Roxie

ROXIE is a thought-provoking and relatable "coming of second-age" drama! Like all great indie films, the lead characters in Roxie are seriously flawed which really makes you care about them and their journey. Yes, you may hate them a bit, but hopefully you'll feel bad for them. Either way, you will feel something because this film seriously goes there... It is very moving and insightful and the only other film I've seen do this is Alexander Payne's ABOUT SCHMIDT, so Roxie is in great company. To follow up, the acting is great, the production design is utilitarian but crisp and the photography is beautiful in a gritty and immediate way. Add to that a rich and unapologetic story and some nice twists and turns and... BRAVO you got a great movie!

Roxie is about humanity's eternal ability to fall in love and to experience the joys and horrors of that magical state. The movie follows with pathos the problems of mature men and women and also of a hooker caught in the tragedy of her own hurtful game. As a person "of a certain age," I loved seeing excellent actors of my own generation (as well as young people) on the screen, depicting the dilemmas we can face. The film is funny, riveting, surprising and sad. My husband, who is a devoted movie buff is also a brutal critic. If a movie is dull or flags even for a bit, he instantly falls asleep. He was awake for every moment of Roxie which we saw at San Francisco's Sanford Meisner Film Festival. This movie is an original. You WANT to see it.

ROXIE is a small, independent film with good writing, solid acting, and a lot of heart. It's thoughtful and funny with a bit of soul. I enjoyed it.

You don't see a lot of films where the main characters are in their sixties. When you do, it's usually something stereotypical, and played with unrealistic characters and broad humor...like sitcoms.

This film is different than that. It's more like a foreign film in that it gives the characters depth of feeling and emotion. These are not stock characters, even though there are some silly moments...in a good way. Each of the main characters goes through their own journey that is deeply felt. It's a journey that changes each of them in tender, sad, deep, and funny ways.

I enjoyed this film because it touched on the universal theme of aging, and how baby-boomers, living in a 21st century reality; internalize the yearning to be young again. As unrealistic as that sounds, what ends will we go to recapture our youth? Where do we find love in a plastic world of sexual ambiguities? David Usner and Joel Roth (Dave & Joel) speak to this in their heartfelt aspirations to self-actualize as if they had just turned 21. With all the turns & twists, dealing with rejection, false hopes and lost dreams, Dave coming home to an empty house, falling in love with a prostitute, experimenting with drugs, this story could easily appeal across age group demographics. I did feel that the opening music represented the chaotic aspects of life rather than the driving force that keeps us relentlessly searching for some meaning in our lives… some hard beat to dance to. I would rather have heard a crisp score from a Dave Brubeck piece. But in spite of that, the film regained its momentum as two men in their 60's, in the face of existential aloneness and isolation; embark upon experiential escapades, both humorous and sad, as they attempt to drink from the fountain of youth. This film is more about, "Come on baby light my fire" than it is about the walking dead. Old or young, this is a film to enjoy.

Roxie is a bold, independent, and unbridled exploration of some restless characters cajoling each other into increasingly sticky situations, often with hilarious results, and always with raw emotion bubbling to the surface. I literally laughed out loud more while watching this film than any in recent memory, which was partly do to the acting, and partly a result of situations that just devolve into really unexpected depths.

This D.I.Y., micro-budget film displays a labor of love and devotion from those who made and starred in it. What a treat to watch such honest human portrayals on the screen. And there is nothing funnier than the scene by the fire pit. Not to spoil anything, but suffice it to say that it's just something we don't get to see in many (if any) films! In fact, I can't compare this to any other movie I've seen, as it strikes me as so unique. It succeeds in boldly going where other's dare not tread: the land, mind, and restless yearnings of these aging, balding, professional men; respected in their filed, and yet deplorably human when the public veneer is shed. And it must be said as well that the girls with whom they involve themselves are brilliant characters in their own right, who certainly elevate the work with their sultry performances.

Bravo Roxie! Must be seen to be believed. Really special piece of film. Enjoy.