Love, Ludlow

We saw Love, Ludlow at the Big Apple Film Festival and like it very much. Big Apple is the newest and still the smallest (and I'm sure they want to feel, the hippest) of the three NYC festivals--NYFF and Tribeca.

The first several minutes are slow and not involving enough, but then once the characters start to play out, you are taken in. Terrific acting, and a great woman hero for a change. I grew up in Queens and I think the lead character is completely right.

Brendan won Best Male Performance of the Festival, and the film took second place for Best Feature.

All deserved, of course.

It appears I am the among the persons providing a less than stellar review for LOVE, LUDLOW. I'm trying hard to figure out how LL received so many "9"s and "10"s and am trying even harder to figure out how those folks make room for CITIZEN KANE, THE KING'S SPEECH, or other highbrow stuff.

LL is enjoyable if you've truly got time to kill; i.e., as opposed to having limited time for entertainment due to kids, job, etc! The dialog is particularly funny and the two love-interested characters' scenes are especially good. Alicia Gorenson plays it just right; i.e., just a wee bit over the top, which fits in perfectly with the shooting and pacing of the film as well as the score, background music. In light of the setting and somewhat zany characters, I was reminded of HENRY FOOL.

But the set-up, conflict, etc. is not particularly new and the sister's obligation toward her brother is not fully explained nor convincing. Ludlow himself is not given enough background, is not particularly funny, and generates little sympathy or concern. Indeed, brother Ludlow more or less functions as the obstacle forming the conflict between the romance driving the film.

I like to relax, kickback and watch a comedy. Therefor I kept waiting and waiting for the comedy to start. In the end my wait was over, the fun hadn't come. A comedy? questionable. It looks more like an independent movie which leans more toward the genre known as drama.

In 'Love, Ludlow' the life of a woman living and having to take care of her retarded(?) brother is being portrayed. The ups, the downs and how one would have to deal with it; how it affects aspects of life. She's trying to date a guy, pretty sensitive and scared, but in order to start a working relationship both have to overcome and accept the obstacle known as Ludlow (her brother). Very good, very nice imagery, not a good comedy. But definitely a good movie. As a drama (or what I think of as drama) I'd give it an eight point five, as a comedy I'd give it a two, not much fun. After a compromise with myself I gave it a seven.

This was a fantastic movie. I laughed and I cried. I have been quoting the lines with my friends for days since seeing the film. Saw it three times at Sundance! It is a must see! What movies used to be all about, without any special effects. Three cheers to the writer! I thought that Brendan did an excellent job playing Ludlow. His grasp of the character was great. I really felt for him, not being able to deal with change in his life. Alicia was a fantastic Myra. Her lines are quite memorable, as are her facial expressions. David's performance was also so very real. His shyness towards reaching out to a new person and his frustration with this relationship made so much sense. I really felt for the guy. Minor characters, played by Andrea and Jay were also fantastic. I still want to know the rest of the "Mark story." I hope everyone gets a chance to see this film, because everyone should love Ludlow!

I walked into Love, Ludlow, on a whim at Sundance 2005 on Thursday evening, having heard nothing about the picture. I was much more than pleasantly surprised. The performances are excellent--first rate mature acting to create a world of adults who in many ways are like children, and total immersion and commitment to the whimsical "Queens, NY" depicted in the movie. The ambiguity of Ludlow's exact affliction adds texture to the piece and facilitates a deeper emotional connection to the material, and the jokes are just plain funny. I also was impressed at how skillfully and fluidly the film moved from comedy to drama, from situational humor to pathos. The audience laughed repeatedly throughout the show, and for all my skepticism I walked out with a smile on my face, and I was not alone. This is a fun, well-made, commercial, jauntily independent film I hope will get released soon.