Automatic

there's no such thing as a low budget film anymore, so to see an actual independent film (without big names or fancy special effects) that doesn't look like it was shot on a camcorder in someone's basement is pretty refreshing. the acting is, at times, uncomfortably intimate (in a good way) and at times somewhat forced, but either way, you get the idea that you're watching actors who know what they're doing and who've actually thought their way through the process. most notably, travis schuldt, jay thames, and brandi howard. there was a sense of ease with them, that makes one feel as if they were totally unaware of the camera, which doesn't always happen when dealing with guerrilla style film making. watching this film made me long for the days of 'sex, lies, and videotape' and all the eric stoltz films of the 90's -- back when there was still such a thing as an art house film.

Automatic... Where to begin. First of all I saw this movie in Spain at the Peniscola Film Festival. My family took our annual vacation to Spain this year and we went North of Valencia to Peniscola. There were a ton of old people there and it was real touristy but there was a film festival in town and I saw about 12 movies.

I saw Mutual Appreciation and The Puffy Chair and a bunch of Spanish films. The film that impressed me most was, by far and away, Automatic. It's like watching a realized version of what I have to go through on a day to day basis with my freaky friends and crazy family.

The acting was unbelievably good. Every character was convoluted and messy and real. And the actors were really good. The dialogue was right on and each character had different motivations and ideals, all combined within each others lives.

I loved the photography as well. The images were beautiful and there was a quality to the camera motion and the images were strung together in a way that I had never seen before. There was a sort of "tangible-ness" or whatever that really played. I got the moments. I felt the scenes when things were coming apart. All based on the photography and the way the camera moved. It was cool.

And to top it all of the film won the festival. The audience really loved it. I can see why. The movie is American, but not really. There are no heroes. The crowd applauded through the credits at the end (there were no credits in the beginning which I didn't like). I looked on Netflix to recommend it to my friends but didn't find it. I'll keep looking until I find it as I want my friends, and desperately my family, to see this movie as soon as they can.

Saw this film at the Denver International Film Festival thought it was cool. It's a character driven story, no crazy action or gimmicks, thought the actors did a great job and the story presented a interesting view of life's up and downs. Reminds me a little of "Sex, Lies, and Video Tape." What I liked about it was that each character had this ideal idea of themselves that had disappeared and they'd lost track of. It's like their youth is fading and they can't/won't accept it. They really haven't grown as people but they are adults so they have to deal with adult situations. It reminds me of indie films in the early 90's, pre-Sept. 11, when people were focusing on themselves and not anything else but after that tragic event we have this desperation for those days long lost when we didn't have to care about anything but ourselves. That's what makes me think of "Sex, Lies, and Video Tape" because those characters longed for something they had lost too.

A pretty compelling little story about a kind of day in the life style for six people who really aren't on top of it. They make bad choices, do bad things, cause pain, to themselves and others, are unapologetic about it and move forward, or backward as it is. I thought that I might not care about them but after realizing that I was watching people that I seem to already know in my life I was pretty taken by the movie. It's not perfect, and it's got some rough spots, but considering the seemingly limited number of locations and such I think they,the film makers, did a damn good job. I hope that I can rent it because they don't pull any punches with the nudity, guys and girls alike. I'm serious!

Saw it in Portland then when I got back home I couldn't find this sucker anywhere. Who decides what movies I get to see is a mystery to me. I thought the story was a little convoluted and the stuff that these people put themselves through was painful, but dammit did it get to me. Especially that blonde lady in the end. Whoo! She was hot. She was naked. I loved it, except for the guy she was with. He didn't deserve her and I felt like if she wouldn't have had the past that she had she wouldn't have even thought twice about what she did for that slob. I wanted to punch him in the face. I guess the brother wanted to too, but he didn't get a chance. It was the other way around. I knew what was going on and I could see where it was going but the way it played out afterward surprised the you know what out of me. It was a real crowd pleaser in Portland, although I didn't know a soul in the movie. I give it an 8.