unjustly. This film focused on several Project Innocence cases, where individuals were sentenced, largely based on eyewitness identification, and without physical evidence. Through the use of DNA, the lawyers are able to have their subjects released.
As the film relates, being released from prison is not the end of the inmates' struggles. They return to society with nary an apology (much less restitution for unjust imprisonment) from the state's where they were incarcerated. The exonerees then deal with a whole host of complications (such as getting their records expunged of their crimes) after they are released, partly due to the lack of provision for such releases on behalf of the judicial system, and partly due to the uncertain status they are accorded by society.
This film was well received at the 2005 Sundance festival. At the end of each showing, the exonerees stood for question and answer sessions, which were highly memorable for all involved.
I highly recommend this film, and hope to see it picked up by a film distributor for general release in 2005.
Mitchellville
(2004 TV Movie)
An Evocative, Moody Film
29 January 2005
I saw Mitchelville at the Sundance festival this week, and it has remained with me ever since. While one would need to be in the proper mood to enjoy this quirky film, it is quite good in its own right.
The film focuses on a corporate lawyer, going through a battery of examinations with his firm's shrink prior to being made partner. As the lawyer describes his life to the psychiatrist, a complex past emerges.
I will not attempt to describe the maze of complexities that are presented, as this would give away too much of the film. Suffice it to say that his past leads him to unravel an old mystery, brought to the present through his dealing in an M&A activity at his firm.
This film is filled with beautiful, mysterious imagery and sound, and leaves the viewer questing what was fact, and what was imagination at the conclusion.
I recommend it to anyone seeking a dreamy diversion.
The film focuses on a corporate lawyer, going through a battery of examinations with his firm's shrink prior to being made partner. As the lawyer describes his life to the psychiatrist, a complex past emerges.
I will not attempt to describe the maze of complexities that are presented, as this would give away too much of the film. Suffice it to say that his past leads him to unravel an old mystery, brought to the present through his dealing in an M&A activity at his firm.
This film is filled with beautiful, mysterious imagery and sound, and leaves the viewer questing what was fact, and what was imagination at the conclusion.
I recommend it to anyone seeking a dreamy diversion.
Cronicas
(2004)
An Interesting Examination on the Power of the Media
29 January 2005
Warning: Spoilers
I had the chance to see Crónicas at the Sundance film festival this week, and was very impressed. The film relates to the story of a Latin American reporter and his crew who are investigating a serial rapist in Ecuador. When a man claiming to have insight into the murders hits and kills a young boy with his truck, he proposes to the reporter an exchange: information on the murders for a favorable report on the accident. The reporter, played by John Leguizamo, agrees to the arrangement. As new evidence is unearthed, a troubling conflict of interest emerges...
This film uses its location in Ecuador to great effect, evoking the personality and character of a small Latin American village. The murder mystery genre is well explored in this interesting, taut thriller. I had particular respect for how the director ended this film, refusing to settle for a clean resolution, opting instead for a more complex (and truer to life) finale.
This film uses its location in Ecuador to great effect, evoking the personality and character of a small Latin American village. The murder mystery genre is well explored in this interesting, taut thriller. I had particular respect for how the director ended this film, refusing to settle for a clean resolution, opting instead for a more complex (and truer to life) finale.
The Chumscrubber
(2005)
A Heartless and Humorless Film
27 January 2005
Warning: Spoilers
I had the opportunity to attend the opening screening of "The Chumscrubber" at the Sundance Festival. Given the hype surrounding this picture, and its very talented cast, this film was a great disappointment.
The film centers on the life of Dean Stiffle, a high school student growing up in the suburbs of California. His father, played by William Fitchner, is the author of self help books. When Dean walks in to discover that his best friend has killed himself, he does not bother reporting this to the friend's parents, who are hosting a party. He later explains that he thought that no one would care.
Dean's reaction to the suicide sets the tone for this deeply cynical, yet unfunny, satire. As the convoluted plot continues to develop, a group of local thugs tries to coerce Dean to reclaim the drug stash of his dead friend. They do so by kidnapping a boy who they believe to be Dean's brother. However, they kidnap the wrong boy, leading to a confusion of identities, and many opportunities for humor that are quickly lost in this dense film.
The reaction at Sundance to this film was mixed, with perhaps half of the audience reacting as I did, and the other half claiming to have enjoyed it.
My take on this film is that is was entirely devoid of heart and humor, and failed in its attempts to entertain.
One scene that does work comes at the end of the film, between Dean (Jamie Bell) and the mother of his dead friend (played by Glenn Close). Dean is the only person to show up for his friend's memorial service, and he consoles the boy's mother.
The film centers on the life of Dean Stiffle, a high school student growing up in the suburbs of California. His father, played by William Fitchner, is the author of self help books. When Dean walks in to discover that his best friend has killed himself, he does not bother reporting this to the friend's parents, who are hosting a party. He later explains that he thought that no one would care.
Dean's reaction to the suicide sets the tone for this deeply cynical, yet unfunny, satire. As the convoluted plot continues to develop, a group of local thugs tries to coerce Dean to reclaim the drug stash of his dead friend. They do so by kidnapping a boy who they believe to be Dean's brother. However, they kidnap the wrong boy, leading to a confusion of identities, and many opportunities for humor that are quickly lost in this dense film.
The reaction at Sundance to this film was mixed, with perhaps half of the audience reacting as I did, and the other half claiming to have enjoyed it.
My take on this film is that is was entirely devoid of heart and humor, and failed in its attempts to entertain.
One scene that does work comes at the end of the film, between Dean (Jamie Bell) and the mother of his dead friend (played by Glenn Close). Dean is the only person to show up for his friend's memorial service, and he consoles the boy's mother.
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