Unconformity

This was a cute little movie, and should have been more enjoyable. But the fact that the main actress was giving "super disaffected millennial who dgaf what anyone else thinks or does" ruined it. (And I'm a female Millennial who's been known to give that myself...)

I get that she's kind of supposed to be tough, has been through hell in academia, and is from the East Coast - I have actually been all of those things so I know - but I'm pretty sure it was her green acting and lack of ability to go deeper emotionally into her character that made her eminently unlikable. Not any of the other context.

Either way, it was frustrating because all of the other actors were doing a great job, and the story itself was really engaging. I was glad to see geology getting a highlight! I'm not a scientist, but I'm an avid rock climber, and was really happy to see that also featured in the film.

The actress unfortunately frowned, skulked unnecessarily, and displayed no emotional range - anger and eternal aloofness aside. And you needed that range exactly because the character's emotional journey was supposed to be subtle; it was the focal piece of an otherwise very quiet film. In short? She needed more *heart*.

Stuck it out because I actually cared about what happened to her friend. Worth it if you like indie films with good stories in spite of stiff acting you can't connect to emotionally.

This story combines an expansive landscape with an intimate cast and portrays the struggle of a talented and driven young geologist who seeks academic achievement.

She's living in a 'me first' world where there are no rules other than the ones made by those who hold the power. The portrayal of the antagonists in this movie is stunningly accurate, as I've encountered many of them in my working experience. The 'me first' crowd view character traits like trust, honor, and personal dignity as weaknesses to be exploited. Lying and cheating aren't evils, they're useful tools.

At the core, this movie is all about character, or the lack thereof. What personal sacrifice will you pay to achieve your goals, and what price will be exacted from you by your peers if you choose to play by the rules?

Watch this movie for the landscapes, and for the journey of personal discovery. You won't be disappointed.

Simply stated... I absolutely loved this film! It captured me from the beginning and did not let go until the end. My hats off to all the talented people that put this little gem together! Really enjoyed the lead female actor! She did such a good job! Bravo to all, well done!!

Few films are centered around geology and PhD dissertations. For individuals who appreciate rocks, the struggles of graduate work, mixed with a little romance & desert landscapes - this movie is a must watch. For many others, the pace & storyline won't be enough to keep them from changing the channel.

For a small budget film, the camera work and editing is excellent. While the script is average, the acting is very nicely done.

When comparing this movie to others in its class, I give it a 7. Overall, I think a 6 for '2022/2021 Dramas' is generous.

The scenery and the music are amazing and the overall feel of the film is solidly wistful and hopeful. There is a twist at the beginning that really got me invested in the movie and Alex's response to that and her growth and recovery were very moving. The ending was a surprise too but a very good one, and I was really startled at how good the depiction of academia was. Lots of tense moments but it was really refreshing to see a movie with a female lead that didn't rely on exploiting her trauma to make a plotline develop.