tomrizzuto Reviews

Stuck Between Stations (2011)

Great characters, OK story.

[6/10 · 4 August 2015]

I watched this movie because I'm a huge fan of the song "Stuck Between Stations" by The Hold Steady, so full disclosure, I was a little disappointed by the fact that the song itself, nor any of the plot points from it never appear in the film.

Having that been said, I really enjoyed the characters and the dynamic between the actors. This movie was truly well acted, which is more than you can say for a lot of films, indie or otherwise.

As great as the performances were though, they couldn't make up for the fact that the story was just kind of bland. It's not that it was a bad story, it just wasn't enough to support a full length film. Maybe this is why the plot meandered into overdone independent film filler. I don't want to give away the scenes that I'm talking about, but trust me, you'll know them when you see them.

Still, I would see another movie by this director and writers. Especially since they have such good taste in music.

I Was a Teenage Superhero Sidekick (2013)

Completely original take on the superhero genre.

[8/10 · 4 August 2015]

Any fan of the superhero genre should see this movie. In a world were major studios are spending millions to choke you into submission with special effects and overdone reboots, this film proves that you can tell an original story about superheroes and still make it about the characters first.

I saw this movie at a festival in New York. I actually went to see another film but decided to stay because of the interesting title. I was immediately drawn in by the combination of animation and live action. By choosing to animate the majority of the action scenes, this film avoids taking itself too seriously, and lets the audience focus more on the relationships between the characters.

While the technical aspects of the filmmaking are impressive, the performances of the actors cannot be ignored. The whole cast is extremely likable and the chemistry between the two male leads is great. You really believe that these two guys grew up fighting crime together.

Overall, this movie succeeds in telling a story that is as original as it is heartfelt.