This movie gets so much right that it almost begs for multiple viewings. Be impressed by the deeply moving performance of Winnick and you might overlook the quiet desperation of Van Winkle or Oostwald's ethereal narration. The casting was superb in this movie and though there is a lot of Malick-esque montages and liberal use of split screen, you never get the feeling that there is a wasted shot. As to the meat of the project, the story itself, I have to say that there were a million opportunities to make it an unsatisfying film, but the writer/director rather impressively sidestepped all of them and managed not to stumble into any of the clichés I was half expecting to see. Frankly, this film was a surprise from every angle and one of the most painful and refreshing love stories I've watched in quite some time. I was very lucky to have a friend send me the link online and only regret not getting to catch it on the big screen during its festival run. I look forward to seeing the next efforts of Horan.
Reviews
3 Reviews
Bitter Shoes
(2011)
Poignant story by a capable team
21 September 2012
"Bitter Shoes" launches immediately into dark territory, this disorienting feeling greatly aiding a sad and lonely story about a father losing his son. His plans for revenge end up tangled in his burning desire to spend time with his child again. The smooth camera movements and muted colors seem to reflect the shades of gray in the lead character's motives.
The film is not dialog-heavy, but in this instance it works, as one of actor Kenny Cook's strengths seems to be emoting through his face. He is able to create a feeling of empathy for a character while never allowing you to forget that this is a dangerous, disturbed man. Julie Sampley is still a young actress and her range is hard to comment on from this sampling, but her frightened eyes and pale, fragile beauty lends itself well to this character who eventually reveals herself to be much cannier and more resourceful than you'd initially think. Their bizarre dance to a complicated ending is engaging to watch.
Good performances, very nice cinematography and interesting musical choices make this a nice example of what independent film can accomplish.
The film is not dialog-heavy, but in this instance it works, as one of actor Kenny Cook's strengths seems to be emoting through his face. He is able to create a feeling of empathy for a character while never allowing you to forget that this is a dangerous, disturbed man. Julie Sampley is still a young actress and her range is hard to comment on from this sampling, but her frightened eyes and pale, fragile beauty lends itself well to this character who eventually reveals herself to be much cannier and more resourceful than you'd initially think. Their bizarre dance to a complicated ending is engaging to watch.
Good performances, very nice cinematography and interesting musical choices make this a nice example of what independent film can accomplish.
The Fall of Henry
(2011)
Tense, intriguing and immensely satisfying
15 October 2011
In movies today there is a lot of sameness. As a result, things that are unique can be jarring. If a film can introduce a new idea and characters that aren't painted in black and white the plot can feel muddy or ambiguous. If a new story can be told without a viewer feeling wrong-footed it's quite an accomplishment, which is why I'd urge anyone who has the chance to watch "The Fall of Henry".
Memorize the names that you see on screen. I have a feeling you'll want to know them in a few years. The performances in the movie are so raw and unaffected that it is surprising to realize that the lead characters are also the writer and director of the movie. The Ivy character applies herself with an intensity and canniness that is impressive all things considered. She quite literally gives an amazing performance with her hands tied behind her back. And also shines in a series of flashbacks where you get to see her pushiness in a more charming light. Henry, in about five lines of dialogue, tells you everything you need to know about his character and creates a sweet and vulnerable presence in a short time. I felt for him and I didn't blame him for anything. James is just conflicted, just frightened and just frightening enough to be believable in the many transitions he has to make throughout the film. The chemistry between Ivy and James is complex, but enjoyable. And the role of Simon is put in deft hands as the actor manages to create a good sense of menace and mystery through a simple phone call. If the idea of a movie that largely takes place in one room between two characters that are generally stationary sounds dull, don't worry. The director capably kept things interesting with claustrophobic close-ups and dynamic angles.
The camera work is both simple and stunning. There is no flash, no glitter to distract, just a steady eye that caught everything from the actors' subtlest expressions to the textures of the world around them and let the story tell itself.
And to the story itself, I can't say much without giving everything away, but I can say that "The Fall of Henry" is a story about loss, about struggle, about power, about control, about responsibility and about the power of words. They tell you everything without telling you anything. All the characters are falling in some sense and there are no clear-cut heroes or villains, only who you can relate to in some sense. By the almost painful conclusion, you might have switched sides five times. Through the dialogue and performances you understand how hard this has been for nearly all of them.
Though it is a short film, I can't promise that you will only spend twenty minutes of your life on it because you will want to watch it again almost immediately. "Look closely." I can promise that if you do you won't be disappointed.
Memorize the names that you see on screen. I have a feeling you'll want to know them in a few years. The performances in the movie are so raw and unaffected that it is surprising to realize that the lead characters are also the writer and director of the movie. The Ivy character applies herself with an intensity and canniness that is impressive all things considered. She quite literally gives an amazing performance with her hands tied behind her back. And also shines in a series of flashbacks where you get to see her pushiness in a more charming light. Henry, in about five lines of dialogue, tells you everything you need to know about his character and creates a sweet and vulnerable presence in a short time. I felt for him and I didn't blame him for anything. James is just conflicted, just frightened and just frightening enough to be believable in the many transitions he has to make throughout the film. The chemistry between Ivy and James is complex, but enjoyable. And the role of Simon is put in deft hands as the actor manages to create a good sense of menace and mystery through a simple phone call. If the idea of a movie that largely takes place in one room between two characters that are generally stationary sounds dull, don't worry. The director capably kept things interesting with claustrophobic close-ups and dynamic angles.
The camera work is both simple and stunning. There is no flash, no glitter to distract, just a steady eye that caught everything from the actors' subtlest expressions to the textures of the world around them and let the story tell itself.
And to the story itself, I can't say much without giving everything away, but I can say that "The Fall of Henry" is a story about loss, about struggle, about power, about control, about responsibility and about the power of words. They tell you everything without telling you anything. All the characters are falling in some sense and there are no clear-cut heroes or villains, only who you can relate to in some sense. By the almost painful conclusion, you might have switched sides five times. Through the dialogue and performances you understand how hard this has been for nearly all of them.
Though it is a short film, I can't promise that you will only spend twenty minutes of your life on it because you will want to watch it again almost immediately. "Look closely." I can promise that if you do you won't be disappointed.
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