Loren & Rose

IN A NUTSHELL: This lovely film was written and directed by award-winning filmmaker Russell Brown (Search Engines, The Blue Tooth Virgin). Congratulations on creating a fine piece of art.

The film has already won many awards at a variety of film festivals!

The story is about Rose, who is a legendary actress trying to revive her career. Loren is a promising filmmaker. Over the course of their many encounters, a deep friendship evolves as their love of art, understanding of grief, and faith in life's potential guide them through personal and creative transformations. Kelly Blatz and Jacqueline Bisset star with a chemistry that is, at once, authentic and intoxicating.

I had the great pleasure of interviewing both the director, Russell Brown, and the lead actor, Kelly Blatz. Be sure to watch my interview on my Movie Review Mom YouTube channel! I was only given 15 minutes for the interview. Drats! I could have talked to them all day long! They're both so talented and genuinely nice guys. I'll share the link here as soon as it goes live.

THINGS I LIKED: It was wonderful to see Jacqueline Bisset in a movie again. She gives an impeccable performance filled with dignified exuberance. She is 77 years old and still looks fantastic. We get to hear her speak French and even sing a little. The director, Russell Brown, told me that she didn't want to sing at all, so she said to him, "You do it!" He started singing a song and then she said, "Fine. I'll do it." ha ha I really enjoyed Kelly Blatz's performance as well. He seemed perfectly cast in his role. I had never seen him in anything before but now I'm a huge fan! I have so many movies of his to catch up on! Fun fact: he was in a band for 6 years called Capra. Here's another fun fact: He dated Ryan Reynolds' wife, Blake Lively, for 4 years until 2007.

The cast also includes Gia Carides (My Big Fat Greek Wedding), Paul Sand (Sweet Land), Erin Cahill ("Sleepy Hollow") and Rebecca Noble ("CSI: Vegas") I love it when movies reference other movies. In the case of this film, the two main stars talk about filmmaking as an art and how to do it honestly, creatively, and authentically. It's fascinating to hear their thoughts about creativity and inspiration. Jacqueline Bisset said about this movie, "It's an intimate story that reflects so much of what I've felt and thought about being in this business." We spend a lot of time at the dinner table with them. You're going to get hungry while watching this. Ciera Thompson served as the food stylist, a position that was actually very important in this movie. The film, itself, is divided into a 3-course viewing meal. The appetizer is Act 1 designed to whet our appetite as we're introduced to the characters. The entrée takes a deeper dive into the hearts and souls of the leading characters. The dessert is a sweet, and tender farewell in this story of an indelible bond forged between a promising young filmmaker and an iconic actress. I loved that idea of plating a beautiful film to be tasted and consumed.

Jacqueline Bisset's character calls crème Brule the king of desserts. Yum. What's your favorite dessert? Comment down below! I used to teach classes at the famous Le Cordon Bleu Culinary College...and I have the weight gain to prove it. Sadly, the school closed a few years ago. The famous campus in Paris is still pumping out fantastic chefs, but the campuses in the United States all closed due to some legislation that passed during the Obama administration. Our campus spent $50,000 a year on butter alone! Ah, French cooking!

The 1 hour, 16-minute mark is so touching and powerful. Bring tissues!

There is a conversation in the movie about directors using the zoom-in effect too much in a movie. The comment made me laugh because director Russell Brown seemed to enjoy using that technique often as well. It's absolutely appropriate in this film because most of the scenes focused on only two people having entertaining, insightful, and intelligent conversations.

The musical score by Mike Sawitzke is absolutely lovely. I loved the song at the end. It was called "Who Knows Where the Time Goes" performed by Sandy Denny.

There is something special about Paul Sand that made me fall in love with his character instantly.

Jacqueline Bisset's character bemoans how Hollywood treats aging actresses. She's right: it's tough; however, there have been quite a few films released in recent years that feature older actresses like Jane Fonda, Diane Keaton, Mary Steenburgen, Candice Bergen, and Lily Tomlin. I'm so happy to see there is still a place in films for aging stars. And all of those leading ladies are aging beautifully, I might add.

We're shown helpful screen cards that tell us how much time has passed between the dinner meetings we observe.

Scattered throughout the one-on-one dinner scenes between the two leads are scenes that show how all of the famous actress's belongings are being auctioned off after her death. It's a harsh look at the reality that we're all going to leave this earth one day and wonder what things of true meaning we'll leave behind: valuable treasures, a legacy, children, our work? Three of my parents recently passed away only weeks apart from one another. It was extremely painful and heartbreaking to go through their precious belongings and have to decide whether to keep them, give them away, or sell them for a fraction of the worth they had: a lifetime placed into a box. This movie does a great job illustrating that profound, sobering experience. When I mentioned in the interview about the character passing away, the director said we don't really know that she died! He said she just sort of disappears.

