Fix

"My life's like that accident. You're just slowing down to look."

Not bad, not bad at all. Fix is a faux-documentary about a man and his girlfriend's attempt to get his charismatic, junkie brother to rehab by a court-ordered time. It takes place during the course of a single day in and around Los Angeles, and it's shot from the perspective of a hand-held camera that they're using to document the (supposedly simple) trip. Getting Leo to his destination turns out to be a lot more complicated than expected (of course), and we come along with them on the journey. 

I'll admit that I only watched it because Olivia Wilde was one of the main actors, but it ended up being a pleasant surprise. Visually, Fix is very interesting. The three main characters travel all through Los Angeles, and meet the requisite colorful and interesting characters. The story goes in a lot of different directions, from humor to social awareness to the typical road trip narrative. 

At times, it's not hard to see this as a real documentary with actual people. There's good chemistry between the actors (understandable, given their connections in real life), and that makes the entire movie easier to buy into.  Fix can be a little preachy and unfocused at times, but that makes sense when you consider that these characters probably would say things that they do to each other.

That's not to say that Fix doesn't veer into implausibility, from time to time. There are a few scenes that come off as incredibly inauthentic, and one at the end that was just too ridiculous and over-the-top. Eccentricity is fine, but it can hurt a movie when it's forced.

As far as small, independent, low-budget movies go, I've seen a lot worse. I'd recommend this to anyone who has an affinity for that kind of film. If you prefer the gloss and tidy bookends of a more typical movie, you might want to skip Fix.

I suppose the "shaky camera" style is there to add a sense of realism. Well, it doesn't. It just makes you think your watching a high school project that was made with the parents Handycam. The entire movie is shot from the storyteller's Point Of View, which is very hard to do well, and in this case it isn't. (Try any episode of Peep Show to see this technique done well). Also annoying was the preposterous situations. Like drug dealers supposedly being "cool" with video taping the transaction and many more like this. The minor characters were almost universally unbelievable and very poorly acted. Most of the dialogue was sparse, uninteresting, and unrealistic.

Shawn Andrews is the bright spot and adds a professional touch to an otherwise puerile film.

I wasn't sure I was going to like this film, but it turned out to be very engaging. Kudos to Olivia Wilde. I really enjoyed the ride. Looking forward to this one on DVD. THe cinematography was especially wonderful. I went back and forth with believing this was a real documentary and a narrative film. It had a lot of wonderful elements. It was creepy, quirky, realistic, suspenseful, and in some ways it felt like those old Hope and Crosby road pictures. I didn't love the ending. Some of the supporting players were very good and believable. It was a fun ride through the many sites and sounds of LA. The music was very eclectic and it seemed that the script was written around the music. The scene in Watts was particularly realistic.

Filmmakers Bella (Olivia Wilde) and Milo (Tao Ruspoli) are pushed into driving Milo's brother Leo (Shawn Andrews) from prison across town to rehab or else Leo will be spending time in jail. Bella is not too happy as Milo is obligated despite their previous appointments. As they film their trip, Leo goes from one location to another in search for money to pay the $5k for the rehab. They meet sketchy characters doing questionable things as it seems like there is always another stop.

This looks like an indie a bunch of friends did on their day off. Shawn Andrews gives a very kinetic performance, but it wears thin quickly. The problem with the story is that Bella and Milo keep repeating the same mistake over and over again. Leo is obviously lying to them as he spends the money on drugs. At some point, a clear thinking person would just stuff Leo into the back of the car while they drive him to the rehab instead of letting him go to every drug spot he knows. Somehow the movie needs to set up why the couple would go along with any of this.

What Buddy-51 and many others failed to pick up on would be the typical cliched Bull Crap as in his own words spell out.

"At first she is disdainful and casually dismissive of Leo; then, as she gets to know him better, her hostility turns to grudging admiration, then tantalizing approval, and, finally, a willingness to become at least partially complicit in his actions, making her in a sense the Bonnie Parker of the piece"

Nothing is more cliched than a woman turning from being intelligent and knowing an A-hole when she sees one, to being what Buddy-51 described above.

It's almost as bad as the faked forced love interest a lot of these bone headed writers can't stop interjecting into everything they put out.

So spare me the rave reviews when this type of nonsense comes with the product. But what else would expect from weak AF writers who can dupe the easily lead ignoramuses that inhabit Merica, home of the dumbest people on the planet.

I didn't need to view this garbage to see that it's complete trash.