This movie was recommended to me by a friend in passing and it turned out to be a wonderful surprise. The director does an excellent job of capturing snapshots into these colorful characters lives, overlapping in such a way that everyone feels cared for and no one feels lost. This is a tremendous effort considering how much the movie has going on inside it! Special acting shout outs go to Stacy Yen, who exquisitely plays the neurotic, self-loathing, pessimist with a simultaneous sincere, vulnerable, and eventually redeeming edge. Whatever small tragedy playing out in her head throughout the weekend best highlights the impact of group dynamics and emotional ostracism on a newbie amongst an old group of friends. Her performance is very refreshing. Also a shout out for Carson Elrod is deserved, who has such fantastic charisma that he is able to suck you into the movie before you realize it began.
Perhaps the most remarkable thing about "The Weekend" is that it manages to portray an unseen past, a chaotic present, and an uncertain future all at once; and despite being everywhere, the movie works. It is warm, hope-filled, and brought nostalgia back in me that I didn't even realize I still had. I recommend it when with or when thinking about old friends. Perhaps even with the possibility of new ones.
Bravo.
