andyhkchan

If you are looking for a strong, definable narrative arc, demand consistent acting, lighting and cinematography, love long takes and masterful fades; well you might just want to skip Team Hurricane. Likewise if you were never a teenager or you have no memory of being one. But if you can steady your cinematic nerves - as I had to - through the first minutes of garish colours, short disconnected takes, and pounding electronica as our protagonists are introduced, you may find yourself seduced by the band of (mostly) misfits that populate this film. You may feel some of the pain they feel, bristle with some of the anger they cast about. There really is not much of a story, just an immersion into the shaky world of teen girldom that is effective and affecting. And if you surprise yourself and like Team Hurricane, you might want to consider taking a peek at Rites of Passage (2013) which, while very different, is another intriguing angle on letting kids express themselves through film.

This was clearly a labour of love for writer/director/star Hurley. However, this passionate approach to film-making often fails - and I speak as someone who has been a participant in a few such films. When someone writes, directs and stars they often lose perspective, are unable to be critical, don't listen well to the advice of others. I suspect that may have happened here. Hurley isn't a terrible actor, but he's not leading man material. The script isn't laughable but it's also lacking in any sparkle or cleverness. The direction regarding the actors and cinematography is somewhere around undergraduate film school level. I felt bad for Lili Taylor, she's a great actor and is given nothing to work with. I watched this with three other people. Two of us fell asleep half way through and all of agreed that the two who fell asleep had the better experience.