Close Call

I just saw the film & I couldn't stop crying. I'm a person who actually did a lot of the things portrayed in the film & I related to the film 100%, surprisingly. It was very realistic for me. Some things were a little cheesy, but they made me laugh. For an indie, the production value was very good & every actor in the film was believable & gave stellar performances.

I was shocked to see that the actress in the film was directed by her father! There were some intense sexual scenes, cursing, nudity, you name it...couldn't believe it. I give Annie Lee even more respect considering the things that she did in this film...outrageously awesome. And I don't know how the director, Jimmy Lee, did it. He didn't lose the focus of the story or the characters. I liked the way he captured some moments with different angles & close-ups.

I was entertained throughout & I really enjoyed the behind the scenes. I'm glad the filmmakers took a courageous risk & confronted this topic, casted Asian actors & made a film like this. Something that actually means something & not just to make a buck. It was refreshing to see something different.

I was also surprised to find out it was a true story. It was very interesting to find out how people from different cultures, race, age, or gender confront the same issues in life. It didn't matter in this film.

Very inspiring story...going to call my father now.

Good movie making.

The story line actually depicts the lives of many teenagers growing up n the chaotic city of Loa Angeles. Unfortunately so many teens actually live this nightmare with patents working and having no good role models to guild them day to day. The interaction and on-screen chemistry between Annie Lee and Philip Moon give the film a real sense and believability of a true father daughter relationship. Annie Lee's acting is well done, and she has so much potential as she continues to mature as an actress and develops her art.

The editing and story line are well integrated and flow smoothly from seen to seen without the sudden shift to other realities found in many other movies of this caliber. It follows the characters lives well and avoids viewer confusion. The move is admittedly long running, but the amount of information only helps the viewer understand the true challenges the characters faced in the movies story line.

This film really blew me away. I didn't expect anything like it. It was very edgy and unique. The director's style and pace always kept me at the edge of my seat. You never know what to expect. One minute it'll make you cry, and the next it'll make you laugh. I enjoyed every minute of it. The actors were all newcomers, except for Jeff Fahey, and they all were great. I definitely have to have this for my DVD collection when it gets out. I've watched it 3 times already.

The story is familiar, but I have never seen it told in this way before. Very realistic and honest. The Asian American aspect of it was so refreshing and gave me a greater insight into the culture and different points of views. I left the theatre breathless and with more appreciation for my family and life overall. I actually called my dad after I watched the movie.

There was a mother and daughter watching it together in the audience and they both left the theatre in tears holding hands. It is rare to see a film that touches people in this way. It was a pure joy ride. I laughed, I cried, and actually felt like I was in the movie. I definitely recommend seeing this if you're lucky to get the chance.

In Los Angeles, the young Jenny (Kaye Lu) has a nice childhood with her Korean parents Joanne (Christina Ma) and David Kim (Philip Moon). However, after the divorce of her parents, the judge gives her custody to her selfish mother that neglects Jenny while the disappointed David returns to Seoul. Six years later, Jenny (Annie Lee) is a troubled and reckless teenager expelled from the public school that has easy sex and uses drugs and booze, and her best friend is the orphan drug dealer Becky (Faleena Hopkins). The lawyer Elliot Krasner (Jeff Fahey) decides to call his former friend David to tell him about the self-destructive behavior of Jenny, and David returns to Los Angeles. He brings Jenny to live with him and support her, but the lack of emotional structure of Jenny imposes tough difficulties for their relationship.

"Close Call" is a dramatic coming-to-age story of a girl completely lost with a broken family after a divorce process. The plot is not so deep like, for example, "Christiane F. - Wir Kinder Vom Bahnhof Zoo" or "Engel & Joe", and in some corny moments it seems to be a soap-opera with optimistic conclusion. However, the gorgeous and sexy Annie Lee has a magnificent performance in her debut, making this movie worthwhile. My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): "No Limite" ("In the Limit")

I was surprisingly shocked to see this kind of realism from an Asian American filmmaker. The story was very touching and I was able to relate to it 100%. Many of my close friends went through what the movie portrayed and I'm glad a film like this is out there. The different perspectives of the parents, the girl and the Asian culture was brought out perfectly. The editing was very unique and I'm glad to see a different style of film-making once in awhile. The style was mixed with new and traditional styles of shooting that I enjoyed very much.

I haven't seen a film in a long time that affected me the way Close Call did. I give props to the filmmakers and hope that they continue sharing these strong and courageous stories with the public. Definitely worth watching! Bring your parents or kids too. They might learn something.