I recently had the opportunity to watch `Losing Hope', after receiving a screener copy from a friend who works for the D.Film Digital Film Festival as a `gatekeeper'. We get together every year to watch movies together. Because they're all low-budget indies, most royally stink. Occasionally there are a few good ones, but rarely a great one. Well, let me tell you that `Losing Hope' is a GREAT one!
The film begins ordinarily enough, with some kids playing on a playground. We see one girl getting picked on because he has really big ears. The film cuts from that to a car chase, where we meet `Hope', the mother of the little girl. It was Hope's love for her daughter that gets the ball rolling. From the car chase, we flash-back to the true `beginning' of the story which we see from Hope's point of view.
As the film progresses, the movie really takes off. We see the events which lead to the earlier car chase not just from Hope's point-of-view but also from Calvin's and Malvin's. The shifting POV's really made `Losing Hope' an exciting, original movie and it's sure to be a hit with fans of comedies.
Aside from the story, the acting, for the most part, was terrific. LG Taylor is the most grounded character in Hope, and she's basically the `straight man' to the assorted odd-balls around her. Her performance is great, but overshadowed at times. My favorite character was Calvin, a simple man who believes that God will keep everyone happy and healthy. The actor who portrayed him, Chip Hajel, did some of the best `facial acting' I've seen in a while. Andy Sims who played Malvin and Jamie McCoy who portrayed his wife, Jodie, were also great and had some laugh-out-loud lines. Supporting players were solid as well, with a few stand-outs. Most notably, Christopher Morse as Reverend Novotny!
I think what really made `Losing Hope' stand out from the other entries is the amazing script. The writing is intelligent and witty, and makes even the occasional low-brow bit of humor seem smart. In a year when most comedy consists of fart jokes and bodily fluid, its so refreshing to see a comedy with great characters and humor which grows out of their(pathetic)lives.
I couldn't stop laughing throughout `Losing Hope', from the early `81st birthday' party sequence to the final scenes where all the characters get what's coming to them. I highly recommend this film to any movie fan, but especially those who want to see what a great movie can be made on a low budget and on digital. Film snobs, check this out movie and you'll change your attitude!
