One More Time

Jude (Amber Heard) is a singer and songwriter struggling to make it out of the shadows of her famous father Paul Lombard (Christopher Walken). She's a mess. She returns home to his estate where he reminisces about the good old days and dreams of a comeback opening for The Flaming Lips. Her sister Corinne (Kelli Garner) lives there with her husband Tim (Hamish Linklater) and their son David. Jude has a history with Tim. There's her stepmother Lucille (Ann Magnuson) and manager friend Alan (Oliver Platt).

Walken is nice and the movie works with him best. Heard is playing a more worn-down sad bitter character. It's harder to watch with her as the lead. Another actress would have more fun with the character. It needs some comedy to balance out the darker material. Also her singing isn't great. This does have some appeal but it doesn't make it as indie fare. Honestly, this would be more interesting with Walken as the lead.

Although there are story elements to "One More Time" that I liked and it's a real shame that the film hampers itself by making it so difficult for the audience to care about the folks in the picture. To me, it's almost impossible to make a really good film given this serious handicap.

When the film begins, Jude (Amber Heard) is awakening from a one- night stand. She's overslept and is late for work...and folks are waiting and waiting for her to arrive. Apparently, this isn't unusual for Jude. What is unusual is her soon leaving New York City to go stay with her father, famous old-time crooner Paul Lombard (Christopher Walken). Apparently, their relationship is stormy but she has no choice as she's about to be thrown out of her apartment for not paying her rent. But things aren't all rosy back with dad as their relationship, and every relationship in this odd family, is severely strained. Paul is a serial philanderer who only thinks of himself, Jude's sister is a demanding and rather high-strung young woman and the step-mother is nicknamed 'Satan' by her step-kids. Through the course of the film, most of these folks remain true to their life patterns...destroying themselves and those around them. And, by the end of the film, there's a vague suggestion that perhaps Jude is tired of all this. If this summary sounds a bit bleak and depressing, then you pretty much get the picture, though it at least has some nice singing throughout the film.

The movie has some nice acting. While I found it hard to believe Walken could be a crooner, it was an interesting character and a nice stretch for him. Heard also was able to show that she could not only act but sing rather nicely. But nice acting and an interesting location shoot in the Hamptons aren't enough and the film is one I wouldn't rush out to see but might perhaps might catch when it appears on Netflix one day when you are looking for an undemanding film. Not bad....but also not particularly enjoyable either.

...or, how my thirty-one year-old teenage daughter cinched up her borscht belt, moved to California, joined Hadassah, and married an entertainment lawyer in Sherman Oaks, or a dentist from Oxnard.

Mr. Walken once again demonstrates that he never met a camera he couldn't beguile, and if he can be a Lippman, there is no reason why Mel Gibson shouldn't have his scalp circumcised. (There are a number of good moils who would be happy to do the honors.)

I've always loved Nantucket in February, when the wind off the Atlantic is as cold and hard as the Puritan god, so the shots of clam shacks closed for the winter warmed me right up; straight out of the indie Playbill, but nicely done, nonetheless.

The very brief, scattered glimpses of Corinne's silent reactions to the exclusive bubble shared by Paul and Jude bespeak a lifetime of difficult experience. You don't need to wade through three hours of slush like The Aviator (2004) to know Kelli Garner is talented, and One More Time (2015) proves she has become a perceptive adult. Someone should really give her a prominent lead in something commensurate with her ability and maturity.

Oliver Platt is always a pleasure.

A couple of continuity issues that don't stand up to scrutiny, but nothing inexcusable.

A good job. Thank you.

XYZ

"I'm expecting too much on this movie, i think it's gonna be a prouding success story with great song, but suprisingly it's not a full music movie, it's a family problem story, and i still can't believe they ended just like that, even they did what i want it's maybe still a terrible movie because to be honest the acting is too boring, even Christopher Walken himself, i don't know it just unexpected"

"It's not a comeback, I never went anywhere." Jude (Heard) lives her life on her own terms and does what she wants. Unfortunately this doesn't turn out like she hopes and is forced to move back home. When her famous singer father Paul (Walken) tells the family he is beginning his comeback old tensions rise up. Now Jude, her sister and her father are all clashing in a typical dysfunctional family fashion with only two outcomes, work together and become closer, or lose everything. This is not a bad movie at all. The actors are all very good and the story is interesting and watchable. The music is good and I enjoyed everything about this. The only problem was that when it was over my reaction was pretty much, well, that was OK. This is nothing that is so good to talk to everyone about, nor bad enough to tell people not to watch. While I liked the movie I think the sign of a really good one is that it makes you feel something, this one didn't. Overall, a movie that is watchable and entertaining, but it is really just that. Not good or bad, just watchable. I give this a B-.