One More Time

I watched this movie to see how the dynamic between Christopher Walken and Amber Heard would play out. In short it didn't work. Much like most of the movie

Amber Heard, is Chris Walken's Indie-black-sheep daughter who returns to the comfort of the home when life and money gets too hard. When she gets there, her family feud with her more-than-perfect sister and it's-all-about-me-famous-singer-dad is rekindled

The embers of the family's dysfunction's continue to smolder throughout the movie - much like Heard's continuous smoking of hand-rolled joints.

The move is way too slow, and I was left not caring much for any of the characters.

Highlights: Christopher Walken crooning his way through a Sinatra-esque song, and Kelli Garner's (Heard's sister) ice-queen-and-ice-pick-sharp 'offer' to Walken's 5th wife near the end of the movie.

Lowlights: Everything in between.

"It's not a comeback, I never went anywhere." Jude (Heard) lives her life on her own terms and does what she wants. Unfortunately this doesn't turn out like she hopes and is forced to move back home. When her famous singer father Paul (Walken) tells the family he is beginning his comeback old tensions rise up. Now Jude, her sister and her father are all clashing in a typical dysfunctional family fashion with only two outcomes, work together and become closer, or lose everything. This is not a bad movie at all. The actors are all very good and the story is interesting and watchable. The music is good and I enjoyed everything about this. The only problem was that when it was over my reaction was pretty much, well, that was OK. This is nothing that is so good to talk to everyone about, nor bad enough to tell people not to watch. While I liked the movie I think the sign of a really good one is that it makes you feel something, this one didn't. Overall, a movie that is watchable and entertaining, but it is really just that. Not good or bad, just watchable. I give this a B-.

In an era of recycled comic book sequel films and films praised more for their technical aspects than their substance, 'When I Live My Life Over Again' is very refreshing. First of all, Amber Heard is great in this breakout role for her, and I have no significant qualms with her performance, or really, anything in the film. Christopher Walken, however, steals the show, delivering his best performance in years, and is probably my personal favorite of his. He perfectly personifies the aging, listless, dad, and his low key style blends perfectly with Amber Heard's more loud and reckless style. Ultimately, this film, without giving away too much, is everything an independent film should be, and seeing it at the TriBeCa Film Festival was quite the treat.

Jude (Amber Heard) is a singer and songwriter struggling to make it out of the shadows of her famous father Paul Lombard (Christopher Walken). She's a mess. She returns home to his estate where he reminisces about the good old days and dreams of a comeback opening for The Flaming Lips. Her sister Corinne (Kelli Garner) lives there with her husband Tim (Hamish Linklater) and their son David. Jude has a history with Tim. There's her stepmother Lucille (Ann Magnuson) and manager friend Alan (Oliver Platt).

Walken is nice and the movie works with him best. Heard is playing a more worn-down sad bitter character. It's harder to watch with her as the lead. Another actress would have more fun with the character. It needs some comedy to balance out the darker material. Also her singing isn't great. This does have some appeal but it doesn't make it as indie fare. Honestly, this would be more interesting with Walken as the lead.

Although there are story elements to "One More Time" that I liked and it's a real shame that the film hampers itself by making it so difficult for the audience to care about the folks in the picture. To me, it's almost impossible to make a really good film given this serious handicap.

When the film begins, Jude (Amber Heard) is awakening from a one- night stand. She's overslept and is late for work...and folks are waiting and waiting for her to arrive. Apparently, this isn't unusual for Jude. What is unusual is her soon leaving New York City to go stay with her father, famous old-time crooner Paul Lombard (Christopher Walken). Apparently, their relationship is stormy but she has no choice as she's about to be thrown out of her apartment for not paying her rent. But things aren't all rosy back with dad as their relationship, and every relationship in this odd family, is severely strained. Paul is a serial philanderer who only thinks of himself, Jude's sister is a demanding and rather high-strung young woman and the step-mother is nicknamed 'Satan' by her step-kids. Through the course of the film, most of these folks remain true to their life patterns...destroying themselves and those around them. And, by the end of the film, there's a vague suggestion that perhaps Jude is tired of all this. If this summary sounds a bit bleak and depressing, then you pretty much get the picture, though it at least has some nice singing throughout the film.

The movie has some nice acting. While I found it hard to believe Walken could be a crooner, it was an interesting character and a nice stretch for him. Heard also was able to show that she could not only act but sing rather nicely. But nice acting and an interesting location shoot in the Hamptons aren't enough and the film is one I wouldn't rush out to see but might perhaps might catch when it appears on Netflix one day when you are looking for an undemanding film. Not bad....but also not particularly enjoyable either.