2 Birds with 1 Stallone

Brett Carr tells us he spent 7 years and $100,000 on making this picture which raises two important questions: Why and on what?

Carr opens the movie with a confusing narration from inside a theatre lobby and is apparently speaking as both the director and as the protagonist, Lou Benadetti. What follows is a confusing group of flashbacks as the fighter is forced to leave the ring, break up with his girl and deal with his homophobia all of which is interspersed with more flashbacks to his childhood and flashforwards to the theatre lobby.

Somehow his stuttering problem is dealt with by some kind of silly pschycological brainstorming sessions and a beating from a 16 year old. Of the 6 or 7 subplots that dominate the film only the homophobia is resolved satisfactorily.

Suffice to say, this was 2 hours of my life that I'll never get back.

Bret Carr's film masterfully took me through the most risky of subjects. A film about a stuttering boxer who goes through self inflicted street therapy, ala fight club, in order to vanquish his impediment and traumatic memories at his fathers hands. First of all, the actor Bret Carr gives the best performance I've seen since Geoffry Rush in SHINE. Carr delivers a New York as wonderfully stylized as if it was his version of A CLOCKWORK ORANGE. The character Carr creates is a perfect rendition of an angry, uneducated Brooklyn superstar boxer who lives in a desperate attempt for Glory. Shades of Mike Tyson as Carr delivers a high pitched wine characteristic of the childhood LOU is trapped in. This is a really smart filmmaker. I come from a rough neighborhood, and LOU is a real character that you really feel for. Bret Carr also knows how to shoot. I was with a friend from boston who has gay tendencies and boy did this film p*** him off. LOU really challenges you to look inside yourself. A five star two thumbs up ten. AND boy did we laugh. Think Rocky directed by Oliver stone and starring a Mike Tyson character played by Thornton or Pacino or Hoffman. Bret Carr will win an Oscar some day if not for this role.

Lou is a film which psychologically rooted itself inside of me. Much the way Godfather made me want to escape the destiny of my father's legacy. However, instead of the dark turns of the Godfather, Lou created a surreal fast-paced Scorcese landscape which captivated me emotionally and visually. Comedic touches allowed a cross-genre appeal which is a directorial ability held by Spielberg and few others. A stunning feature debut. Bret Carr's film, and the screenplay by Oscar nom Quinn Redeker and Mary Shashy, took hold of me by infecting me with love and pathos for the title character, Lou Benedetti. Then the film, and the SPELLBINDING performance by the actor/ director (Carr), takes you through his psychological deconstruction and awakening. Jon Jacobs who plays the Tony Robbins character and Starla Benford who plays the Oprah on speed character are both wonderful also. This is an amazing movie.

Rarely have i gone to the theatre and seen a character truly become a new human being. Bret Carr, who directed and starred in 2 Birds, has made a most powerful film. The title character, Lou Benedetti, transforms from violent stuttering homophobe into a motivational speaker. This alone is enough to keep you in your seat as his performance was spellbinding. However, the story and interweaving of flashback and sound effects taking us inside of his head, was almost painterly in its design. And the result was the most moving film experience I've had in the last few years. I fully recommend this wonderful film. It blended comedy with tragedy and then took me back out the top making me feel like I too can conquer the world. Or, perhaps, just my demons. That is enough for me. Oh, and there is a marvelous cameo which is excruciatingly funny and poignant and serves to move the story along in yet another wonderfully surprising way. This film is full of surprises and little miracles. See it now. Take you family. Then go see it again. I'm going to. But how, I'm not sure, since I accidentally walked into a screening at the angelika. Somebody is bound to discover this gem, and put it in theatres. This film needs to be seen.

In his feature debut as actor/ director, Bret Carr succeeds magnificently, and on a number of levels, with an inspiring, Oscar worthy performance. The finesse with which he conveys his moods and emotions is extraordinary; he enables you to `feel' his displacement, share his compassion, sense his empathy and know his anger. Quite simply, Carr makes Lou Benedetti a character you are not going to forget. The film is a classic character transformation. Raw and at the same time ethereal and genuinely moving with some unexpected moments of humor and unabashed honesty. A ten out of ten.