Niagara, Niagara

An excellent film with sublime acting. I never liked Robin Tunney until I saw this film - I became an instant fan. Tunney and Henry Thomas have perfect chemistry together. I wish I could see them in a romantic comedy with Fairuza Balk (the best witch). Henry is a muffin and a fine actor (the only interesting thing in Gangs of New York). Michael Parks is great and the soundtrack is amazing. A truly tragic love story. My favorite film and one of my favorite soundtracks.

I tuned in to this movie because there was nothing else to watch. I was immediately sucked in by the characters.

Robin Tunney is nothing less than spectacular in this film. Her portrayal of a mentally ill woman is both moving and 100% believable. Really, this sort of thing is not easy to do. She pulls it off fantastically.

We know early on this film is going to end tragically, but you cannot take your eyes off of it. The characters do stupid things, but unlike most Hollywood movies where people do stupid things because the plot demands it, these people do stupid things because the are not right in the head - and the things they do are completely consistent with their characters.

This is just a great example of film making IMHO. Great writing, great acting, great directing. A film for people who think film can be more than mindless entertainment.

The film explores a couple of rejects, one rich with psychological problems, and the other poor with a messed up home, who go on a quest. Kind of the antithesis of 'It Happened One Night', the characters (main and supporting) are all tortured in their unique ways.

Back in 97, this played at a little theater at St Anthony Main in Mpls. I saw it with a girl I was very much into, but can't remember what I thought of the film. I just remember the girl, who was very sweet with one of the prettiest faces I've ever seen. Modest Mouse was the soundtrack of our Spring that year, which kinda fits the mood of this story.

Upon rewatching, it was hard to not think of this as a more realistic version of Mad Love. That being said, this one is a sad, raw and beautiful movie. Sometimes funny, sometimes frustrating, somewhat dreary (or at least moody) and definitely touching.

Overall, it's a well done indie film with excellent performances that I'm glad I revisited.

Like many others, I watched this movie on one of the indie movie channels on TV, mainly intrigued by the opening sequence (the shots of the characters shoplifting reminded me of the Breakfast Club for some reason--I think it was the trenchcoat and hi-tops) and unusual description. I didn't go into it with very high expectations, I guess because it was hard for me to get past "The Craft" in my mind. But I was truly shocked, and touched, by this film.

At first, the two characters seemed so strange, it was like they were trying TOO hard to be bizarre. But as the film progressed, their behavior took a backseat to the story that emerged--simply that of a star-crossed love, and the difficulty of being different in a society that has no place for you.

In a story that seems most familiar, the two go from one locale to another, seeking medicine, and comfort, but are turned away. The only friendly face they find is a self-ostracized woodsman, a self-confessed chicken lover. Just see it and you'll understand.

There were a couple of Harold and Maude references, including the final scene over Niagara Falls. It was just so powerful, the tension building to a moment you knew would be devastating...but it's almost impossible to accept how devastating it becomes. Left my crying for a good fifteen minutes. But it wasn't all sad. Marcy's disorder provides intentional comic relief at times, proving that sometimes laughing at the situation you're in is the only way to keep from going mad.

I will rent and watch again.