Lonely Place

My brother and I just happened to catch Lonely Place at the Austin Film Festival, and I thought it was a well realized take on classic cinema of the past. I was looking for a different screening but happened upon Lonely Place during the opening credits. I thought the cast looked interesting, Tess Harper, Kurtwood Smith, and Thomas Arana, and the title sequence itself was exquisite. Having no knowledge of the picture, I just went along for the ride, and I was not disappointed.

Lonely Place plays out like some old 1940's potboiler, with a menacing farmhand worming his way between a husband and wife on an old dusty peach farm. By about halfway through the picture, I had figured out how it was going to end, only I was wrong, dead wrong.

This is the kind of movie they don't make any more, it's like an old film that was just dug up in some archive somewhere. My brother and I loved it.

I'm Tex Nickle and that's all I really have to say about Lonely Place.

This movie really took my by surprise. I attended a screening of shorts from the Los Angeles International Short Film Festival at my college, most of the films there were... big budget Jerry Bruckheimer bullshit that were from BMW films.com. I have to admit they were kinetic though, so with the adrenaline pumping, LONELY PLACE, was a little bit boring at first. I admired its beauty, but could not enjoy the pace after those goddam car chases. Finally I settled down and was absorbed by what I was watching.

The directing was very delicious, the set, the actors, they all made me feel like I was in the 1940's. The amazing thing this movie did is allow you to see each character's emotions, personalities, and backstories without any flashbacks or narration. Through the imagery and the simple words and gestures, the entire story was played out for you. The end is a HUGE payoff. You have no idea that it is going to happen. It was insanity.

Technically, the movie had good camera work but the lighting was a little bit so and so. But I can dismiss it thanks to Kevin, whom explained his movie to us in a Q & A after the screening. It took six years to make this movie, completely worth it. Man o man, I need to learn how to structure my thoughts.

Great movie. Watch it for the noir aspect, quirky actors, suspense, and the excellent ending. High five to Kevin Ackermann.

x Mike Ordoñez

I got the chance to see this film at a Film Noir festival held at the American Cinemateque in Hollywood, and I was very pleased.

This picture harkens back to a different era. One when suspense and drama were handled deftly by masters like Alfred Hitchcock.

A modern film set in the late 1940's, Tess Harper plays the farmer's wife caught in a rural dilemma. Her performance as the mouse caught in a box with two cats is amazing. (Where has she been lately?) Kurtwood Smith is the old tired farmer, and Tomas Arana is the mysterious stranger who just stopped by for a visit.

The tension here gets thick, and you don't know who to root for...until the end.

This film will probably go the festival route, so if you see it on your program, and you like well paced suspensfull noir's, give it a look and you won't be disappointed. (8/10)

MitchellMan

Director Kevin Ackerman seems to be channeling David Lean as he directs this delicious, atmospheric "Alfred Hitchcock Presents"-style short. Gorgeous visuals, lush romantic music, great atmosphere and constantly building tension in this outstanding thriller that packs a real emotional punch. Kudos to the stellar cast: Kurtwood Smith, Tess Harper and Tomas Arana.

Great tech credits: beautiful cinematography, excellent editing and sound work. John Ottman's score is a must-listen. Kevin Ackerman has delivered a film that stands both as a clever homage to the classic film noir, and also stands out as an excellent short film.

I saw this film on a DVD screener and I was quite impressed. Being a film noir buff, Mr. Ackerman did an outstanding job in capturing the flavor of the noir look and feel. Seeing Kurtwood Smith is always a pleasure to watch and Mr. Ackerman's team of actors and actresses I found, retained the feel of the people trapped in predictaments that they have advertidly or inadvertidly created for themselves. Examples would be "Detour," "Double Indemnity" and "Laura." The well-written dialouge makes "Lonely Place" feel like your stepping back into time and yet, it could be a situation that could be an event that takes place on the front page of tomorrow's morning newspaper. An outstanding job. I look forward to his future work.