Real Time

So I've never posted one of these User Comments, but I had to write about how much I loved this film. The story centers around the two very strong characters of Andy (Baruchel) and Reuben (Quaid). The entire journey kept me captivated from beginning to end (which is no simple feat after a week of festival fatigue) but nothing prepared me for the ending. I have to say, without exaggeration, this film had one of the most perfect and moving conclusions of any film I've ever seen. I won't give anything away here, but I find myself constantly tearing up and moved at the thought of what happens. Now, almost a day later, I still feel its messages and themes rushing through me. Not only is this ending so great, it will probably make a second viewing of this film an entirely different and even stronger experience. My hats off to the writer and director of this film. Damn good work.

I recently received a rare opportunity to view this film, and boy am I glad I did. I have never written up a review before, but after seeing this movie I feel like I have to. Just to help get the word out that it exists.

The movie starts out with Andy, a complete and utter gambling addict, walking to the convenience store to buy a lottery ticket because he's feeling lucky. He buys the ticket, loses, and decides to go to the racetrack. On his walk there he is approached by the other main character, Reuben, whom Andy owes a LOT of money. Reuben tells him to get in the car, and proceeds to explain to Andy that he is going to kill him today. However, Andy is a guy that Reuben has always been fond of, so Reuben decides to give him 1 hour to do whatever he wants and come to peace with his life, while staying under Reuben's supervision of course. The rest of the movie is about Andy knowing for a fact that he is about to die and how he deals with it. I won't say any more, but I truly thought it had a beautiful ending.

The movie starts off with a bang, but it does drag for a few minutes in the middle, which is why I knocked off a point. It quickly picks back up though, and the final 15 minutes will have you inches from your TV. I should also note that the movie starts out rather comedic, but the tone rapidly changes to drama. I felt that the trailer didn't really do it justice, as it focused on the comedy part a bit much. In fact, I almost wanna say don't even bother with the trailer.

The movie, as the title suggests, is completely shot in real time. This means that the 73ish minutes that you are sitting there are the exact minutes of Andy's final hour (which is actually slightly over an hour). You see every characters move, every turn of the vehicle, and hear every single word spoken. Fortunately, this is a good thing as the dialogue is excellent, so the car rides on the longer side aren't boring.

After the movie movie ended, I haven't been able to stop thinking about it...which kind of stinks because I don't know anybody else who has seen it and I can't talk about it! So here I am, a couple days later, writing a review in hopes of getting the word of this movie out there.

The story is great, the dialogue is great, the acting is great, and it's a unique approach to film. My bet is that word of this one will catch on real quick and we'll be seeing it in theaters stateside within the year.

Real Time, the second feature of writer/director Randall Cole (19 Months) made its Canadian debut at the Toronto International Film Festival after being the opening night feature at the Slamdance Festival earlier this year.

Opening with a twitchy, expletive-laden, nervous tirade, Ottawa's Jay Baruchel (Knocked Up, Million Dollar Baby) gives the best performance of his young career as Andy Hayes; a doomed gambling addict bemoaning his constant bad luck.

Pulling up alongside Andy in his big black Town Car is Aussie ex-pat Reuben played by Randy Quaid (The Last Detail, Brokeback Mountain) who gives another in a long career filled with excellent performances. Glancing up at Reuben's car, Andy quickly turns on his heel and walks in the opposite direction down the sidewalk to which Reuben calmly puts the car in reverse. Thus begins a hilarious pas-de-deux between man and car on a grey street in Hamilton.

After a stern invitation, Andy reluctantly gets in the car where we discover that we will be spending much of the last hour and a half of his life with him. Quaid's Reuben quietly explains that he has been given the assignment of killing Andy, but will give him until 3pm to get his affairs in order.

Thus our adventure begins, with director Cole cleverly echoing Hal Ashby's 'The Last Detail' in which Quaid takes on the Nicholson role of guiding his young charge in the last moments before an inevitable fate is to befall him.

Both of these character actors are clearly relishing the freedom afforded them by having lead roles in this excellent comedic drama. Quaid's hit man is kind, thoughtful, and contemplative all the while simmering with potential violence, while occasionally flashing a glimpse of the goofy grin we first saw from him in Peter Bogdanovich's 'The Last Picture Show'. Baruchel brilliantly portrays the sadness all too common in people who choose not to engage beyond the perfunctory with the world at large.

Even as events unfold in real time, there is a surreal timelessness evoked as we glide along dilapidated streets, with Reuben as our guide, while a radio station that will bring a smile to the lips of anyone who has a soft spot for 70s Can Con plays innocently along the way.

With cats (both dead and alive), unspeakable acts on potato salad, a somewhat addled shut-in Grandma (national treasure, Jayne Eastwood) and horizontal urination, there are plenty of laughs throughout; despite the serious subject matter in Real Time.

While the film is full of razor-sharp dialogue, writer/director Cole also allows us space, as we are driven through the beautifully shot ugliness of The Hammer's streets, in which Quaid & Baruchel draw us into their messed up worlds, to this point in time.

This thoughtful film invites us to examine how we choose to spend our time, as Andy contemplates a life that has lead him deep into a thick woods with Reuben's gun at his back…

This film will stay with you long after the credits roll. You will be glad you spent these 79 minutes in Real Time.

i would have voted 15 if possible, randy Q. shows a side of acting i had failed to see, i knew he was a fine character actor, always supporting but he is the mac. Daddy in this excellent film there are so many gems in this film and make no mistake its a gem, follywood dumbs us down so much that movies like this stand out like light in the night. I wont give you details. this film must be seen at least 2 times, like one poster said i am the only one around me that has seen this movie and i cant talk about it, acting by all is top notch. This film shows us that a great film can be made without blowing up a car with massive blood shed, involving armies, and corrupt police, This film touched me i will buy it keep it view it

2008 has been a stinker for films - it seems nothing has gelled or been original - was Wall.E really the highlight!?!? - so Real Time for me was kind of a nicer way to finish the year.

This is a tiny film - totally focused on the two main characters that just works. The enforcer, in a great turn by Randy Quaid, is there to kill a pathetic gambler, Andy, played by Canadian Jay Baruchel.

What makes this is the conversations, nothing Tarantino-like, but somehow they involve us and make us care.

At only 1 hour and 17 minutes this is short, but very well directed and most of all it is logical, neat, and the performances ring true. Honestly, one of the better films of the year, and I would recommend it as being a refreshing change from some of the garbage we've been served this year.