Cold Weather

I don't know how people would consider this movie is a good one. The screenplay, the plot, the scenario in all are just too weak and uninteresting. The main male actor is such a wimp with a very unlikable meaty and fleshy face with dumb expression all the time like a retarded person. There is no way any woman would like to start a relationship with this guy. I also wonder why this movie would have to shot in the constant wet weather of Portland, Oregon. The guy read his book back to the light, then slept with lamp still on. The whole movie is just a No Big Deal while trying so hard to make something look big deal out of it. This movie told us that a couple of male dimwits who didn't even know how to deal with their own ordinary daily lives albeit playing private detectives. They both looked so stupid because the dialog of this screenplay made them look just like some worthless losers, no hopes, no ambitions, no nothing. This is a very lame movie with terrible dialog(especially the dialog!), poor acting, poor directing, poor sound tracks. There's nothing worthwhile watching or commentating. By saying so much only proved how frustrating when I watched this lousy movie. Don't waste your time, man.

'COLD WEATHER': Four Stars (Out of Five)

Director Aaron Katz, who was born in Portland, OR, returned to his hometown to film this mystery / drama / Mumblecore film. Mumblecore is a term used to describe a genre of indie film, that began about a decade ago, that features non-professional actors (usually in their twenties) in extremely low budget productions about relationships with dialogue heavy improvised scripts. Katz's previous feature films ('DANCE PARTY USA' and 'QUIET CITY') were both critically acclaimed Mumblecore films. This one tells the story of a man who moves back to Portland, and into an apartment with his sister, and becomes obsessed with finding out what happened to his ex-girlfriend when she goes missing. It stars Cris Lankenau (who's only other acting credit is Katz's 'QUIET CITY'), Trieste Kelly Dunn, Paul Castillo and Robyn Rikoon. The film is a great example of how much you can do with very little.

Lankenau stars as Doug, a former forensic science student, who drops out of school in Chicago and moves back home to Portland, and in with his sister Gail (Dunn). He gets a job at an ice factory and befriends a co-worker named Carlos (Castillo) who's also a part time DJ. His ex-girlfriend, Rachel (Rikoon), follows him into town on a supposed visit and then goes missing. Doug is a big 'Sherlock Holmes' fan and finally gets a chance to put his fascination and education to the test. He enlists the help of both Carlos and Gail in discovering Rachel's whereabouts. This gives him more of a chance to bond with his estranged sister.

The movie is extremely and very deliberately slow-paced. It's very aimless at times and features several dialogue scenes that do very little to advance the development of the characters and absolutely nothing to propel the story line. It takes a good 37 minutes (of an hour and 37 minute movie) to get to the film's plot. This didn't bother me. While it wasn't exciting or involving it also wasn't boring. Watching this film is no less interesting or entertaining than hanging out with a group of friends, really. When something does finally happen it's worth the wait too. There's no action or sex or anything really fascinating, when you think about it, but it's entertaining all the same. That's thanks in large part to Katz's directing, an extraordinary and memorable score (by Keegan DeWitt, who also worked on Katz's other films) and some great performances. Three of the four leads were all good screen presences I thought. I didn't care much for Rikoon, she did have the smallest part but even when she was on screen she wasn't very interesting. Dunn is beautiful and should have no problem continuing to find film offers, Castillo was very natural and likable and Lankenau was especially good in my opinion. He reminded me a lot of Ryan Reynolds in the way he talked and sounded. He should have no problem finding more work as well. The film is especially impressive when you think about the emotions and interests it provokes by doing almost nothing. I couldn't find a listing of the budget to this film but Katz's previous two films both reportedly cost between 2 and 3 thousand dollars. I can't imagine this one costing much more. All in all I thought the movie was pretty interesting and entertaining. It's sure to bore some while highly amusing others.

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This film was described by Spin Magazine (in a 3-and-a-half star review) as a mystery that takes its time. I'm all for that. But did it have to take SO MUCH time to resolve a mystery that was UNINVOLVING and BORING? Just another bunch of aimless 30-somethings in the damp upper Northwest who apparently never shave or wash their hair, mumbling their way through life and never doing anything even remotely interesting. Believe me, I've sat through plenty of quirky indie films with little complaint, but I was literally shouting at my TV screen when this DVD ended. An hour and forty minutes of my life utterly wasted. I will avoid this talentless filmmaker like the plague for the rest of my days. SKIP THIS MOVIE!!!!!

This movie really makes it. It grips you to the characters and especially to the story, nevertheless the end is unsatisfying... and I literally mean unsatisfying. The story is gut, the character feel so real, and the movie itself is filled with fantastic suspense and many laughing moments This film is like a detective story. First we are introduced to Doug, a drop out of high school with studies in forensic science.He is a fan of Detective stories and especially of Sherlock Holmes. He gots a job in an ice factory and there he meets Carlos. Doug borrows Carlos a Sherlock Holmes book and he also starts to like detective stories. One day Doug's ex-girlfriend visits Oregon and Carlos goes out with her. She suddenly disappears and Carlos. Becomes worried about her. Both, Doug and Carlos get int the adventure of finding her.

I saw the film in the Filmfest of Munich and after the film was over, the audience had the chance to make questions to the director. Mr. Aaron Katz told us that he wanted to write a story that dealed about the brother and sister relations, which according to him wasn't a very used theme and that most of the times that this theme was used were stories of rivalry. If there is something that you will like about the movie is the scenes of Doug with her sister. Doug uses her car, makes her steal a book from the library, asks her to drive him to every he wants, etc. He also added that the end was like that because he wanted to deliver the message that everything was solved and that the characters would continue their lives.

I recommend the film, even though the ending is not what many people would like, this film rocks. This is the type of film sticks you the feeling of: "I wanna know more, I WANNA KNOW MORE!"

This is an interesting indie film by auteur Aaron Katz. I had not seen any of his previous work but had heard the film was well received at SXSW in 2010. Similarly, I had seen a review that compared it to the film Brick (2005) that I had enjoyed immensely.

Plot wise the film introduces us to a forensic science college dropout Doug who idolizes Sherlock Holmes and his Slacker sister Gail as they move into an apartment together in Portland Oregon. Doug lays about and searches for some direction in life, eventually finding a menial night job at an ice factory. We are then introduced to one of Doug's co-workers Carlos and Doug's ex-girlfriend Rachel who is in town for business. The four start hanging out together, playing cards and board games, drinking coffee, going to clubs and enjoying each other's company. Rachel's sudden mysterious disappearance from her hotel room spurs the other friends to action and ignites Doug's inner Sherlock Holmes.

This film is considered by many critics to be part of the mumblecore movement. As such it has lots of long shots, a slowly evolving plot and realistic dialogue between lots of slackers. In some respects this film is more about the brother sister relationship between Doug and Gail than it is about the mystery of Rachel's disappearance. It has an arty independent feel to it and it was obviously shot on a low budget. Cold Weather is certainly not going to be for everyone's taste, especially the abrupt ending. However, I really liked its quirkiness and indie feel probably because I've got thing for overly educated layabouts.

Since this is available on Netflix instant streaming I would suggest you give it a viewing. That is if you enjoy small independent films with a grungy vibe. I found it inspiring that the writer/director was able to get this made, I plan on checking out some of his previous films. O and I think I would like to take a trip up to check out Portland Oregon it looks amazing.