Miss Monday

1998 Sundance Film Festival award winning "Miss Monday" transports us to a state of mind we all want to deny, but need to see. The director, Benson Lee, makes us laugh with some comedy, then slams down a serious and sensitive subject on our heads. This extreme change of emotions is what creates the overall ambience of the movie. The main character is brilliantly acted by Andrea Hart, and sexy James Hicks' Roman is our guide in this movie full of powerful emotions and seamless storytelling. Absolutely brilliant.

This is a excellent example of so many excellent works of Independent Cinema. It has been nominated for and won several special festival awards yet It seems to have been ignored at all levels of the film "Critical" community, Thus dooming it to near oblivion.

The writing may have flaws and some of the acting goes over the top a few times. Please remember this is not a $120,000,000 Universal Studios Blockbuster. Even with it's minor flaws It is a very surprising movie.

The story begins in a simple comedic fashion giving the viewer a false sense of security as to the probable story line. But just when the viewer thinks they have it pegged the writer and actors reveal the real message through a series of carefully constructed and well performed revelations about both main characters.

To the viewer who is willing to allow themselves to be open both intellectually and emotionally, this film may cause them to question perceptions of those around us.

I felt that the film worked on a number of levels. While it won't sate everyone's tastes. Highly recommend it to those who enjoy a well written slice-of-life story.

Strongly and admittedly influenced by Polanski, the writer-- in this film featuring the writer of a film featuring the writer of a film-- enters an abject little world fraught with the possibility of violent confrontation at any moment. He is following a wise-sounding credo that tells him that by deeply portraying the individual he will reveal the type (but try to portray the type and you will reveal nothing). Does he succeed? Or does the credo, by which he hopes to portray the type, lead him ironically to a revelation of the individual?

What lies behind closed doors? Or what lurks in the deepest and darkest reaches of our souls? This is exactly what MISS MONDAY tries to explore; the guinea pig? A ‘high flying' executive named Gloria, played by the very able Andrea Hart.

After the initial preliminaries, the movie finally kicks off, as a screenwriter (James Hicks) finds himself fumbling for words and inspiration to depict a leading character (Marianne) of his script. Hence, on the advice of his mentor, Hicks decides to actually ‘observe' a real-life person resembling his script-character, whom he feels could inspire him into writing his ‘Marianne' with much less difficulty.

So, the screenwriter decides to become a scientist and sneaks his way into Miss. Gloria's abode to study his subject and learn her ways and mannerisms. Until this point the script looks goofy and awkward. But then we get to see one of the finest acting performances by Andrea Hart, as she unfolds the middle-aged, single, ambitious executive Miss. Gloria's inner sanctum, which is otiose, dismal and sorry; much in contradiction to her alter persona that the outside world is conversant with.

Hart's brilliant acting performance comes in during the time when the movie is almost dialogue-less. The way she limns the disturbed and insecure side of an otherwise uncompromising and demanding woman, is scary, especially because it is so lifelike. Forget the direction, forget the script, forget the supporting cast; MISS MONDAY is all about Hart's memorable performance, cap-a-pie.

MISS MONDAY is truly indie. Though the story seems unrealistic, the direction and the performance are natural. There is nothing flashy about MISS MONDAY. With everything else restricted to the bare minimum, the movie is left in the hands of the performance of the cast, especially that of Andrea Hart. Andrea delivers, and delivers generously. Watch the movie and be shocked and spellbound, alike.

RATING: 8/10

happened on this film by accident, and was drawn in totally, though at first I had no idea what it was about. think of it as a voyeurism of a lonely "professional" woman's soul. Moving, unforgettable.see it.