Gray Matter

This truly feels like something I had seen before and I without naming names, I have indeed already seen films about people with powers trying to keep them hidden and suppressed with a young person learning how to control them. Basically that's all that this is about. Some of it is clever, some of it confusing and none of it is really special. I did like some of the performers however. Mia Isaac in the lead role as the child who is learning is quite good subtly gaining strength, power and determination by the time this ends. Jessica Frances Dukes as her mother is also good and Garret Dillahunt provides, as usual, a most capable performance. I swear this guy can play anything. I loved his little smile near the end. I know nothing about Andrew Liner, but he gives one of the most sweet & tender performances that I have seen in a long time. That's mostly all he has to do, but he does it very well. This is not terrible, but it's minor.

This isn't so bad as I was led to believe. Neither is it great. First quarter is too slow, and the movie does feel longer than it is, which is unfortunate. A little slow and repetitive in the "dream" sequences. For me it got better when Dillahunt showed up. I thought his scenes with Mia Isaac (who's fantastic and has a great career ahead of her) were more sparky and interesting. Script needed work and its a shame it didn't get it. This is a repetitive truffle made more watchable by talented actors. I found myself much more disappointed in the accompanying series, Project Greenlight. Was so clearly manipulated and set up for maximum "drama", but her support system was nonexistent. Found myself disappointed in Issa Rae.

This movie (honestly feels like a short story with a cliff hanger ) has amazing potential to show what it was meant to if they created it as a series,, I originally started watching it in the hopes it was , or would be , I actually was surprised that it was just in the Movie premise. It could be a great story, if they carried through with it.

The acting I feel was good especially from the main girl ,, she carried it. Also,, again... They are overlooking the potential of a great story if they don't expand it, weather in a limited series at first ,, or ongoing,, I would definitely watch it . Hope they explore the possibilities and different directions they could create with it.

The movie is solid for what it is. The two lead ladies have TERRIFIC performances, and the cinematography was really nice! The story felt like an extended episode of Heroes with less characters, but it held up. The pacing was a bit off though. It started off slow and the conflict was resolved too quickly. Her growth and understanding of her powers was too sudden imo.

I do think "Project Greenlight" gave Meko and her film too much shade. She had $5 million and 2.5 weeks to work with...they didn't give her much and she DELIVERED. Knowing what she was up against with a small budget, a tight schedule, and a chaotic/overcrowded workspace, she shined. She may not be the best when it comes to fixing a problematic script that someone else wrote, but she definitely knows how to make a solid movie. I'm looking forward to seeing her make more feature length films with bigger budgets and better scripts. Meko is talented! The people involved were really good, but overall the movie is just average, but that doesn't fall on the director or the main actors.

The movie (more like an episode for a show that doesn't exist) is a relatively simple concept, and the film is too. There really isn't much I'll take away from this film that will stick.

Overall, it's a movie you can put on in the background or while making dinner. Besides some cgi blood and one head explosion it's just for kids. Very simple characters, plot is also standard kid with powers, harness them, mom/kid relationship (which drags really bad towards the end).

I liked the idea maybe as the pilot to a much more complex show (which honestly may have been why it was made because it's really low budget with lighting, settings and actors). Standard 5/10. Not awful not memorable really at all.