Rollercoaster

When 'rollercoaster' played the Vancouver International Film Fest earlier this year, I thought it demonstrated a kind of emotional depth and a sense of visual style that are exceedingly rare in film these days. While it would be misleading to label the story 'slow', it does have a vaguely European feel to it - a narrative that unfolds more through place and emotional state than through a linear set of events. Ambitious, haunting, and well worthwhile.

Overall a good movie. However, not a movie to take a first time date to. If you do, you might not feel very cheery for the rest of the evening. Think of it as a movie to reflect on. This is not for wimps, or people with real emotional problems.

Not a disaster pic, not teensplatter fare nor a 3-D actioner, "rollercoaster" is a surprising ride about five very real kids who in one day at a closed-down fair come to terms with the everything that is wrong in their lives. Director Scott Smith turns a good tale here and gets his best performance from the explosive Brendan Fletcher, an actor to watch.

"rollercoaster" got great buzz at the Toronto Film Fest, won Most Popular Canadian feature at the Vancouver Film Fest, Best Canadian Feature at the Victoria Independent Film Fest and is nominated for a Leo award, along with Fletcher and Turton each for Best Actor.

You can buy this movie at famvid.net for under $8!!. I couldn't stop watching it once I rented it. The realistic teen drama was enhanced by the dreamy music that floated thru the amusement park. I could never imagine climbing a roller-coaster, and this was really amazing to watch. I don't understand why Darrin jumped off the coaster. Was it because Chloe persuaded him to do it, or was it because she slept around and betrayed him?

Anyway it was different, and enjoyable to view. Dark and depressing, but a lot of good movies are that. The character Sketch was really creative, and I was glad that Stick joined him on his mission to his sisters.

Does anyone know if the soundtrack is available anywhere?

Kudos to Scott Smith for getting this film made. It was beautifully shot and put together. The setting made for a visually stunning and poetic film about disenfranchised youth. The actors did such a convincing job of their roles that I was feeling their pain. Teen angst at its most depressing.