Color of a Brisk and Leaping Day

Precious bitsy amateurish-sounding dialogue. Hipsterish appearances by Michael Stipe and Henry Gibson (warming up for his MAGNOLIA rocks glass.) A twee setting (railroads in Yosemite!) The earnest, clunky, not-quite-acting acting familiar from homely Sundance cinema. If you want the very definition of everything juiceless, pop-less and minor about the thing that is called "independent filmmaking," you've got it here. The director, Christopher Munch, exudes the personality of an annoyingly soft-spoken, painfully touchy college English major directing his first play and wishing the actors would just be QUIET AND HEAR WHAT HE HAS TO SAY!

This movie bears a major resemblance to the Czech classic Closely Watched Trains, in not only setting (railroads) but also the "losing of one's innocence." Only this movie is not nearly as witty and very much in love with itself. The only aspect that was interesting was the cinematography--you would not think that black and white would do Yosemite Valley justice, but it still looks beautiful. And Michael Stipe's minor character in this movie is just like you'd expect him to be....quirky and somewhat distracted. I saw this film several years ago and the photography and the convoluted plot were the only things I really remember. It's not surprising that this film is not available anywhere.

Film begin with quote taken from Matthew 13:46. "Who, When he had found one Pearl of Great Price, went and sold all that he had and brought it."

Very moving railroadmania theme, particular with revolving familiar Los Angeles scene, ie. Los Angeles Passenger Union Terminal (LAPUT) name. Pacific Electric's downtown streetcar routes which aren't there anymore and maintenance shop is a rare interesting layout. Right theme and excellent scope on begone Southern Pacific Railroad (also owned Pacific Electric) exposing former corporate culture. Good job, I think, with historical restoration and award-winning 1996 Sundance Cinematography Award led me to wrongly believe that this film took place in 1950's, era which part of nationwide customary act to abandon railroad lines. Great film to watch those with an entrepreneurial mind with preservation cause.

I liked this one a lot. Definitely not an everyday story, and it was told well. The pacing was excellent.

The bit with fancy private rail car to go to Washington DC seemed a bit forced, like "hey we've got a fancy private rail car we can use, let's write it into the script!"

I had no issues with the acting. Well maybe Michael Stipe was too Michael Stipe in his role.

This is a nice little movie. It looks cool, like Jim Jermish's one with Johhny Depp as the accountant in the old west.

90 minutes well spent.

I really wanted to like this movie. The visuals are spectacular and the filler shots of vintage Los Angeles are amazing. A lot of work and care went into crafting all of the visuals, from the scenery to props and the whole railroad itself. The story has some serious possibility, even being based on an actual railway (the Yosemite Valley RR did exist and ended operations in 1945 and an 18 yr old kid named John McFadden who worked at the Pacific Electric Railway DID try to save the RR). But, alas, that's where it ends. The acting was painfully flat and almost felt like a first reading of a script at a high school play. None of the characters were even very compelling, except the YVRR itself. There were a couple of throw away scenes that depicted the racism against Asians, but they could have easily landed on the cutting room floor with no loss to the movie. The soundtrack is appropriate, but the abysmal acting kills this movie. It breaks my heart to say it, but with just better acting and a slightly better script and you have a great love letter to railroading history.