Bluebird

One of those understated dramas that come out and no one sees them, but I think there are approximately 100 on this list alone. Fantastic set of performances from a series of "I know them" actors, who you've seen in something but just can't nail down their names. Amy Morton plays the lead and like usual she is fantastic, a character actor who is finally given the chance to shine as a bus driver who forgets a young kid on a bus, who then freezes to death. Fantastic use of 35mm to create such a dusk atmosphere, Edmands has a wonderful sense of control and uses the whites of the snow to make the landscapes seem endless. A very wonderfully smart screenplay combined with smart direction, each scene plays out for the actors to take control, and creates an acting showcase. Very subtle and very dark, depressing but remarkably beautiful in the way the characters form.

This movie has your typical well-made Indie feel as far as the plot and the film quality. The characters and the acting choices made were realistic and good all-around solid acting from all the characters. Many of the actors did a superb job, and expect to see them in some upcoming films that involve bigger budgets and production.

It has an slow-moving story line that gives plenty of time to develop many of the characters. This Indie delivers, as many do, a slice of life. There is nothing too risky or pushing the envelope, just a solid piece of work that all involved delivered and unashamedly can add to their resume.

A female bus driver makes an error of judgement that has bad consequences for those near to her.

This sounded quite promising but unfortunately it lacks any impact and just meanders along to it's desperately forgettable conclusion. I found that it was difficult at times to understand what was being said as everyone just seemed to mumble. I know it is supposed to be a character study but even those films need something to happen occasionally throughout the film. Literally nothing happens at all.

The acting is adequate but there are no stand out performances which films of this type really need to excel.

This is a drab and depressing film with only the great scenery to add any light relief. The ending is abrupt and you just wonder what was the point of it all.

This is a very disappointing film that really isn't worth watching.

Not all great films are full of explosions or fight scenes, and this one is not meant to be. Having spent many years living in that part of Maine, I can tell you this film does more to portray the feel of both small-town life and the slow-plodding drudge of a Maine winter than any other film I've yet seen. While I do love Steven King, this is NOT a film for fans of his movies, but people who love his descriptions of the land, the life, and the feel of Maine will either love it, or at least relate to it in some way. Slow paced and atmospheric, the film portrays the inevitable interweaving of lives in a town surrounded by vast wilderness, as well as conveying the oppressiveness of that wilderness itself. A Maine winter is nothing to fool with, (and neither is an old Mainer.)

Debut writer/director Lance Edmands puts an admirable touch on his film Bluebird starring John Slattery and Amy Morton. The story and overall aura of the film feels more in line with films like Winter's Bone (2010) and The Sweet Hereafter (1997) but lacking the emotional punch needed to grab the audience fully. Ultimately the film explores many of its central characters in an interesting manner but leaves many questions unanswered and not in the indie-flair way that can still feel satisfying. It's the powerful performance of Amy Morton and the efforts of the rest of the cast that gives the film any lasting impression.

The film takes place in the frozen woods of a small Maine town. After Lesley (Morton) makes a tragic mistake that shatters the balance of the community, not even her husband Richard (Slattery) or her daughter Paula (Emily Meade), can rid her of the overbearing guilt that has taken over. As multiple stories take place including that of Marla (Louisa Krause), Crystal (Margo Martindale), and young Owen (Quinn Bard), all of their lives become connected in a way none of them could have imagined, perhaps forever.

Where Edmands succeeds brilliantly is in capturing the essence of a small, American town full of authentic and genuine characters that feel profoundly real. Working as an editor on Tiny Furniture (2010), the film that helped Hollywood discover HBO's "Girls" writer and star Lena Dunham, Edmands keeps a consistent tone that feels cold and convincing. However, the film never fully takes off for the emotional connection to fully take place with the central characters. The cinematography by Jody Lee Lipes creates a sensational atmosphere that falls in line with Debra Granik's Winter's Bone.

As aforementioned, Amy Morton is a true revelation, delivering her finest acting performance of her career. Morton, a wonderful character actress, is probably best remembered as Thomas Ian Nicholas' mother in the 90s hit Rookie of the Year (1993) and George Clooney's disgruntled sister in Up in the Air (2009). She manages to step into her own fierce abilities as an actress that feels much like Melissa Leo's Oscar- nominated turn in Frozen River (2008). Morton is aware of her surroundings but she gets completely lost in Lesley and becomes the epicenter of sentiment. She's best-in-show and the main take away for the film's slow roast to a finale that feels unsettled and unfocused.

Slattery takes a full swing at the ball but ultimately comes up short due to being overshadowed by his co-star and having a character to portray that the audience never fully understands. Great actors like Margo Martindale and Adam Driver are fine but completely wasted and don't have enough to contribute. As Marla, Louisa Krause has the most controversial player to represent but doesn't manage to get to the next level of ferocity. Played somewhat like Naomi Watts in 21 Grams (2003), the character begins to build but fails to emote a trait that feels believable. Granted, the character is meant to be hated and completely unsympathetic but the screenplay lacks insight into the motivation behind her point of view.

If anyone enjoys a leisured look into an American town where emotions are not expressed except in tears and faces, Bluebird might work for many. Losing steam in the middle, the film never fully recovers and leaves you ultimately unsatisfied.

Oscar CHANCES: Amy Morton for Lead Actress

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