Phoenix, Oregon

Phoenix, Oregon is a terrific independent film. I loved the performances by James Le Gros and Jesse Borrego, the writing, and the heart that this film has. I do think the production design was a little weak but it didn't hurt the story. The film is really strengthened by its uniqueness. Other films do focus on common folk in small towns (e.g. the Brinson family in Wildlife) but what director/writer Gary Lundgren does so well is that he makes the audience care about Bobby, the main character. He writes and directs the actor well; Le Gros depicts a middle-aged American really well. I do recommend checking this film out.

I don't know what y'all were watching, and the less-than-inspired tag line accompanying this doesn't begin to do it justice. Engaging true-to-life characters, plot and dialogue keeping movie clichés at more than arms length while sharing a quotidian tale of Everyman, doing our collective best, beaten, coming back. This is an excellent movie that thankfully I saw before I saw the reviews - as I often let the score determine if it's time worthy, a habit to readily reassess. Excellent movie. Worth the time and payoffs days later.

My wife and I enjoyed the message and story of the chef and bartender/graphic novelist striving to do something better and the struggles they faced along the way.

My wife and I just finished watching this film, and we both loved it. The story is a classic indie buddy story/tale of redemption, the acting is good enough, but gets added weight from the authenticity of the characters and the people playing them, and the soundtrack is excellent, and compliments the movie perfectly. I would definitely recommend this film.

Loved this film, a little sweet snapshot of how droll the midlife grind can be when you don't have the life you thought you'd have. Great understated performance from James LeGros as Bobby, and the full cast of his friends & associates offer plenty of dramatic layers for his character to engage with. Jesse Borego as Carlos is a breath of fresh air to Bobby's downer moments & his passion for his craft is infectious. I appreciated the fumbled semi romantic thread between Bobby and Tanya too as too often in movies it's all packaged up so neatly the viewer is deprived of seeing the truth when it comes to 'just not the right time' connections. Oh and have to mention Kevin Corrigan's Al, nicely positioned in both character and storyline as Bobby's polar opposite nemesis. Highly recommend but one negative is I almost passed this by thanks to the insipid title. I get the 'Phoenix' connection in the storyline but come on, something a little more thoughtful would be cherry on the top.