Nocturne

Some excellent camera work, lighting and cinematography, and a score that works for the piece. it's a long film, and you'll need to be patient with the beginning before the pace and action kicks in. Found myself questioning what was going on in the beginning, but it pays off later on. Nice work from the leads. Director and cinematographer used lesser known locations in Toronto to build mood and tone and anchor the piece. Also some interesting angles and clever plot devices to keep the guessing going until the pieces come together. Great shots of Niagara Falls, and other city views, night shots. This is not a wham-bang action Hollywood movie, so be prepared to stick with it in the beginning for the payoff at the end--slow build with a satisfying finish.

Nocturne is a stylish and engaging film. Director Saul Pincus has made the most of using visual storytelling for much of the film in a way that transports the viewer along the protagonist's journey. Dialogue is there when required but Pincus makes the daring choice to let the visuals and superb acting speak for themselves. The use of sound (and often its absence) and music add a wonderful dimension to the film. Everything in this movie is clearly thought out and executed with passion and attention to detail. The pacing of the film may not always be to everyone's liking but Nocturne does something most films these days don't do - make the viewer think. I'm very much looking forward to seeing more films from Saul Pincus.

Like many others who attend film festivals, I was looking for a surprise…and boy did I ever find one! My girlfriend and I took a chance and decided to try out 'Nocturne' at the Jersey Int'l Film Fest. The premise intrigued me. And while I am not much of a movie buff, I really dug this one.

Yes it was a bit of a strange film for someone like me who usually likes the usual Hollywood fare, but it was a good kind of strange. I loved the female lead. She had a certain something that I felt I could connect with - something of a genuine kind of 'screwed-upness' that I could really relate to. I think what made this film so special to me is that it remained honest to that spirit all the way through. It didn't apologize for itself in trying to be a different type of movie.

I was so impressed with it that my girlfriend suggested I post a review. While this is not usually the type of thing I ever do, I feel that this unique film really deserves it. There has been so many boring and predictable Hollywood movies for the longest time that this was a true breath of fresh air. I really hope that this movie has a chance to get into the mainstream. If this review helps in any way, then I am glad to have been a part of it.

I saw this film in Louisiana at a film festival. It was a beautiful piece of work. the look of the film was pretty stunning. beautifully shot. The storytelling and the main two actors performances were top notch. Mary Krohnert's performance was great.

Had a great vibe throughout and the fact that I really cared about the characters in such a strange story about a sleepwalker was quite an accomplishment. Its just a cool film with a very Indy feel to it which I loved. Pincus took a very original idea and made a pretty beautiful and believable world out of it with the help of some great performances.

I would definitely recommend.

(Seen at the Warsaw IFF)

There were bright sides of this film - some camera work, the lighting, the lead actress. But that's about it.

What the trailer is suggesting, and what's rather in line with some first 10 minutes of the film, is the low key, silent, fantasy / romance tale immersed in the city night. Unfortunately this mood changes quickly and similar changes accompany the audience from time to time throughout the rest of the movie. Don't get me wrong - those are NOT plot twists but constant changes of the thing the film is aiming at. Just as it was not clear for the makers themselves what kind of film they want to make and as they kept re-writing the script from time to time as the shooting progressed. A fairy tale? A family drama? A crime thriller? A comedy? This is my biggest complaint, I think. It's not a blend of the above styles, it's rather a mess.

The whole cast, except the lead actress, seemed as confused with the script as the audience were (and admitted during the Q&A), which made the emotions they expressed incomprehensible. Paradoxically it was quite consistent with the similarly odd actions the protagonists undertook. All this together made the audience chuckle a bit when the film was approaching its climax, accompanied with lots of music suggesting lots of tension that simply weren't there. Some chuckled, some walked out of the screening room.

During the Q&A session the director pointed out many details, different styles and some complex background he wanted to incorporate into the film. I think it might be one of these cases when the vision blinds the creator a bit and he confuses the thing he wished to create with the one that was the actual effect. Instead of achieving the desired work, the crew created something unwillingly amusing (I loved the close-up (!) of a front of a car with the FORD logo that was carelessly covered with something that looked like a packing tape, that was a good one).

It could have been OK, but it was killed by an amateurish script.