Trans (1998) User Reviews

Worth a watch...

[PTCfromDE · 7/10 · 11 January 2002]

This film reminded me of the Iranian film "White Balloon", in the following sense.

In White Balloon, the whole plot is "two kids go to buy a goldfish, and a bunch of stuff happens to them along the way". That's it. Nothing else. There isn't necessarily any point to any of the stuff that happens to them. There isn't any theme. There's just... lots and lots of stuff. And then the movie just ends.

In the same way, this movie is: a kid escapes from juvenile detention, and a bunch of stuff happens to him while he's on the run. And then the movie is over. What's the point? No point.

If you can get PAST that, then there's a lot to enjoy here. This, in spite of the fact, that as another commenter pointed out, there are lots of technical flaws in the cinematography, that might *appear* to be intentional, "for effect", but are probably just goof ups or inexperience. However, in between the out of focus shots and the "unsteady-cam" shots and the underexposed shots are some really interesting sequences and very nice use of music to create mood.

To really enjoy this film, change your expectations: see it as a series of 3-5 minute "mini-plays" that all happen to revolve around the same character, Ryan Kazinski. And then, just to watch this young actor, Ryan Daugherty in his first feature film, is a real treat. Especially heartbreaking is the scene between Ryan and his brother (played by his real life brother, Jon Daugherty.) I expect that after some casting directors see this film, the phone may be ringing in the Daugherty household.

Good movie with a Indie feel

[forecastmazy · 7/10 · 10 June 2003]

This is a very good and honest movie. You feel how this kid felt, and I especially relate because I used to just walk around as a kid (but obviously not as a convict or something.) You really feel for the main character in this movie, it has its own feel to it, very real. Very honest. Its not so much a movie as an experience, like a doc. film but real. Its certainly worth the watch. I saw it and it grabbed me enough to stay there, watch it and forget what I was doing. Any film that can do that has achieved it's goal in bringing you into the realm of cinema and is worth the watch.

Julian Goldberger takes flight with Ryan Daugherty

[wes-connors · 5/10 · 28 December 2009]

With one month to serve out a Fort Myers, Florida juvenile prison term, teenager Ryan Daugherty (as Ryan Kazinski) joins two fellow inmates as they spontaneously escape from a road cleaning crew. After enjoying some fresh freedom, the other two lads desert young Mr. Daugherty. Left to his own devices, he is unable to cope. Daugherty can't differentiate between those who try to help him and those who would get him in deeper trouble. After visiting little brother Jon, he becomes determined to visit their long lost mother.

Julian Goldberger's "Trans" is a semi-documentary, film festival friendly effort. The story's beginning is very good, with Daugherty's boredom and alienation nicely visualized. His natural and convincing narration gives the film a voice, and would have been welcome throughout the film. Although "Kazinski" presents as a rather ordinary, confused, and probably unintelligent soul, his plight elicits sympathy. However, a series of unspectacular and/or improvised events squanders much of film's initial appeal. An uplifting ending helps.

***** Trans (9/11/98) Julian Goldberger ~ Ryan Daugherty, Justin Lakes, Jon Daugherty, Michael Gulnac

great acting... missing 3rd act...

[ranga_rangarajan · 22 October 2001]

The whole movie had a visceral feel to it. I could, believe me, feel the swelt of the Florida swamp. The boy is amazing. The scene, where he stands over the bridge, ecstatic after his escape, is stunning. So where some other characters.

If u can suspend yr judgement on the ending and want to "feel" the movie go for it. very sensual.

Like the main character, the film goes nowhere

[corway-2 · 3/10 · 30 March 2000]

TRANS begins very promising, with an unusually natural acting style and equally unusual cinematography. With a documentary feel, we follow the adventures of a boy escaped from a juvenile detention center. His encounters are interesting and believable, but after about 80 minutes or so, the story just stops. What happens to the boy? We'll never know. Maybe we're not supposed to know. However, good storytelling involves a beginning, a middle, and an end. This film has no end, and therefore no story arc. This is a good first two acts of a film, but without a third act, there is no film.

