Loving Annabelle

I'll begin this review by saying I didn't dislike this film. It was well acted, and looked very very good for an independent film. I guess I just felt like I knew everything that was going to happen before it did. At the beginning of the movie, the scenes seemed very trite and underdeveloped; after a few lines of dialogue and a couple of cuts, we're abruptly taken away to the next part of the story. Because of this rushed feeling to the movie, I never got to know the supporting characters, who had plenty of potential for further development.

The one thing I find redeeming about this film is the tension that builds between the two leads. The filmmaker does a good job of teasing the audience time and time again, to the point where I just gave up any hope of them getting together. She successfully took the film to a point where she could take one of two routes: they end up together, or they never take that chance. The choice she makes works for the tone of the film, even if the ending is a tad abrupt.

All in all, the filmmaker definitely has talent, I just wish there was less ambiguity in the narrative and more character development.

After hearing the "buzz" surrounding this movie, I finally got my chance to see Loving Annabelle at its premiere in San Jose this weekend (hooray for my girlfriend for scoring tickets to the sold out show!) I've never written a review before but I really dig this movie, so I will do my best! My initial reaction after watching was....they finally got it right, more specifically, writer Katherine Brooks got it right.

I've never really been a fan of "lesbian" movies because I could never get into the story lines or characters; they've all seemed a bit over the top. The only movie I could actually relate to up until now was "All Over Me" If you haven't seen it...go rent it!! Loving Annabelle is such a straightforward love story that fortunately doesn't involve lesbian circus performers or travelin' hippie painters. It's an amazing, well-written story that I can relate to being the product of Catholic schooling. The best part...the super hot sex scene! Now, now yes it was HOT but I loved it because like the movie, it to was straightforward, passionate, necessary. Thank god there weren't any crazy camera angles, I mean lesbians have sex!! so thank you Katherine Brooks for not showing just a hand run up and down a body...that would have been sooo boring and unrealistic!! I give this movie 2 thumbs way up for giving me something I can relate to, for being such a straightforward story about love, letting go, putting happiness first, etc.

Now as an added bonus, since it was the premiere I was able to nervously chat with writer/director Katherine Brooks and the 2 leads (ALL HOT by the way) and they were all so super cool so it makes the movie that much more enjoyable

Loving Annabelle is so intense that it is real. The on screen chemistry between Erin Kelly and Diane Giadry is undeniable. Every glance, every touch is heart felt and passionate. You can not help who you fall in love with and this movie is a great love story. Phenomenal and sensual! It is hard to believe that Erin has been on this project for over four years, and Diane a mere three days before shooting. When you put your heart and mind into a script you become that character, when you kiss or dance or touch with that character you are becoming them. Erin and Diane became their characters and the intensity became great chemistry and passion. I have watched this movie several times and each time in draws me in closer. Love is powerful and when it hits you, you have no control.

I'm a woman, straight...{not sure straight or lesbian should have any bearing} but, I found the love scene very arousing and tender! I agree that the intimacy and conflict that the two shared together building up to that moment was what help make that experience so soft and sensual. The struggle you could feel that Simone had with her feelings for Annabelle and then the decision she made to give into those feelings at that moment made my heart ache for her. Putting aside the inner struggle Simone was fighting of wanting to show her love for Annabelle along with the conflict of the student, teacher, relationship that would definitely have legal ramifications, who would want to have to face the grave consequences of making such a professional and moral choice...which struggle only added to the intensity of all the feeling that was unleashed during the consummation and sharing of their deep feelings of love and intimacy one for the other.

It all made me start to think about what it is to really love someone. Not based on gender or orientation, but genuine love for a person for who they are and what they bring out in you as an individual by having a connection with them. I know this is considered a "Lesbian" film,{if you are into labels} but, I can't help but think that there are many individuals who struggle with their connections with others in their intimate relationships, not because they may be "Straight or Lesbian", but because they do not connect on a resonating level of intimacy with the individual with whom they are wanting or trying to connect with. Such as Simone with Michael. Seems she wanted it to work, but it just wasn't there. Does it mean she is a Lesbian because she has loved another woman previously? I don't know...sometimes I'm not sure we get to choose when and who we will connect with on those deeper levels of love. The movie does not suggest that Annabelle has not had male partners before as well. In fact, it kind of leads us to believe she has. I think that this is a great movie that shows we can't always determine who it is we may be drawn toward to resonate on deeper levels of love and intimacy. The movie made me think of the opportunities I may have missed by not being open to nurturing the love I have felt for various individuals, male or female and the individual growth and possibilities that are lost because of not following those loving, tender feelings.

I think all women should see it. Maybe we are all missing some great connections with others because of our fear of being open to love just for the sake of being loving! I'm sure each one of us at some point in our life has experienced on some level the struggles that Simone and Annabelle respectfully face. Not the moral or professional dilemma, but of whether to love or not to love....that truly is the question... isn't it?

The look of Loving Annabelle is very classic. The 35mm film looks glossy and the colors are crisp. The film LOOKS pretty. The story also has a classic 3-act structure and is very well-written. These traditional aspects are really interesting to note since the subject of the film is rather modern. The "unconventional" love story turns many notions on their heads: student-teacher sexual relations; the possible effects of a Catholic school upbringing or environment on an individual; and same-sex love, if anyone out there is still bigoted enough to take offense to that.

What I liked about the film was that it was character-driven, and not plot-driven. The emotional growth of the characters took center stage to the possibly sensational aspects. I felt carried along the storyline without any forced-ness or jumps in thought. The plot line was smooth, and had enough twists and turns to keep me from knowing what would happen next. I totally identified with the main characters and cared about them (individually) very deeply besides my interest in whether or not they would get together.

The look of the film, the quality of the story, and the TERRIFIC acting (both Annabelle and Simone are perfectly cast) give Loving Annabelle the depth and sheen of a much higher-budget film. (Though the emotional resonance of the story makes talking about budgets almost crass.) The music is also terrific. The soundtrack would be great to listen to as its own entity. This is the film that I've most enjoyed in a long time and have recommended it highly to anyone who will listen to me since I first saw it.