Premium

Read my past reviews, and you know how rare it is that I sing the praises of any film made after 1985.

Premium is one of the best independent films I have ever seen. I realized after the screening at the Urbanworld Film Festival just how much garbage I've watched lately. I hope Mr. Chatmon is able to get a theatrical release so that everyone can have an opportunity to see the movie, but if it does go straight to DVD, it will be a rare gem in the secondary market.

I don't want to over-inflate the movie. It wasn't a complex story with a lot of special effects or over the top dramatizations. It was a very simple story that was divinely executed. Everyone did what they were supposed to do. The film maker had enough respect for his audience not be the director, the writer, the star, the key grip and the caterer. He selected his role, he focused on that and hired people to do the rest.

It's a character study and a date movie. And its good. I've been a champion of the urban independent film maker for a while. This movie reminded me why...UFC

I'm a filmmaker myself and I see quite a few films. Premium was one of the most enjoyable and well done films I've seen on the festival circuit this year. Part of the genius is the direction. Pete Chatmon confidently lets this perfectly cast group of actors perform without trying to use any tricks to make the story more interesting or feel like a studio project. Zoe Saldana was excellent as usual but I was pleasantly surprised by the way the lead actor, Dorian Missick was able to handle himself in a cast that includes Hill Harper and Frankie Faison. Something is wrong if Missick does not get more leading roles. I did some research and discovered that the writer/director took his time and developed the script over a number of years. It shows. This is a film that any demographic group would enjoy. I expect to see it in THEATERS early next year.

Dorian Missick pumps gas at the station owned by his mother's boyfriend. He goes on an endless round of auditions for dumb roles: the drug dealer, or the mugger, or the rapist. He hasn't gotten a part since a burger commercial. Then, one day Zoe Saldana drives up. He and she are ex-lovers, and he's never gotten over her. She's engaged to be married in a couple of days. So in between the gas station and the auditions, he makes one last try for her.

Pete Chatmon's movie is .... well, it's mostly the portrait of what appears to be a loser, but there's an undertone of life going on while you seem to be stuck. The performances are excellent, but despite some clever bits in the editing, in which scene-setting credits appear like a script, this appears to be less of a story than a tale of desperation, and Missick's struggle to keep a positive attitude in the midst of slow-motion disaster.

I don't believe I have ever seen either Dorian Missick or Zoe Saldana in a movie previously; I loved their chemistry together. I have to say that Zoe Saldana has just become one of my favorite actresses. Her performance was impeccable, and she has great depth as an actress. I appreciate the kind of movie that Mr. Chatmon is bringing to the screen and hope he is blessed with the opportunity to evolve and showcase his talent and fulfill his vision. The movie starts out with an emphasis on the shallow and somewhat pathetic life that "Cool" is currently caught up in. Don't be fooled. The moment Missick and Saldana come together a new dimension opens. This is an enjoyable movie, and I hope it is well supported. Most people are searching for good movies to watch; tell someone to pick it up.

Apparently the MANY movies that imizrahi2002 claims to have seen have not opened his brain to great film making!! LOL (you shouldn't toot your horn so much) Thanks for not writing that book you said you could write. (close call there)

Anyway...This is a simple movie with a timeless story told in a very new way. It shows how a story doesn't have to be convoluted to be interesting. And how complicated life can get in the blink of an eye.

If you like the same story, but told with amazing Hollywood special effects, explosions and Harry-Potter-type plots..... Then listen to IMIZRAHi2002's review. (he or she should see a lot more independent and story-based films before talking the way he/she has about this type of movie. (that is MY opinion on his/her review ) 8-) Judge for yourself....

Great film for a night when explosions and effects are not what you are looking for. A funny, smart, heartfelt, intelligently written film.