Rainbow Time

I usually not big fan of "romantic comedies" and "slice of life" indie films. I'm also critical about films that use mentally challenged characters to gain sympathy from they audience. But this one did not do that, and it was great!

It's not perfect, but it is really awesome!

Rainbow Time begins as a pretty lighthearted comedy with some dramatic elements. The second half relies more on drama with some minor comedic elements. The first half is more successful, but it still works overall. The characters and plot are off-beat and keep the viewer interested enough to want to see how the characters develop throughout.

The film relies heavily on the acting ability of the three leads. Luckily, all three perform excellently and play their roles almost flawlessly. Rainbow Time does not try to be something it's not - it tells a pretty simple story about some simple people with common problems. If you like any of the lead actors, give it a shot.

This film manages to explore some difficult issues without being depressing or condescending.

The main character, Shonzi is developmentally delayed and he uses the sympathy this often evokes in others, as a weapon to manipulate them.

This is a challenging film to make fun, enjoyable and positive but Linas Phillips, the director and writer (who plays Shonzi), succeeds in doing so.

The film provides good insight into the challenges faced by Shonzi and those around him, but it avoids being tub thumping and over-emotional. The characters and the audience are treated as adults; sexuality and disability are explored with confidence and realism.

I tend to see films that explore "issues", as educational rather than entertaining. But this is different. It is entertaining but I also felt I had effortlessly learned something new by the end of the film.

Executive produced by the Duplass Brothers, writer/director/co-star Linas Phillips' slice-of-life comedic drama "Rainbow Time" is a fairly engaging and accomplished little film that seems to have flown really under the radar for most audiences. A sort-of character piece that explores the lives of two brothers and the people around them, each with their own set of problems and circumstances, the movie is a successful and often amusing little tale that delivers enough consistent chuckles and contemplative moments of thoughts that I would definitely recommend it to open-minded viewers. Sure, I do have some minor squabbles with the occasionally shaky narrative, but on the whole, yeah... I found myself pretty much completely entertained and charmed throughout the 90 minute run-time.

Timm Sharp and Melanie Lynskey portray young couple Todd and Lindsay, who are going through a bit of stress as Lindsay is in the middle of a messy divorce that's being strung out by her ex-husband. At the same time, Todd has a shaky relationship with his brother "Shonzi" (director Phillips), whom suffers from a major developmental disability and lives with their widower father Peter, played by the criminally underrated Tobin Bell. Shonzi, who doesn't really understand social cues or boundaries, is obsessed with making movies and struggles with what can only be described as an incredibly overactive libido, constantly hitting on and making inadvertently inappropriate comments to virtually every woman he meets. When Peter is left hospitalized following an apparent heart-attack, Todd and Lindsay are forced to take Shonzi into their home to look after him while his father recovers, resulting in a great deal of personal drama as the situation brings about some troubling revelations about both Todd and Shonzi.

The film's strengths lay in its absolutely remarkable performances, and for the sensitive exploration of sexual and romantic issues and themes that many people face in their own lives. Phillips is exceptionally good as Shonzi, and I really appreciate the fact that film doesn't sugar-coat the character and instead treats him as a real person- he's flawed, often selfish, and sometimes manipulative... yet you still root for him because you get the feeling that perhaps his family just didn't know how to deal with him and weren't able to teach him proper self-discipline. He's very likable despite his rampant faults, and you completely understand where he's coming from. Sharp is fantastic as the troubled Todd, and gives the film a great sense of pathos. He's a very real person, and his struggles with doing the right thing by both Shonzi and Lindsay make for some compelling moments, especially when some of his awkward and troubling secrets are revealed. Lynskey is exceptional in her role, playing Lindsay as a sort-of New Age, modern feminist whose trying to juggle her roles as girlfriend to Todd while also trying to be a bit of en emotional mentor to Shonzi. And I gotta give a lot of credit to Tobin Bell in his supporting role as Peter. Bell is known to most for his more sinister and threatening roles, including his outstanding turn as the lead villain in the "Saw" film series... but a lot of people seem to forget that he's just a darned good actor with a great range. And though his screen time is a bit limited, he plays the role of a grieving father trying to do the best he can living with a disabled son to perfection.

The film also excels in how intelligently and thoughtfully it handles many issues that people in today's world face. A large focus of the film is placed on the various sexual hangups and intimacy issues that Todd, Lindsay and Shonzi face in their lives. Things like pornographic addiction, trust issues, voyeurism and sexual addition are touched on and developed in a grounded and realistic way while also occasionally giving the film a moment of levity with a couple laughs thrown in. It never feels overdone, nor improperly handled, and it helps to define the storyline, characters and conflicts in a very unique and touching way. A lot of people have their little kinks, worries, insecurities or ticks when it comes to these subjects, but they're usually just made into broad jokes or slap-sticky gags when explored in movies. So it's pretty refreshing to see a film like this that explores these ideas head-on and in a true-to-life fashion.

That being said, I do think there are some inherent issues with the storytelling, mainly in the department of pacing and structure. At only 90 minutes, the film does feel a bit too brisk for its own good at times, and as a result certain characters and themes do feel a bit underdeveloped. And yet, at the same time it can drag here and there, leading to that unfortunate situation you sometimes get where a film can be both a tad bit jarring while also being occasionally dull. And it does have a somewhat negative impact on a few key scenes. Not enough that it ruins the film by any means, but enough that I would say it can be fairly noticeable. I don't think it's the fault of the script necessarily... it just feels like perhaps the movie could have used another pass in the editing department. A few scenes could be tightened up, while others could be expanded upon.

Still, I can't say that it has too major of an impact on the movie, because on the whole, I think "Rainbow Time" is genuinely quite good. The performances are absolutely incredible, the themes it touches on are relevant and important, and it's definitely a heartwarming and touching experience. It's a great exploration of family, relationships and love of all sorts, and I would highly recommend it to anyone who is interested. And so, I give it a very good 8 out of 10. Check it out!

Seeing the 'Duplass Brothers Productions' flash on the screen before the film stirs up more excitement for me than when I see A24. Film... TV... They have their hands in the weirdest, most obscure productions that leave a massive imprint on the world of Celluloid. Love em or Hate em, they always make me feel something and they always come correct with the originality. Great work here!

Linas Phillips directs, produces, writes... Turning one of those 'uncomfortable truths' in life, that we admittedly love so much, into something organic and introspective. This film somehow escaped my radar, as I was extremely surprised to see the 2016 Release Date on a film that popped up on ISIA in 2018. This definitely feels like a must see!!! Hopefully 'Rainbow Time' finds it's rightful audience sooner than later!