Rain

Katherine Lindberg's Rain was filmed primarily in my hometown of State Center, Iowa. I can assure you, the town doesn't look this bad most of the time. It's not heaven, no matter what Field of Dreams tells you, but it's not this hellish either.

That said, I had a lot of trouble caring about Rain. It's one thing for a filmmaker to make a bland, clichéd film (with cardboard dialogue & delivery) about sexual infidelities and their effects, but it's another thing to set that movie in my hometown.

Do I like seeing my old neighbor or the old grocery store in a movie? Yep, it's a lot of fun. Too bad the rest of the movie wasn't.

Oh, and most everyone that still lives in town is over 60, or my family. If the town's really like this, and they're all playing musical beds, then I'm quite glad to be out of there.

Reminds me a lot of another moody mid-west film called 'Kansas' with Matt Dillion & Andrew McCarthy. The wide shots of the fields and silos show how remote this particular location is from either of the coasts and is very effective in setting the mood of isolation that prevails in the characters - not because these are bad people, but because, as one character says: "this isn't the kind of place you just LEAVE." Once you've made your bed in a small Iowa town, everyone knows where you're sleeping.

And then there are the trains shooting through the film - a reminder that there is a world out there larger than this one.

The film shows how the characters want to connect to another human being in hopes of relieving this loneliness, and having something to look forward to. The sheriff wants to become the mayor. His wife waits beside a remote farm field for her lover, her ray of hope. His son huffs from a plastic baggie, hoping to feel something - or numb the things he does feel.

Interesting choice of cars for this film - as if the town hadn't updated it's police fleet since 1988.

I gave it 7 out of 10.

This film suffers from being very poorly paced. The cast is the strongest thing about the flick-- the script and direction and editing never rising to their talents. It's unfortunate as the film does have some potential and had a competent writer been given a crack at a polish, it might have picked up immensely.

The film holds no surprises, literally. In fact, the conclusion is revealed on the DVD cover.

I would have given the film a two but Walters and the kids are all aces in it. Unfortunately, the rest is so weak I can't even say it's worth a watch for the performances.

Avoid.

I just voted for this movie and heavy hearted had to give a 5, because as a movie it's not better than that. But despite other 5 point movie I don't feel cheated or disappointed by having seen it. This is because there are many good things about it. Small thing like single scenes, shots, dialogs, images, symbolism, a face expression here, a sound there. This movie has potential. It tries to weave a huge picture by single scenes and pictures. Unfortunately it fails completely. The worst thing about the film is it's script, which features a quite uninspired story, with some holes and implausibilities, in rather unconnected scenes and impression, which mostly not fit together. Adding to this you got to many directing mistakes or at least that's what I think they are. Because at times the movie really starts to take you in, let you care about on character or the other and the comes a pointless or unbelievable scene, a dispensable shot and you get set back on the road. There I have to say again, this movie has failed, but being the first movie of Katherine Lindberg, it makes you hope, that the future work of this director might be something to look forward to.

Beautiful landscape, solid writing, and a wonderful story unified by real acting and editing.

I found this film subtle and impactive even through the characters' very dramatic approach to life. I had an opportunity to really get the world of a lover, child, wife, and mother in this cinematic space.

The score worked so well for me and not once did it take me out of the movie. I loved seeing Diane Ladd. It was lovely spending so much time with Melora Walters but this is a Claudia (of Magnolia) type part, with fidgeting and discomfort.

I almost returned the DVD before watching Rain and I'm so glad I didn't.