The Guitar

Just saw this film at the Marin Film Festival. I am still absorbing it. A fine piece of film-making.

Saffron Burrows carries the film on her splendid shoulders. She is in almost every scene. I have always respected her work. With The Guitar she stretches her wings and flies.

Much of the film is without dialog. A lot of my favorite films are. Amy Redford did a fine job of directing. Very good first effort. I hope this film finds it's way out of the festival circuit and gets a release into theaters soon.

And I hope the IFC notices Saffron's performance.

Even though it is not the feel & sound good movie of the year, "The Guitar" rocks! Saffron Burrows mesmerizing performance is all the string it needs for this movie to be helmed a success. Burrows stars as Melody Wilder, a grieving New York woman who is told she has terminal throat cancer by her pessimistic doctor. Unfortunately, Melody's life tunes continue to be somber when she is downsized by her employer, and downsized by her boyfriend. Melody is about to take the suicidal route until she sees an ad for a short-term rental for a NY loft apartment. She then decides to hibernate during her last days of existence in the loft while charging all her credit cards to the max on food, furniture, and eventually The Guitar. Melody since childhood has been yearning to own & learn to play the guitar, but had never amplified (whatever that means) herself to do so until now. In the loft, Melody self teaches herself to play the guitar and all its melodies. Situations turn a bit more sexually wilder for Ms. Wilder when she beds a black furniture mover employee and a pizza delivery girl during her loft stay. I will not reveal more of "The Guitar" because it will spoil some dead or not-so-dead issues which the film's plot line reveals. "The Guitar" had a sundance twist to it as it was helmed by novice Director Amy Redford, daughter of Robert. Ms. Redford's impressive debut is worth a Sundance Festival salute. Amos Poe's semi-implicit screenplay worked brilliantly; it's "quality" not "quantity" wording approach was "poewerful". But it was Burrows' stunning acting was what I thought jammed the most about "The Guitar". Her facial expressions and nonverbal cues spoke volumes on stellar acting. Her commendable characterizations will not succumb to acting death any time soon. Remind me, why wasn't she nominated for acting awards last year? "The Guitar" is slow moving and its not an easy plot sell, but do not pass on playing this Guitar notably for Burrows' resounding acting! **** Good

and i have to believe it was written in even less time.

the plot synopsis here at IMDb is good. i wish they'd shot that.

what we got instead was a 95 minute film wishing it could be seen as one of those inspirational and affirming movies about a woman who attempts to overcome everything ... with a guitar. that wish was apparently denied.

instead we end up with a 21-day film where they must've printed every first take; directed by someone disconnected from the subject ... and the characters ... and even simple threads of continuity ... and written by someone with no apparent expertise or sensitivity to the matter at hand. even the script's bones, even its structure is wonky. and the editor, i have to ask the editor what they were listening to when editing this film? the film's heartbeat ... its sense of rhythm is ... missing. for a film titled after a musical instrument with a character named Melody this pretty standard rhythm of editing idea seems a significant oversight.

i have to let the actors off the hook because they seem to offer shallow, thoughtless, stilted although perhaps rushed performances. i kept wishing it would get better as it went along. it just /had/ to, i thought, but it never did.

now i can only hope i saved you 95 minutes.

Great film all the locations were real downtown LES spots especially the Antique Shop "Billy's Antiques" and they used the real shop and owner Billy.Also the Everyothers are a great band.The music is very enjoyable not hokey. Paz de La Huerta's part is completely on the other end of the spectrum from Boardwalk Empire,Limits of Control and Enter the Void.Critics have said she can play only one type of role ..well they have not seen The Guitar.The film feels ice cold just like it is in January in New York City.I find the plot totally believable because people do weird things when they know that they are going to die.I know Amy Redford will follow the great tradition of film making.I hope she makes another one soon.

Obviously we all have seen hundreds of movies when someone is counting his last days. This one is not what anyone can expect.

Watch it from heart, believe in writer and director and try to listen the message in movie. It can change your life. Its sad, funny, refreshing, keep you hooked till last minute and takes your entire night thinking on it.

Special movies are not for everyone. If you are little depressed, lonely, missing something in life other than money, the message in movie will teach you life. Take my suggestion, watch the movie and see if you are like all others or different.