A Lonely Place for Dying

First I couldn't believe the reviews and ratings. Then I checked the people and of course, they have left only one review (for this movie), which makes me think that those reviews are fake. I mean, they gotta be, since no one could take this film seriously, in any way. Directing, plot, acting, editing...so bad. Sound was obviously captured either on a cheap equipment, or by someone who doesn't know how to plug mics properly. I couldn't understand half of dialog. Also there's a loud noise on many places, as if they were making sound louder without eliminating noise afterwards. Editing - OMG where to start. There are PLENTY of dead frames between scenes (1 or 2 frames long, and noticeable for people who know anything about making films). All kinds of transitions, as if someone was checking what FinalCut Pro can do, browsing it's presets and adding stuff. Directing - I think there was no directing. Director probably held camera in his hand saying "now walk" and shooting from the most boring locations possible. I got seriously angry realizing how many great angles he missed. Even if he only followed the director's little black book of angles (which he didn't) it would look much better. Now it looks like when a parent shoots his kid's recital from a single spot in the audience. Extremely frustrating to watch. So I wanted to check the director who tortured me for the whole duration of this film and I discovered that this is the only thing he's done, on his own. Thanks for wasting my time. The only reason I watched the film was it's poster, which reminds me of some Tarantino flick. That is where all the similarity of course, ends. Painful to watch, better be avoid. Don't say I didn't warn you.

INGREDIENTS

One (1) of the Russians from 15 Minutes (but temper him till we can empathize--in this case with a standout performance by Ross Marquand that in many aspects leaves in the dust the rest of the community theater cast who get any real screen time, aside from a couple big-name-recognition cameos that do leave you wanting more).

One (1) Bob Woodward-like character from All the President's Men.

One (1) '70's parody detective character from Tom Jane's Stander.

One (1) Ed Harris-like, Fedora-wearing Parcher-based character from A Beautiful Mind.

One (1) Serpico look-alike good-guy-turned-bad-guy. Pinch (to taste) of generic, disposable "red-shirt" henchmen (or is it now "hench-people" or perhaps "hench-persons"?) extras.

DIRECTIONS

On a mise-en-scène stovetop with lighting inspired by the look and feel of Peckinpah's Wild Bunch, stir in the plot of the SciFi film Enemy Mine over very low heat, bind one character to a chair a la Reservoir Dogs (but "torture light," please…rest assured that no ears, or 'nads--"I get my kicks above the waistline, Sunshine!"--were harmed in the making of this movie). Add a touch of virtually any and all Die Hard films, then barely simmer for 94 minutes, and…

What you'll be rewarded with here is a technically proficient, impressively-executed-for-an-incredibly-low-budget, film that's touring the festival circuit in 2010-11. A Lonely Place for Dying definitely clears the bar technically (and kudos on achieving that look for only $200k), but just sneaks under the fence creatively, albeit with a few memorable lines and set pieces. Aside from achieving some very nice visual effects, enviable ambiance, and the accompaniment of a very professional and dense musical score (that unfortunately sometimes seems to cover up "important" dialog) at really rock-bottom prices, there's not a lot to see here that you haven't already seen, BUT…with the right backing and a real budget, Robert Rodriguez-style director Justin Eugene Evans clearly demonstrates that he has his technical chops well in order, and he just might pull off a darned good film in the near term if he stays focused and motivated...and uses fresher, home-grown ingredients!

Plusses; some nice cinematography, great acting by Marquand, pretty cool basic plot, nice retro vibe and instagram feel Minusses; Some ham-fisted acting by the actors. Still bearable though. Robert's character is just a bit too soft to believe his back story... He seems better suited to a family feel good movie. Some unnecessary details that aren't developed. The basic crime/fundament is really poorly described and weak as a basis for what it gives rise to. Worth a watch but almost comes across as the 70's gun drama the retro vibe would like to be suggesting, if it weren't for Marquand's strong performance. What more can I say.

This whole thing should be packed in a solid 15 min short. Why stretching it so long when there is no substance, or artistic quality to make people go through it all? That was a big mistake. Directing is extremely bad. you're not supposed to pay attention to directing, but this movie makes you pay almost ALL attention to it - in a very frustrating way. I can't explain it, I did not feel comfortable for some reason, being so much "aware" of directing and photography. This movie can't really compete with anything "real". It feels like a home project, or a school project (done by a non talented kid who just wants to get a passing grade). Sorry, I wouldn't give this "project" a pass. My advise - skip.

Boring, no action, horrible directing (and editing), music is equally bad. Acting was so-so, but it seems like actors behave by instinct and not by script. It's like they were improvising the whole time, guessing lines. Very bad