Passengers

Michael Bond has used the self-defined constraints of his script and budget to great advantage here. The confines of the major setting - the inside of a car on traffic-heavy L.A roads - only adds to the expanding depth of discovery that his characters go through on their journey through the city, and into their relationship. What could have been a problem for the film in the hands of a lesser director or less accomplished actors, is here a plus: it ratches up the tension kilometre by tortured kilometre, with a well-earned, yet still double-edged visual and dramatic rest in the middle. Highly recommended.

It's difficult to add to the previous comments, with which I agree wholeheartedly. I'm usually an action/sci-fi movie junkie, but Passengers floored me for all the reasons expressed above. I think there is a depth to Passengers such that each of us in a relationship will find it talking personally to us at many points. From a technical perspective, Passengers is beautifully and succinctly shot, with the stunningly rich LA lights contrasting the mood within the SUV. Cutaway shots strengthen the developing poignancy, and the audio and atmospherics are perfectly integrated. This is simply the best feature debut I have seen in a very long time. I can't wait for Mr Bond's next movie!

What a great film. This is such a simple story but it leaves the viewer feeling that many vital questions have not been answered and a second viewing is necessary. It is a story about relationships and how precariously they can be balanced. You get drawn into the setting and feel as though you are intruding into a couple's privacy. This is very realistic and the acting is excellent. The script is very well written and cleverly uses the art of dialogue to tell the story rather than rely on major visual effects which are so often used in contemporary film making. This is a film which considers an adult audience's need for real stories. Congratulations to all involved.

I was kept in a state of anticipation, drawn in by the excellent photography as well as the connection and then disconnection of the 2 characters. At times I felt I was in the car and experiencing their pain and frustrations. Great acting and great screenplay! Los Angeles was brought alive in the process of the drive experience. The story started with absolutely no idea as to who the characters were but one could guess they were "normal" and heading out for dinner; rushed, not entirely comfortable with the night's arrangements and yet on their way. How it unwound was both exciting and sad and at times too close for comfort. Was that me behind the wheel? Was that the end of the journey for them both or was it a repairable situation? One is left to create the future without a script. That in itself makes the film even more exciting. Great work by all involved!

Who knew you could make such a compelling movie in a SUV? Great script, acting and directing made this a low budget pleasure. It's also encouraging to see a movie aimed at adults that isn't an 'adult' movie. Passengers is the type of movie the studios have given up making in favor of chasing 14 year old boys as an audience. This audience of boys is the same that is staying home and stealing studio content off the internet. This is collaborative film-making at its finest. Well done. Thanks for the mature feast. Let's see more of it. This bodes well for the future of independent film-making.

rick Stevenson