Philistine

[bkoganbing · 3/10 · 5 July 2007]

Just showing how tastes can be so different. Trans is apparently a film way to arty for my taste. I do like my films with a plot and this one has none.

It's just the story of a young kid, Ryan Daugherty who runs away from a juvenile detention center in Florida and has a whole lot of meaningless things happen to him. Unless I'm just an old philistine who just couldn't see the meaning in this technically brilliant, but vastly overrated piece of cinema.

If that's the case indeed than maybe I should change my screen name to Philistine.

amazing, trance-like....

[profaneri0tgrrl · 8/10 · 11 December 2000]

the music in this movie is completely mesmerizing, it brings you into the protagonists world....ryan daugherty is an impressive actor, not to mention f***ing hot, and i cant wait to see him act in other films....i can relate to how he feels in the film, it makes me wonder if ryan really felt what he seemed to be, or was he just portraying the character? julian, the director, did an astonishing job, the camera work was surreal throughout the movie. you have GOT to see this if you like trance, ambient, techno music.....i wish i could get the soundtrack...

Just let it be what it is...

[onepotato2 · 8/10 · 9 January 2003]

This movie feels astonishingly like you are watching a documentary. The first time I caught it I thought I was watching Gummo, or some documentary. Like a documentary, sometimes plot structure is there or isn't. That disappointed me a bit but the second time I was willing to cut it some slack, and just take it in. I finally understood that this is a remarkable achievement. I prefer it without structure now. Movies which kick you between plot points never have a prayer of achieving anything this natural. So you don't recognize where you are at any point. Guess what? the other ninety nine percent of movies released any year are for you...

Ryan, the sweet dumb teen of the movies focus is drawn to serial distractions and fleeting moments with no sense of the impending squalor that awaits him unless he can develop a longer attention span. This IS exactly what suburban adolescence is like. I remember being this frustrated, aimless and nihilistically hopeless.

The suburban environment adults provide young people are desolate, unstimulating places of abandoned dreams, or dreams in holding patterns while the bills are paid. While that rubric is getting worn out in film, this treatment is very fresh.

Truffauts 400 Blows covers the aimlessness of boyhood in a similar way.

Very excellent film with documentary feel

[Lanquist · 13 June 2001]

The combination of sounds, acting, and the story in this film make it a small masterpiece. I loved the tension one always gets with an anti-hero. I also got a real sense of time and place--the temperature, day and night, the feel of a long night--despite this film''s short length. This film lands on my top ten list.

beautiful hypnotic piece of art

[dalves · 10/10 · 18 December 2000]

This is beautiful story about the adventures of a young man and his quest to live a free and quiet life. The cinematography in the night scenes is nothing but artistic. You barely see what is going on, but the strong colors and context leave glimpes for you to understand. The movie was also very funny. It shows a true picture of florida country and the wonderful people that live there.

I have bought it for my collection and show it to my friends every time. Smoke one up, sit down, and enjoy this beautiful film.

Did I mention the soundtrack? It takes you on a journey and fits the movie perfectly.

Excellent! A film I watch at least monthly.

[jefhoskins · 9/10 · 18 February 2006]

I first saw Trans about five years ago and I've seen it about 50 times since. Few films can compete with that. The story is so serene, yet innovative; the shots are gorgeous and are edited with a solid continuity; the soundtrack is genius; and Ryan Doherty is beyond natural. It's hard to imagine you don't know him after seeing this film. Julian Goldberger has created the finest first film that I have ever seen by any writer/director - hands down. Taking place predominantly in rural and suburban Florida, where life an its icons are generally unchanging, and using wardrobes that reflect no particular period (this could have been set and time after 1990) Goldberger achieves a timelessness that is mystifying - and unmissable!

