garsoneric

Ordinary Things is a light hearted, romantic feel-good movie by Director Micah Caronna.

The idea of the film is really good. Dannie (Cristina Duchesne-Rivera) fakes her wedding to her best friend Tyler (Julian Simoes), to please her Mother (Vanessa Rodriguez) as she succumbs to cancer, however she makes a miraculous recovery. Thus how and when does Dannie tell her Mother, that the marriage is fake?

I feel the film is for fans of Something's Gotta Give, Meet The Parents, Wedding Crashers, Dan In Real Life, Little Miss Sunshine and Friends. With that in mind, romantic comedy is the hardest genre and I feel the Director Micah Caronna, Screenwriter Jennifer Tobler, Producers Micah Caronna & Melissa Caronna, along with cast and crew have pulled off a solid, professional and earnest job.

The leads, Cristina Duchesne-Rivera and Julian Simoes are a believable on-screen couple, with an ensemble supporting cast.

However, I wish the film played more with the suspense of how and when the mother discovers the wedding is fake. I feel there is a lot of awkward, cute and endearing comedy that could have been attempted.

Second I felt the movie needed a little spark at points. A wacky uncle, a wild sister or a mischievous pet. Just something to give the film an injection of pace to the narrative.

That said the film is well lit and professionally shot by cinematographer Paula Mandarino. Further the colour grade (Colby Robison) is nice on the eye. The film has lovely locations (April Sneed), good costumes (Sarah Hicks), solid editing (Jarod O'Flaherty), good camera movement (Matthew McCoskey, Jessica Baker, Jason Avila, Ashley Anglade, Josiah Dockery, Carmen Shird and Charlotte Tobler) and good sound (Jamie Tobler, Asher Angled, Angled, Shelia Brown, Mayra Rodriquez and Alan Watkins). This is a professionally made movie.

For those who want a film, with it's heart in the right place, then Ordinary Things might just be for you.

Ghost Planet is a bonkers, out of this world (no pun intended) movie. It's fun.

With limited resources Philip J. Cook and his team have made a fun, popcorn movie.

There's a blade runner-esq city car chase, bubblegum, cool heads-up-displays and grande visual effects.

The film explores space exploration, androids, future cities and lost civilisations.

For a low budget independent movie, the film aims really high with the visual effects. I think the matching of the lighting with the background green screen could have been better to make the world more convincing but that said its a really amazing effort.

The performances of note include actors, Ulysses E. Campbell and Georgia Anastasia

If you want something that is fun, enjoyable and appealing check out Ghost Planet.

For those who enjoyed Sean Connery's Outland from 1981, Chris Maes' "Hemisphere" might be the film that appeals to you.

The film has two central performances from Julie Kashmanian & Paige Rion. Telegenic Julie Kashmanian gives an enigmatic and "can she be trusted" type performance.

Julia Kashmanian is a one to watch, along with her performance in "Ghost Planet," I think it's only a matter of time, before she shines in a film which can show her true versatility as an actress.

Meanwhile Paige Rion has a great look on camera. A cool voice and fine acting chops.

With limited resources Chris Maes and his team have made a film exploring isolation, abandonment and the loneliness of space.