Stuck Between Stations

I'm not one for romantic movies, and i've only written a couple of IMDb reviews, but I have seen a ton of low budget movies over the last few years, and frankly this is one of the best - certainly of the US variety. In fact I'd say it's as good as Before Sunrise, Before Sunset, I can't quite remember those movies names.

This is a very cool movie. It just flows. The main protagonist starts off as a complete dooch. He's in his early 30s and rides a BMX. I almost quit the movie then, but somehow the movie trickles on and before you know it he's striking up a relationship with his high school dream girl.

I won't spoil the movie, but it's a very nice trip, that despite it's obvious basicness doesn't seem like a low budget movie at all. I personally think that this movie was completely engrossing, engaging, thought provoking, interesting, if not inspiring, engaging, no I said that already, and enchanting right from the almost beginning to the end.

Well played to all participants.

Movies like 'Stuck between Stations' epitomize the principle that you don't need a great storyline, a great cast, a great set designer etc. etc. in order to please the average audience. Partly owing to the theme of the movie, and partly owing to my own pre-conceived notions about unidimensional romantic movies, I had started off with fairly low expectations on this one - but over the course of the next 80 minutes it hooked me to such an extent that I'm willing to stretch my neck out and say that it is as good as similar movies like 'Once', 'In Search of A Midnight Kiss' etc. etc. In fact, writing this, I'm only acutely aware that I may not be the best judge of future movies of the same genre as this one, as I will undeniably be favourably inclined towards them!

If you want to watch a movie that will make you want to look at your old, dusty high-school photographs - to reminisce and compare, what you were then and what you are now, and how everyone you knew back then has changed so much or not one tiny bit at all - then this movie will definitely bring back those bittersweet memories.

This review will also be incomplete without a cursory mention of the great score accompanying the movie. To be honest, the music is so ethereal it deserves more, much more than a cursory mention, and a great debt is owed to Grant Cutler for providing a breathtaking score to an equally breathtaking movie.

My Vote: 8 out of 10 The Goo

I watched this movie because I'm a huge fan of the song "Stuck Between Stations" by The Hold Steady, so full disclosure, I was a little disappointed by the fact that the song itself, nor any of the plot points from it never appear in the film.

Having that been said, I really enjoyed the characters and the dynamic between the actors. This movie was truly well acted, which is more than you can say for a lot of films, indie or otherwise.

As great as the performances were though, they couldn't make up for the fact that the story was just kind of bland. It's not that it was a bad story, it just wasn't enough to support a full length film. Maybe this is why the plot meandered into overdone independent film filler. I don't want to give away the scenes that I'm talking about, but trust me, you'll know them when you see them.

Still, I would see another movie by this director and writers. Especially since they have such good taste in music.

(2011) Stuck Between Stations DRAMA

Opens with a very blatant beginning, but as soon as the two main characters meet the rest is all smooth sailing. It's like watching a Richard Linklater's "Before Sunrise" movie, but better since the two main characters never go anywhere extravagant nor do they have as much opinions about important issues. Meaning, no one don't need to go to another place they had never go anywhere such as Paris or Greece in order to have a good time. Actually, it's like the most authentic variation about a little reunion. It stars Sam Rosen who also co-wrote the movie along with Nat Bennett. He plays Casper, who's just come back to Minneapolis for something viewers don't quite know what until much later. At the same time, Rebecca (Zoe Lister Jones) but is called "Becky" for short is scrounging around looking for something at an office. By chance both characters eventually see each other at a bar, which what could've been a misunderstood bar fight. We then see Casper leaving the bar, sitting by himself outside. Rebecca then decides to return the baseball cap Casper left behind assuming that he'd still be around and is able to catch up with him. As soon as the two meet, and at first she doesn't seem to recognize him, he finally reminds her who he was and who she used to be. And we come to learn that both of them used to be classmates except that she as well as him had both changed from the last time they had saw each other since they're ten or more years older. This 'authentic' and natural exchange should be something everybody no matter who you are should be able to identify with, without the use of social media as well as relate to as we grow older. I have to say, this has to be one of the best 'reunion' films I had ever encountered and it's intentions are not the same as let's say "The Big Chill" or any other class reunion films, as both of them converse with one another how the other one had changed -it seems very natural and harmless. Each of them also went to spots the other one would not have gone to which is like an example of getting out of your comfort zone moment(s) since Casper has just come back temporarily just so he can go to a funeral, while Becky is trying to retrieve her computer, and both of them are helping the other one out. Actors, Josh Hartnett and "The Sopranos" star Michael Imperioli also star with minor roles.

I was forced to watch this snore fest by my girlfriend who wanted to see it because Josh Hartnet is in it. He appears a third of the way through for a total of 3 minutes. He is utterly boring, in keeping with the boring direction, dialog, and lack of action the producer and director of this "movie" seem to be hell bent on subjecting us to. My girlfriend was so bored she quit watching after Hartnet's useless character disappeared. (Josh was probably too bored to continue). If you want to see boring people saying and doing boring things (at least for the half of the movie I saw), or, if you have misplaced your sleeping pills and need to become comatose quickly, this movie is for you. Seriously, we are forced to watch people saying and doing things that would be boring to us if we did them ourselves in real life. We get to watch people go to 3 or 4 bars and play video games! We get to see people ride bikes! A half hour of my life I'll never get back. Now I'm off to watch the Japanese film Hausu, a really GREAT movie!