Humboldt County

The previews for this film make it look like a formulaic Square-among-Freaks stoner comedy about an uptight medical student who falls in with a bunch of potheads and discovers What Really Matters in the process. Up to a point that is exactly how "Humboldt County" plays out. However, that is not the whole story either.

To briefly summarize the plot: a repressed, emotionally muted young man- with the people skills of a lawnmower- fails one of his med school finals (BTW his father is the examiner-Ouch!) and is suddenly adrift in his life for what is apparently the first time ever. He has an unlikely hookup with an attractive, free spirit named Bogart (Fairuza Balk) and accompanies her to her home in the title county up in the far north of California. Bogart then disappears and Peter, completely stranded, is slowly but surely absorbed by her eccentric, stoner family and their equally baked friends and neighbors. Exposed to their initially alien values, lifestyle, and worldview- and away from his overbearing father- Peter finds the freedom and safety to actually start being himself. However, the dark side of the drug world (in the form of violent thieves and the DEA) is never far away and it threatens to destroy Peter's refuge...

Even though there is a lot of pot smoked by nearly all of the characters, this is not really a stoner movie. Much of the humor is low-key but there are some absolutely hilarious moments along the way.The film's view of marijuana is actually rather realistic, it's pleasurable effects are shown but so are the downsides- particularly with regard to the violence and legal problems that accompany cultivation. Additionally, it is made clear that being born into the rustic stoner life, for all of it's freedoms, can be as much of a prison as the middle-class existence that was suffocating Peter at the film's beginning.

"Humboldt County" is really all about how somebody discovers the things that are truly going to touch their heart and give their life meaning. The various characters represent the different paths that people choose in order to find a sense of connection to others and a purpose to their existence. The characters are very human, and all the more lovable for that.The ensemble cast are excellent and their interactions with other seem touchingly real. However special mention should go to Brad Dourif as the stoner clan's patriarch.

The film preaches the values of simplicity, humility, how materialism is meaningless, the importance of caring for others, and recognizing how small individuals are in the bigger scheme of things. It is also very honest about the reality that, for adults, there are fewer and fewer easy answers to any of life's questions. An added bonus is the setting, Humboldt county looks absolutely gorgeous and is filmed with deep love. In conclusion, this is a funny, serenely paced slice of cinema that has a big, beautiful heart.

"Humboldt County" is a good overlooked drama film that has an interesting premise, creative writing and unique setting.

One major side of the story is focused on what you could call a "quarter-life crisis" of Peter the medical student who is somewhat dissatisfied and very confused in life. By sheer chance he finds himself in a new environment that seems totally alien to him. During the course of the movie we observe how these new circumstances shape him into a new person.

The other aspect of the story is a little less explicit. It focuses on the life and the struggles of the locals among which Peter finds himself.

In the end these two perspectives come together, that's how I would put it. The viewer, having experienced these different perspectives, can thus find value in the conclusion of the story.

The acting, the soundtrack and the scenery - all are solid. "Humboldt County" was an overall pleasant experience that gives you something to ponder about.

This film offered some fascinating character studies. The movie was beautifully shot. I thought the movie held up well for the first three quarters, but some plot turns in the last quarter struck me as being cheats. Nonetheless, the movie delicately handles the complexities of people who have chosen to leave behind their everyday existences in the "straight" world and exile themselves into the "wilderness" of Northern California. The film does a great job of examining the costs of reclusiveness with poignancy and dignity. While regret is a theme that is a constant in this film, self-examination and re-invention are also championed. Despite some sensitive subject matter, I think this movie could get some mainstream traction.

I saw Humboldt County at South By Southwest, and I love it! It was well written, beautifully shot, and had an outstanding cast. I've never been to northern California, but after seeing this film, I really want to visit. This is the filmmakers' first film and I am blown away by the complexity of the characters and the film's surprising emotional depth. The characters are all interesting and honest, but flawed, just like the rest of us. There is a warmth among this cannabis farming family that is engaging and intriguing.(And it doesn't hurt that both Jeremy Strong and Chris Messina are deliciously handsome men.) Madison Davenport's performance as young Charity is also outstanding. I can't wait to see it again!

A few friends and I caught the premiere of Humboldt County at the South by Southwest film festival in Austin last night. Quick summary: If you get a chance, go see this movie.

Prior to seeing it, there was some debate about whether this was a "drug" movie, especially since a few other premieres at SxSW ("Harold and Kumar II" and "Super High Me") are drug related--it's not. Although there are certainly joints in many (most) of the scenes, they are background and no more the focus of the movie than the gorgeous redwood trees and sweeping coastline that are also omni-present. Humboldt County is all about character development, some fantastic acting, and scenery that takes your breath away. When we were talking about the film after, we all agreed that that most similar movie we had all seen was "Garden State" except tone down the love story and shoot it in one of the most beautiful places on earth instead of Jersey (sorry NJ).

The co-directors and script writers (friends since they were 6) took questions after the show which is always interesting. Two of my favorite tid-bits from that: 1) One of the directors has an Uncle and Aunt in Humboldt and much of the script is based on real characters from his summers there as a child. 2) When the directors went to Humboldt to get away and work on a script, they were actually working on a totally different script which they scrapped so they could write this Humboldt-inspired one.

One other interesting point came out of the Q&A in which someone pointed out that for a directing debut, Humboldt was pretty ambitious--REAL actors, shot on location in 35mm, full length, etc. etc. It's a good point, and makes the movie all the more impressive...