The movie also illustrates the rare friendships we find in our lives where the emotional connection is more powerful than we ever anticipated it would be.

THINGS I DIDN'T LIKE: The movie poster doesn't quite catch the elegance or insightfulness of this movie.

The conversations seem a bit indulgent and pretentious. Even still, that's probably how it is in Hollywood and these characters really do care for each other.

It's slow-moving, but if you're patient, you'll enjoy savoring the meal one bite at a time.

Some viewers might complain that the conversations aren't very realistic, but we have to remember the conversation is between two artists in Hollywood where craft is internalized and pontificated upon. Talented filmmakers and actors take their craft very seriously...and should. I loved hearing the characters' thoughts on the art they were trying to make. There is enough garbage in the world. Let's have more elevating art that makes us think and feel!

TIPS FOR PARENTS: Kids will be completely bored. (The movie is mostly two adults talking.) One of the characters is gay and discusses his challenges.

Some talk of intimate relations.

Some "light" profanity.

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In a two-hander, Loren & Rose (2022), Jacqueline Bisset brings a lifetime of experiences to develop her character. The art of listening resonates throughout this film in a series of conversations with her co-star Kelly Blatz. Their communication speaks to empathy, integrity, and loyalty in memorable ways. There are few performers who have appeared in award-nominated or -winning films over seven decades from the late 1960s to the present. Moreover, there are fewer actors who have filmed in as many diverse locations around the world. Bisset's performance defines a career that bridges Old Hollywood and independent film in a sui generis manner.

Greetings again from the darkness. In addition to being a talented filmmaker, writer-director Russell Brown must be an admirer of movie history. His latest serves up tributes to some classics, and even borrows directly from some ... the two most obvious being MY DINNER WITH ANDRE (1981) and CITIZEN KANE (1941). As evidence, the viewer will notice the vast majority of the film features two characters conversing over meals while dining in a restaurant, and the narrator walks us through his history and relationship with the most interesting and intriguing character.

Up and coming film director Loren (Kelly Blatz) is on the cusp of his debut feature film thanks to the film festival success of his recent short film. He's meeting legendary actress Rose Martin (Jacqueline Bisset) at her favorite restaurant to discuss a lead role, which would be a comeback of sorts for the aging actress now best remembered for her turn in the cheesy "Mega-Gator's Mom". The young director is a bit insecure and anxious about this next career step, while Rose is impressed that he knows some of her more obscure work, and begins to steer the conversation deeper, offering advice and counseling - some which might be construed as manipulative to a degree.

Two framing structures are at play here. The straightforward one comes with title cards during the three meals when we see these two meet: Appetizer, Main Course, and Dessert. The appetizer is their getting to know each other and work towards the first film. The main course occurs after that first film when the two go much deeper into philosophy, art, relationships, etc. Finally, the dessert is served years later when the dynamics are much different for a number of reasons. The second structure is a recurring look at the auctioning off of Rose's memorabilia and personal items. All of this blends to form an unusual friendship.

Veteran actor Paul Sand ("St Elsewhere") deserves mention as Phil, Rose's friend and the restaurateur who chats with them during their three meals. He adds an entertaining personality to the mostly talky proceedings. And in all fairness, it should be noted that many will find this a slow-moving, uneventful film with little in the way of plot. That would not be an incorrect conclusion, yet there is actually much going on here. These are two artistic personas from different generations and their exchanges take us down backroads of perspectives molded by their own experiences and expectations. Rose tries to guide Loren through her stories and opinions, and much of their dialogue involves the nuances of living and dying - Rose has learned, and Loren is learning.

Ms. Bisset is such a joy to watch, and she seems to be all-in for the role. She along with Jane Fonda, Charlotte Rampling, and others, have proven that fulfilling and interesting roles are being written for aging actresses, and they are certainly capitalizing on this. For this film, legendary actress Jacqueline Bisset plays (fictional) legendary actress Rose Martin, and we can't help but apply some biographical symmetry. Filmmaker Russell Brown has infused some depth into her character, and then he memorably plays Sandy Denny's version of "Who Knows Where the Time Goes" over the closing credits. Judy Collins may have delivered a softer version, but it's Ms. Denny who delivers a haunting interpretation of her own song.

In select theaters on June 23, 2023.