I saw Party People in the AFF listings. Then I heard it mentioned while waiting in line for a different film. Then I saw it got an encore screening. That's when I knew I had to see it. Then I saw it. And finally, that's when I knew it deserved an encore screening.
Sadly, while low-budget features don't get enough respect or attention, the fact remains that they sometimes bite off more than can be chewed. Not Party People. This keeps it simple, harkening back to the entertaining dialogue of the 90s no-budget classic Clerks.
One way this movie resonates with me is how we never see the party. I was never much of a party person; the pressure was never pleasant. So to see the majority of characters not attend after trying through the whole film felt liberating.
Also, I was born and raised in Austin, TX where this was shot. To see shots from the Guadalupe Drag makes me think, "finally, a film shot in my hometown-wait, Linklater-anyway..."
It even bookends with a typical sage/drifter/stoner/party character giving life advice at the beginning and a perfect line to close out the film.
This is what low-budget filmmakers should aspire to create. Science fiction, fantasy, action and horror are all great, but working within your range and finding depth within it creates the best long-lasting impression.
Many thanks to director Joey LePage!