Incredible Ignored New American Art

[loganx-2 · 9/10 · 28 April 2009]

I loved this, a a fantastic soundtrack helps take us through a few days in the life of a 16 year old Ryan Kazinski in a Florida Juvenile Detention, early on a fight breaks out between two boys, while their out picking up trash on the highway. While the guards rush to break them out, several boys just take of running in all directions, Ryan is among them. Its not til they're halfway in the swamp do any of them stop to consider what their doing. It wont come for Ryan til halfway into the movie, when his brother asks "why did you run? You only had a month left?", and he responds, "lets not talk about it. Doesn't matter now". Whatever stupid thing got him locked up, is now rivaled by his equally stupid attempt at escape. His father is never mentioned, and his mother lives in another state he thinks, he and his younger brother who visits him in detention both aren't sure. Once he escapes, freedom includes sitting on the porch with some old guys in front of a gas station, getting beat up in a parking lot for stepping on someones bear bottle tops, listening to fellow escapees free-style, a robbery at a dog pound and stealing a puppy, huffing aerosol out of cool whip in the supermarket, night swimming, evading the police, and visiting his younger brother in turn(the emotional heart of the film). What he does isn't whats impressive about this movie(most of the time hes either a child or an idiot), its the way its shown, the use of music, sound, camera, and voice over, that makes so engrossing. Style over substance maybe, but I prefer to think the movie itself, enriches and exceeds the narrow confines of the story, as all good films should. And now the comparisons: rambling voice over from Terrance Malick, music from Morvern Callar and Paranoid Park(which I wouldn't doubt Van Sant saw before going on to his film), story ala Down By Law, some white trash moments from Harmony Korine(with more compassion and less freak show). But those are its references, and scarecly give you sense of how exhilarating and exuberant the whole thing is. There's little dialog, and the story feels plot less at points, but by the end, every visit and encounter has had consequences on another. If there is a message to this(if there must be), maybe its that even the seemingly meaningless and impulsive decisions made always have consequences later, but they can richocet to worse, just as well as to better. The ending may seem under-thought to some, but I appreciated that it didn't devolve into another muddled indie tragedy. Instead it took off into the clouds. This movie resonated with me, even its unevenness and flaws. I was mesmerized from the first frame to the last. Like southern fried, french new wave. I really, really want the soundtrack. Beautiful and hypnotic.

A well told story that will tear at your introspective senses

[Edge-1 · 10/10 · 20 December 1999]

Director Julian Goldberger's gift for story telling coupled with his ability to patiently direct his actors and then let them act, contributes handsomely to "TRANS" success; I know, I portrayed the bus station manager. This film has earned several honors, the most recent being: New York,NY, December 9, 1999; "Sundance Channel acquires World Premiere of Julian's Goldberger's acclaimed feature debut, TRANS Film to make World Television Premiere as part of Salute to Sundance Film Festival January 14, 2000 at 9:00 p.m. on the Sundance Channel".

Cinematography is good, but story leaves a lot to be desired

[Epoch-69 · 15 May 2001]

The only description I was given of this movie before seeing it was "It's f*cked up" from about five different people. I didn't know what to feel after the movie was over. Should I admire the technical genius of the mise-en-scene? or hate the lack of closure to this lame story? See it for yourself if you haven't already, it's worth the experience.

I Must Have Missed Something.

[alfred-1 · 4 December 2001]

I'm not sure if I was watching the same movie as everyone else. The premise was interesting but the story went absolutely nowhere. The `Cinematography' was terrible. All hand held with hard zooms and pans sometime with with late focus which appeared unintentional. The shots were all ill thought out and the dialog seemed as if it was all improvisation (and bad improvisation at that). There was quite a bit of narration in the first 15 minutes, which just dies with the rest of the film somewhere in the middle. You don't get to know or care about any of the characters. However, there were some very interesting editing and musical soundtrack choices but in the end good editing and music does not a good movie make.