The Fall Before Paradise

Every once in a while, a film comes along that for some reason, just blows you away. This was that once in a while. I saw this film at the Dances with Films Festival in Los Angeles and I just couldn't believe my eyes. I think the thing that impressed me most was that this was a film done by first time writer/director/ producer with a "no-name" cast, shot in 18days, 2 months after 9/11 and the cast was from NYC! Sabrina Gennarino was simply spellbinding, I couldn't take my

eyes off her! And Tony Tsendeas and Shelley McPherson were just brilliant. If you get a chance, see this movie! And please, no comparing to a film with a

budget and time. Just Raw-Friggin-Talent that will, like fine wine, get better and better and better and...you get the picture. And what a powerful and brave thing Steve Gillilan did after the viewing. You go Steve! What a breath of fresh air honesty is. Visually amazing as it was shot in the Fall in Baltimore. I gotta tell ya...I wonder what you all could do on a real budget. I hope to find out

someday.

Hmmm, i think Dave C was hurt because his film didn't win. This film was well done for an indie. The actors held their own. The script held its own. This was not done on a Hollywood budget and everyone should know that going in the theater. Everyone that was a part of this film can walk away more than proud. i'm sure that everyone in the cast and crew are tweaking the film to improve what they thought they could. That's what you do, you learn, you improve. Give them credit they deserve and save the monday quarterback for football season. Any way, the film is well worth seeing. So if you get a chance to see it, do so. I give it an 8.5 as an indie.

I was not going to comment on this movie, as there are some very positive reviews already posted, then i read the comment from "dave-colonna", and felt i should have my say. Mr dave-colonna's comments, are to me totally unfounded, and as he purports to be a "film maker", i would like to see some of his work, and have the chance to comment on it, He says it was that bad he walked out with out seeing the movie through to the end, well i do not know how he can comment on something he has not fully seen, his comment on nursing staff making sure all there patients take there medicine, is just petty, we all know how overworked and overused nurses are, and with the best intention in the world, i do not think that every nurse, in every hospital, will stand over the patient until the pills are swallowed. He also states that the acting is the worst he has seen,well the acting is not Oscar nominating material, but there is a heck of a lot worse out there, and for a cast that are "no names" for the want of a better word, they did a great job. I think Mr Dave C, needs to get out a little more, and go and see some really crap movies, and stop being so petty and i suppose jealous. I also predict that Sabrina Gennarino, who plays Maddie will be a big star, all in all it is not the greatest movie in the world, but not many are, however, it is a good film, i would watch it again, and if you give it a chance,i am sure you will enjoy it.

Interesting, complex movie that held my interest from the first scene straight through to the credits. Left some questions that continue to creep into my thoughts. Enjoyed Devere Jehl in particular and would like to see more of him. I hope this film makes it into general release.

Although billed as a 'thriller' on IMDb, THE FALL BEFORE PARADISE can better be described as a quirky and original supernatural drama, which, to its credit, does not take itself too seriously all the time. Following a screening at the Dances With Films fest, helmer Steve Gillilan revealed that the film was inspired by his own struggle with mental instability after living in L.A. for a relatively short period (the F. Scott Fitzgerald syndrome). But instead of making one of those pompous indie LA-bashing crack-up movies, Gillilan moved the setting to Baltimore, added a supernatural spin and created something a bit different.

The story focuses upon MAX, (played by Devere Jehl in a multi-dimensional performance), who is an introverted, tormented mental patient locked in an asylum struggling with visions of an abducted/abused child he must save in the outside world. But in order to do so, he needs the help of his overbearing, psychotic girlfriend Maddie (Sabrina Gennarino) to escape the asylum and help him make sense of his disjointed visions. The pairing of these two incompatible characters provides some much-needed comic punch when the story gets a bit heavy around the molestation-related scenes. It's evident that Maddie's over-the-top character may have been an afterthought (although probably a good one) to bump up the pace of the film.

Thus arises my greatest criticism. This movie could have been an excellent thriller or drama or maybe even comedy (although this would take some serious reworking) if the director had exclusively committed to any one of these three genres. Instead, the filmmaker juxtaposed elements of all three, resulting in a sometimes poignant, sometimes funny, sometimes thrilling story. But the result of Gillilan's brew is, surprisingly, a solid, well-executed film which holds up to movies made by more experienced directors with much larger budgets. The film's success is much owed to its creators' genuine dedication and love of the film itself.

8/10