Coney Island Cousins

During a time in film when studios and producers either make a film that insults our senses with stupidity, or is so complicated you can't follow it, Coney Island Cousins is a real story that unfolds in front of you. Along with some great shots of Coney Island at night, the two main characters move through complex memories and emotions in an easy to understand fashion. The two cousins share some difficult past memories along with some difficult choices that have to be made surrounding the discovery of a dead man during a cold Coney Island night. We see in the film that it is impossible to run from everything. That isn't the answer. Bravo.

All I can say is, these cousins may be chaotic, but by the time the film is over I was thinking, "I'd DEFINITELY hang out with these two!" The production values are a bit rough around the edges, but it does give a very home-movie, gritty feel to this edgy, dark comedy. Great ensemble, highlighted by the performances of the gifted and dynamic Diana Sillaots, the hilarious Upa Inspace, the authenticity of Rashad Bashir, and of course, the scene-stealing Gregory Korostishevsky. Add that group to the off-the-rails story set against the bright lights and broken promises of Coney Island, and you have a very watchable film. I could even see a possible sequel...maybe?

This movie was a pleasure to watch, it's a modern classic new york indie film that actually portrays accurate cultural representation!

This film follows two cousins who had a somewhat perverse raunchy past and one has left the city to flee the scene as well as family drama/trauma and the other seems to miss her sidekick, but lives on ferociously in their old "hood" in Coney Island. I can tell by the few shoot locations that the movie was actually filmed in New York which was so relieving.

It was also nice to hear actual Russian accents and see authentic New York characters, not people playing their idea of New Yorkers(I hope the actors are all from here, otherwise, strike that comment)!

Anyway the film starts with the two cousins meeting up in the city, the one who moved upstate decided to come visit her cousin for a night of fun, JUST between them, but New York cousin Yulia has other things in mind. They get picked uo by a friend who takes them to another friends house, and then chaos ensues.

You could not have prepared me for the twisty turn this movie took. I started out thinking it was going to be a thriller/psychological horror type of thing where someone was about to be traficked, and then it became an unexpected cunty dramedy. Watch it, you will be thoroughly entertained. I hate moves, and I was actually looking at the screen the whole time.

I will also say there was one black character in this movie, his name was Lucious and he sounds exactly like this one regular at a bar here in Brooklyn and I had to do a double take everytime he came into frame because I was so sure it was him, from the tone of voice, down to the literal dialogue, it was things Brandon would actually say! I can't help but wonder if that's who Lucious was based of off.

I will also say it was very relieving to not see a black man suffer at the hands of white peoples mistakes for the first time in film.

This movie was lighthearted and fun, it was well fleshed out, and left me wanting exactly what it should have, more of Val's story, wanting to slap Yulia and Val, and thinking only white women would get away with some ish like this.

If anyone has been to NYC they know this grasps the essence of it all. Its raw, gritty, and real. You never have any idea how your night will turn out and what adventures or misadventures will ensue. Among the chaos that endures the entire evening there is a soft side to the madness and a comedy about it all, which is displayed greatly with the comedy stand up. The constant bombardment that is NYC never stops and neither does the duo on their night out. Embracing the idea that we all want to run away from it all but with nowhere to go, all you can do is hold tight and go with it. Job well done! Looking forward to Mr. Padilla's next film; I really hope there is another!

A real surprise from some unknown talents. Very much in the John Cassavetes vain of a flowing, crazy, night out, the movie works on many different levels from comedy to drama. Great character actors kept it amusing and dramatic scenes from the lead actors kept me engaged. For an art house independent film I found it to be surprisingly accessible to the diverse members of my family who unexpectedly stopped what they were doing and got caught up in the film. Cinematography was good but at times the minimal budget was evident. Even so it worked seamlessly into the narrative to build an engrossing film that leaves me looking forward to seeing what Mr. Padilla will come up with next.