I just finished watching this film at the Arizona Underground Film Festival. I must admit that I was hoping to dislike this film so that I could leave, but the film won me over. Zack Clark (along with Melodie Sisk's bravura performance) has managed to do something that would seem almost impossible; he's created an engaging film about modern alienation. By deftly juxtaposing the eternally apathetic Lorraine (Melodie Sisk) to her overly outgoing roommate Adrian (Maggie Ross), Clark brings an odd balance that allows the audience to connect to the film. Both girls long for a connection but reach for it in drastically different ways. Lorraine's approach allows her to still remain guarded while empowering her in a world where she has little control. Adrian's approach is reckless as she attempts a connection with every new person that she meets. I will say little else about the plot, but it is inventive and its presentation is original. The film does lag from time to time under the weight of its own emotional inertia. Some scenes develop slowly with little payoff. That being said, the world of film needs more artist like Mr. Clark. He has created something wholly unique, uncompromising, and interesting. The amalgam of seemingly disparate elements combine to create something greater than the sum of their parts. That something is becoming more rare with each passing film.
2 Reviews
An obscure and unknown indie gem that is a must see for fans of observational dead pan
kfctwix11 December 2016
What can I say, this is one of my all time favorite films. I struggle to think of another film that is even remotely similar to this in terms of tone, humor, and design choices.
It has a completely fresh and remarkable style, in terms of it's visuals, direction, plot, and editing. It is hard to pin point what exactly it is. Not really a drama. Feels weird to call it a comedy. But it doesn't matter what you call it, because this is truly brilliant.
The film feels very observational in nature, with a hard to discern plot that centers more on the emotional developments of it's two leads more than anything else. It gave me the feeling that I was listlessly drifting through a surreal world, almost like I was directly viewing the film through the eyes of it's own protagonist.
The humor is so on point here. So dry, with the strangest comedic timing and abrupt editing that at times will amuse you just for the lone fact of how strange it is. Scenes start quickly, and almost end just as soon, with many strange moments to be found, and many scenes consisting of characters trying to interact with the ever apathetic, silent, and uncaring Lorraine, with non-existent yet hilarious results. Adding to the humor is the strange death metal soundtrack, alerting us to the end of most scenes and serving as an anti-laugh track of sorts. I absolutely loved the contrast of the mostly quiet and sometimes plain silent film and the loud raucous growls and heavy guitars of the soundtrack.
Humor and ridiculous BDSM oriented plot aside, this film does paint some really beautiful and tragic characters. For as much as Lorraine seems to sleepwalk through her existence, thanks to Melodie Sisk's absolutely stunning portrayal we get to see that she is in fact alive, and desperately in need to connect to the world and to feel, as we can see in her deliciously indifferent and strained attempts to connect herself to other people. And then there's the lovable yet annoying and homely Adrian, who dreams of being a model and has an almost indestructible sense of hope that she will become famous, despite her only job credit being a mere prop of morally ambiguous seduction to entice men to purchase mattresses. It is all darkly humorous, yet so touching on many levels.
I cannot reiterate enough how amazing Melodie Sisk is in here. She delivers a truly nuanced performance for a very difficult character. It's all too easy for a portrayal of indifference and disconnection to come off as one dimensional boredom. And yet she nails it.
It's been very hard for me to articulate what this film is about and what I liked about it even, as it is just so out of this world. Just know that if you love strange and unconventionally funny films in the slightest, you have to see it. As long as you are prepared for a very strange and at times disconcerting ride, I'm sure you will not be disappointed.
It has a completely fresh and remarkable style, in terms of it's visuals, direction, plot, and editing. It is hard to pin point what exactly it is. Not really a drama. Feels weird to call it a comedy. But it doesn't matter what you call it, because this is truly brilliant.
The film feels very observational in nature, with a hard to discern plot that centers more on the emotional developments of it's two leads more than anything else. It gave me the feeling that I was listlessly drifting through a surreal world, almost like I was directly viewing the film through the eyes of it's own protagonist.
The humor is so on point here. So dry, with the strangest comedic timing and abrupt editing that at times will amuse you just for the lone fact of how strange it is. Scenes start quickly, and almost end just as soon, with many strange moments to be found, and many scenes consisting of characters trying to interact with the ever apathetic, silent, and uncaring Lorraine, with non-existent yet hilarious results. Adding to the humor is the strange death metal soundtrack, alerting us to the end of most scenes and serving as an anti-laugh track of sorts. I absolutely loved the contrast of the mostly quiet and sometimes plain silent film and the loud raucous growls and heavy guitars of the soundtrack.
Humor and ridiculous BDSM oriented plot aside, this film does paint some really beautiful and tragic characters. For as much as Lorraine seems to sleepwalk through her existence, thanks to Melodie Sisk's absolutely stunning portrayal we get to see that she is in fact alive, and desperately in need to connect to the world and to feel, as we can see in her deliciously indifferent and strained attempts to connect herself to other people. And then there's the lovable yet annoying and homely Adrian, who dreams of being a model and has an almost indestructible sense of hope that she will become famous, despite her only job credit being a mere prop of morally ambiguous seduction to entice men to purchase mattresses. It is all darkly humorous, yet so touching on many levels.
I cannot reiterate enough how amazing Melodie Sisk is in here. She delivers a truly nuanced performance for a very difficult character. It's all too easy for a portrayal of indifference and disconnection to come off as one dimensional boredom. And yet she nails it.
It's been very hard for me to articulate what this film is about and what I liked about it even, as it is just so out of this world. Just know that if you love strange and unconventionally funny films in the slightest, you have to see it. As long as you are prepared for a very strange and at times disconcerting ride, I'm sure you will not be disappointed.
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