Niagara, Niagara

Wow! I caught this on IFC recently after I watched But Im A Cheerleader. Id never heard of this movie but the description sounded remotely interesting. I went in with low expectations and now I must say this is one of the best love stories ever in film. Robin Tunney does an excellent job portraying a person with tourettes. The relationship between the two and just the slightest details in the film are so acurate and believable. I usually hate "romance" and love films but this movie truly touched me. I so recommend this movie to anyone with the ability of vision.

Not only is this a very interesting exploration of Tourette's and how we react to people in our lives, it has some of the most well-filmed views of a bleak northern winter landscape. There's nothing pretty about this film, but it stays with the viewer.

The film explores a couple of rejects, one rich with psychological problems, and the other poor with a messed up home, who go on a quest. Kind of the antithesis of 'It Happened One Night', the characters (main and supporting) are all tortured in their unique ways.

Perhaps it is the fact that I have seen too many "commercial" movies released in conjunction with a line of action figures, fast food merchandise, and pop music laden soundtracks that I was so drawn into Niagra Niagra. Furthermore, it could be the aforementioned that leaves me wishing that I could see Niagra Niagra again. While other films leave you in awe of Dolby/THX theatrical sound, or CGI special effects, Niagra Niagra leaves you with something the commercial releases have lacked for years...a thought. How rare is it that we can see a well acted, directed, and written film that leaves us asking questions about ourselves and not heading out to a fast food chain for the toys of the week?

Niagra Niagra follows two castaways from society that take to the road together in hopes of finding their way to Niagra Falls, Ontario. Along the way we are treated to snippets, excerpts as it were of our own behaviour, or rather lack thereof. As a young woman tormented by Tourettes syndrome finds no sympathy save that of her fellow castaway. Together they find more than a road to take them to Canada, and find a way to tell us how understanding and empathy appear to be on the endangered species list. Winding along ribbons of asphalt together, we find a lot of ourselves and others in these castaways and ultimately a great reflection of that endangerment of human understanding driven home through a pair of incredible performances that are not to be missed.

Niagra Niagra is an incredible film which is a MUST see, and don't worry about being "sold" the latest line of merchandise. All you need to do is enjoy the film as it is, the enjoyment and message will come naturally.

Like many others, I watched this movie on one of the indie movie channels on TV, mainly intrigued by the opening sequence (the shots of the characters shoplifting reminded me of the Breakfast Club for some reason--I think it was the trenchcoat and hi-tops) and unusual description. I didn't go into it with very high expectations, I guess because it was hard for me to get past "The Craft" in my mind. But I was truly shocked, and touched, by this film.

At first, the two characters seemed so strange, it was like they were trying TOO hard to be bizarre. But as the film progressed, their behavior took a backseat to the story that emerged--simply that of a star-crossed love, and the difficulty of being different in a society that has no place for you.

In a story that seems most familiar, the two go from one locale to another, seeking medicine, and comfort, but are turned away. The only friendly face they find is a self-ostracized woodsman, a self-confessed chicken lover. Just see it and you'll understand.

There were a couple of Harold and Maude references, including the final scene over Niagara Falls. It was just so powerful, the tension building to a moment you knew would be devastating...but it's almost impossible to accept how devastating it becomes. Left my crying for a good fifteen minutes. But it wasn't all sad. Marcy's disorder provides intentional comic relief at times, proving that sometimes laughing at the situation you're in is the only way to keep from going mad.

I will rent and watch again.