Mouth to Mouth

Not sure why this came onto my radar but Amazon recommended it so I thought I would check it out. Based on the real life experiences of director Alison Murray, the movie exists to show how corrupt social groups can become, even when claiming to do something honourable like "helping homeless youth" . It creates characters that we have all met in life and shows how the Sherry character that we all wish we were fights for freedom and basic human rights. Her character is able to challenge the mindless acceptance of abuse of power of the group leader and by the end it seems like the group may unravel because of the chain reaction she starts. Some weird choices in the visual style but overall a good looking movie also. I would give it a strong recommendation.

After two years of trying to find the movie, I finally purchased it for 18.99 on ebay. Right when I received the package, I put it in my DVD player. It was worth the wait.

First to note, the movie is low budget and you can tell from the poor lighting. But, it kind of added to this film. The film was very dark and gritty as it portrayed a cult that started as a party and ended as manipulation. I did notice quite a few plot holes such as how did Sherry's mother find Sherry when Sherry was over a thousand miles away. But other than that I applaud Alison Murray's efforts in this film as we laughed and cried with the lead character played by the always fantastic, Ellen Page.

It was after Ellen's performance in Hard Candy that made me want to follow her and it is quite obvious that she'll have a fantastic career ahead of her.

There is so much to say about this film. I loved the score and thought it was perfect for the film. It was very well placed and enjoyable. I loved how the actors would kind of dance to strange situations such as Sherry's mom would try to get Sherry in her car and Sherry wanted to get away from her. It was almost liked they did a tango. It was beautiful to me. What I also enjoyed about the movie was it was very unpredictable. Early in a movie you see a kid get nonchalantly thrown into a dumpster to get some food and he ends up hitting his head against a sharp object. There was no music to narrate the situation for you so it kept me off guard. I don't know what it is about indy films but they always appeal to me. I love the experimentation of the film.

So all in all, you'll probably not be able to find this movie for rent and will most likely have to take the chance and purchase the film. It was very hard to find and ebay or Amazon is the only way you'll be able to find it. This movie reminded me a little of Firecracker, House of Sand and Fog, and 11:14. Mouth to Mouth is bizarre and is really "out there" so you need to watch it with an open mind.

P.S: Congraduations to Ms. Page for her Oscar nomination and I'm sure she won't let the instant fame get to her head and she'll continue to pick original and great scripts.

Despite the risky 'cutting edge' nature of the film, ultimately the simple story of 'doublespeak' and 'group think' in the style of George Orwell's Animal Farm or Nineteen Eight Four rings true as a warning against any movement or ideology that leaves no space for critical thinking or individuality. Production design is amazing and captures that 80's europunk vibe. This movie has a raw energy that grips me . It reminds me of the best road movies where the characters take us on their journey and we feel the wind in on our hair. For better or for worse we share that teenage energy of heading out into the world in search of paradise. I like the cinematography and the edgy texture of the 16mm ( I assume ) as well as the casting which creates authentic characters , from the gutter punks to the well meaning mother, and the sleazy cult leader.

This film is based on an interesting idea which in the right hands could have been a wonderful film. Its an indie film, of course it is, but I have seen a good few indie films and this really hits rock with the director. I mean Alison Murray, I'm sure she knows a lot about being a teenage dropout but she doesn't know much about making a gripping film.

Its got some pretty good casting, about six of the people cast were okay actors and that includes Ellen Page, it didn't really push her the way a film and a good director should, as as we have all seen - she can do a lot better! The film was shot as though Murray read about every effect you can do with a camera and thought - I'm gonna use them all! It went light for no reason, it didn't accentuate a feeling or to show an emotion, it wasn't intimate or innocent it just was and in my experience, ever shot should be justified, from the first to the very last.

The sound track was good, I'll give you that. And some of it was quite hard hitting, but I find it difficult to believe that I just watched a film where people died in the course of an anarchist group trying to find freedom and I don't care about them. It wasn't believable, no grief, no despair, no anguish. I wasn't reeled in, I didn't feel their pain and so I didn't believe in its reality.

It is that typical film made by someone who wants to tell their 'incredible story' and just got out of art school. It tries to fit too much in to the plot when a good film can focus on both plot and the dimension of the characters. The ending was excruciating and I cant believe I just spent £15 on this film.

Possibly, Mouth to Mouth is not to everyone's taste. Not everyone loves criticism of control and coercion masquerading as rebellion. Not everyone loves experimentation and risk taking in film - Mouth to Mouth has lots of this. For the director's first feature, this film has a flair and playfulness as well as a depth of argument. The story is cunningly woven around the lead character's search for acceptance and meaning. It is also a virtuoso performance by Elliot Page, still Ellen, who treats the audience to a multi-faceted brave young woman character - we need to see more female characters of this style. The 80's music of The Stranglers that opens the film gives a taste of the urgency and grit that will follow. Great movie.