Perception

To begin with, the script is an amateur attempt at a movie. The directing is a bit stiff and mediocre. The attempt at a mystery ending fails lamely.

The production is poorly done, especially the audio which frequently over-peaks and causes voice distortion especially during outdoor verbal interactions. There is constant background "music" which amounts to pretty much noise and annoyance. Most of the dialog is fraught with echo from poorly placed audio microphones.

If the plot was at all intriguing or with proper development, this movie might have been fair to tolerable. But unfortunately for one of my favorites, Piper Perabo, the effort fails miserably.

Irving Schwartz, lighten up! As writer and director of this strange little movie he seems to have a weird perception of the world himself. There is a limit to the punishingly sad story lines that can make it to film and this one clearly falls into that category.

Jen (Piper Perabo) is a funky, grossly outfitted bleach blond who has returned home from Los Angles to care for her emotionally disturbed parents (Mark Dobies and Mary Beth Hurt) but she seems to outdo any manifestation of their mental abnormalities. She is stuck in a meaningless relationship with a female animal activist (Heather Burns) and trying to stave off her ex-boyfriend (Seth Meyers) while walking among friends like Aunjanue Ellis, a druggie, Ajay Naidu, a Pakistani importer, and a cop Nick Scotti. She is struck by a truck and becomes paralyzed and seems to want to get a grip on her life, but her 'friends' don't go along. To say more would waste what little interest there is to glean from this tale.

Those who have followed Piper Perabo's career may be hoping that this starring role may offer her the chance for a jump-start. Sadly the script and atmosphere are so lacking that this film is probably one she will choose to not list on her resume. Grady Harp