Design

Design reminds me of what "indie" used to mean. The performances are real and gritty portrayals of flawed characters doing their best to survive a number of unnamed historical wounds. The concept is simple but the execution is still compelling and surprising. I would like to see more from this writer/director. He seems to be a great actor as well, which is unexpected. Worth the watch!

Brian McCaskill once again steals the show in this runaway dark comedy romp. As "Sven", a slightly off-center office clerk who always seems to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, McCaskill delivers his best performance since "Serious Business". While we are waiting for the rumored director's cut of "Serious Business" to finally arrive on DVD we will have to relish every minute of Sven's time on screen.

My only real problem with "Design" is I thought it would have a little more of McCaskill's signature tongue-in-cheek zingers he is so well known for. If you are mostly familiar with McCaskill from "Serious Business" then this new, drier approach in "Design" may seem a little stiff at first. After all, in the arena of wry quips he is only rivaled by off-screen friend Hugh Grant. Granted, Sven's speech impediment didn't give McCaskill a lot to work with, but they could have had a dream sequence or something where we could get to see him riff a bit more.

Other than that, all around awesome flick. The action rocks and the jokes are hilarious. If I were casting the movie I might have gotten someone other than Daniel J. Travanti to play Peter Mallow; he just seemed uncomfortable with the role and ends up turning in a disappointing performance. But he is on screen for such a short time that it doesn't at all weigh down the film. All around, I highly reccommend seing "Design" but only after seeing "Serious Business" at least twice.

I saw DESIGN at the CineVegas film festival in June 2002. It's a complex meditation on the role of fate and free will in a person's life. One one hand, it seems to suggest that our lives are pre-determined and beyond our control to influence. But a closer reading of the film shows that the main character made choices every step of the way on the path to his ultimate situation. The stories of four or so characters interweave, though there is a main character. Especially original was the use of montages to show the different POVs of the characters. Daniel J. Travanti went above and beyond in his role, leading the cast with gripping energy, though I'm surprised no one has noted the acting performance of the writer/director - subtle yet intense, Davidson Cole can act too! Bravo for this film! Let's hope it gets distribution.

Easily the best film I've seen at Sundance 2002.

I could go on at some length about this incredible debut from Writer-Director-Actor Davidson Cole, but I'll attempt to be brief by summing up the main strengths of the film.

Everything is brilliant.

Okay, okay, I'll be a little more specific.

From the thematically powerful and narratively complex script that works on so many levels, to the darkly atmospheric look of the film captured in its cinematography and production design, to the ultra-effective score and sound design, to the innovative editing style, to the absolutely strong, compelling performances by the entire cast (made up mostly of newcomers, but filled out by the seasoned Daniel J. Travanti, who turns in an incredible performance)... well, in short - like I said - everything is brilliant.

Watching this film reminded me of watching Darren Aronofsky for the first time. Not so much in Davidson Cole's filmmaking style as in the sense of feeling that I was witnessing the work of a powerful artist who has a unique voice and distinct vision that truly permeate his work.

Watch for Davidson Cole to develop into an important Writer-Director, and remember that you heard it from me first! As Dan Travanti told me at my second screening of the film earlier tonight, someday I'll be able to reminisce and say, "I remember when I saw Davidson Cole's first film way back at Sundance 2002."

I highly recommend seeing this movie, as it tours the festival circuit. A brilliant tale about a hopeless romantic, with some rather sobering twists. Not your typical movie, I expect great things to come from this up and coming director/actor/writer.