Strings

"Strings" gave me a weird experience ranging from utter hatred & disappointment to extreme admiration. First let me explain why I initially hated it. You've probably noticed the 12 fawning IMDb reviews making this film sound like the best thing since "Amadeus". Whether or not that's true, it's sorta funny how 10 of these 12 reviews were written by 1-paragraph, 1-review-only members, all within a month or 2 of the film's release.

Hmm... I'll appeal to the mystery lover in you and pose 3 possible explanations: (1) "Strings" is so good it entices Tibetan monks to break their vow of silence to post 1 IMDb review, after which they return to their monkly duties; (2) "Strings" is so awesome it causes people to spontaneously combust, and the shockwaves are so intense it rips the fabric of time, erasing their entire existence prior to seeing the movie; or (3) The director, producer and/or their girlfriends are padding the IMDb ratings with junk accounts.

I picked (3). So you can understand the degree of skepticism I had going into it. Right off the bat, it felt rushed, inconsistent and choppy with seemingly vapid characters (most of the characters talking in throaty whispers trying to act cool and saying clichés like "let's rock & roll") who would suddenly turn from cold-hearted killers to weepy softies at the site of a cute kid. The plot seemed preposterous with people pulling off insane heists (like shooting up a billionaire's mansion, then going back an hour later to shoot it up some more, and never was there a trace of police or even the residents' attempt to lock the doors from the invaders). And, apologies to "Face/Off", any movie that hinges on a face transplant immediately loses me. But most of all, it profoundly bothered me that the main character could quickly turn from a depressed, sensitive piano player into a macho, gun-toting criminal within the space of a day or two.

After an hour of being subjected to these preposterous scenes, I shut it off and wrote one of the most scathing reviews I've written about any film. But I guess I was too lazy to take the DVD out of the player, so a few hours later I found myself watching the end.

It's bizarre. Right around the 1 hour mark, when I had shut it off, the film's tone changes drastically, the characters become much more sober and realistic, the tone and even the cinematography becomes less action oriented and more poetic. And of course the main actor is replaced by another whom I found more interesting to watch.

The last 30 minutes of the film is no longer a preposterous crime fantasy Instead it's what I was looking for: a slow but interesting revelation of human nature. The central theme finally emerges: Given the opportunity, can we truly walk away from our past? Or like creatures of habit, slaves of fate, are we destined to revisit the mistakes we once ran away from? The first 60 minutes of "Strings" is about a guy who screws up his life and leaps at the outrageous opportunity to switch to a wild life of crime. As you can see, I wasn't impressed by that part of the story. But to me the real story and the reason why I am now recommending the film is the last 30 minutes where he begins to flirt with going back to his old life. Will history repeat itself? Or will he wrestle free of the karmaic cycle of fate? There's not a lot of action in the last 30 minutes, except of course for a spectacular & surprising finale, but for my money those last 30 minutes are what gave me total satisfaction.

NOTE: If they ever release a director's cut, I'll be the first in line to buy it, because I watched the deleted scenes and realized that if these scenes had been included, the first hour wouldn't have seemed so rushed & unbelievable. There are some great scenes showing the main character's reluctant transformation from wuss to wiseguy. And although they would've slowed the pace, they would've made me connect with the main character more, something that didn't happen until the last 30 minutes for me.

If you're looking for a straightforward action flick, you might have the opposite reaction that I had. That is, you might be entertained by the first hour and somewhat bored by the last 30 minutes. But if you're looking for deeper meaning (after all, the DVD box compares this to a Christopher Nolan film for gosh sakes), I bet you might feel the way I did: cheated at first, but ultimately rewarded.

One way or another, more people should watch this movie and review it so we'll get some HONEST reviews for this flick!

Strings is a great movie that has suspense, romance and action. The film has a very good cast that gives it a professionalism you don't find often in indie movies. Also, the score is just amazing. It really takes the film to another level.

Mark Dennis and Ben Foster did an unbelievable job considering that this is first feature film. I'm excited to see what comes next from the pair.

I'm pretty sure Stings is being show at a wide variety of film festivals around the country and I highly recommend you checking it out if you can. I saw it at the Breckenridge Festival, but I think they have a full list of the showings on their site.

I had the privilege of screening Strings as a volunteer at the Tulsa Film Festival earlier this year. I was absolutely blown away by every aspect of the film. The overall quality, writing, direction, acting and location selection were as good as any big budget Hollywood film. I was particularly impressed by the acting. Every cast member portrayed the emotion and depth of their character very well. The young actors were especially brilliant in their performances. Getting to hear the story of how Strings was made after the screening revealed what an amazing project the directors put together on an unbelievably small budget. I have become a big fan of Strings and hope to see it again very soon in wide release.

I saw this stunning film at the Breckenridge Film Festival, where it garnered well-deserved praise and awards.

The story involves choices... and consequences. Each step taken by the main character leads him further into a world he (and we) don't understand. Gorgeous cinematography and deft editing seduce us into his dark reality. Clarity comes in lightening flashes. Directors Ben Foster and Mark Dennis attack an intriguing "what if" scenario with jaw-dropping originality.

The visually arresting wild ride is enhanced by outstanding music. (The Breckenridge Festival jury was sufficiently impressed by Billy Harvey's song, "Greatest Escape", to create a special award in its honor).

I'm looking forward to a wider release of "Strings", because I can't wait to tell people: go see it!

I have seen this movie twice with different people and all of us were mesmerized both times. I am always amazed at what comes from writer's minds, but this was an especially interesting idea and it really did make me thinks about the Strings in my life. I can't wait until it is in Theaters across the country. Billy Harvey reminded me of that old line "don't just act, stand there". He conveyed volumes with a look. Very impressive for a newcomer. I, too, would give this movie a Best Ensemble award. I wanted each and every one of them to win their particular fight. I also loved the music, particularly Billy's theme song. It was haunting. I was delighted when he won the award for Best Song. This is a very talented group of actors and I am hoping they get the recognition they deserve.