Some Velvet Morning

Lets get this out of the way, its not a very entertaining movie, after all it contains only one location, 2 actors and it draws more from La butte's theater background than film language, this is also an oddity as it is a straight drama(occasional joke aside) unlike Labutte's dark comedies of the past; that said, solid and disturbing dialog, a surprising ending and a powerhouse performance by Stanley Tucci raise this as one of the most interesting films to come out in a while.

As said in the summaries, the movie pits a bitter and unstable character played by Stanley Tucci against a woman played by Alice Eve, who seems to hold secrets in both her own life as well as the shared common past between the both of them, and as their conversation prolongs, secrets, bile and nastiness are spread all over the clinical white townhouse.

Stanley Tucci, as said previously, steals every scene he is in, while Alice eve plays it more subdued, but then again, her character doesn't have as many grand moments, and she does a magnificent job, especially towards the end of the film.

The cinematography and set design fit the movie perfectly, contrasting the neat empty house with the fiery discussion that takes place in it, and while I'm sure it was a deliberate decision, the hand-held camera seems to be operated by someone with Parkinsons disease, there are scenes where it seems to shake and bob all over the place, becoming a bit distracting.

The movie may be off putting to many, first of all because the dialog is an exercise in spitefulness and cruelty, which many people will find hard to stomach, secondly at first glance there appears to be a randomness in the plot, which is to be expected as this is a dialog driven film, however this lack of entertainment may drive away some, finally there's THAT ending, some may feel cheated, some will think its one clever piece of cookie, and to say anything about it here would spoil the film in its entirety, Finally, i guarantee you, that if you make it past all the prejudices that could arise from watching something like this, you will find a very original, brilliant and haunting piece of cinema.

My IMDB pet peeve... people who watch a movie for 15 minutes, turn it off, and then race here to give it a "1" and actually SAY they turned it off without finishing it. These people should be banned...

I bring it up because "Some Velvet Morning" is a film that infuriatingly plods along, with the brilliant Stanley Tucci as a horrible, bitter guy in a pathetically desperate mode. He is thoroughly unlikeable and the movie is cringeworthy. But if you stay until the end... there's a plot twist that "rescues" the film... it doesn't make it good, mind you. But it becomes salvageable... and you think "wow, didn't expect that..." and then you can respect the whole effort more. But if you bailed early and ran here with your "1" and your hate, you missed some solid acting and a crazy ending. So, let this be a lesson to all. Don't judge too soon, hang in there, respect the effort, and give the film the chance to be what it is. If you still think it's a "1" then so be it. At least you can judge it fairly. The plot twist here took this from a "3" to a "6." Not bad.

... he's been there, done that time and again.. she is undoubtedly the wonderful surprise in this film. Beautiful and talented.. a very winning combination. It's not a movie that's going to get much mainstream recognition, but there's no doubt, she was absolutely phenomenal, exhibiting just how good an actor she truly is. A fan previously, but she's now amped it up to a new level of commitment. The storyline is as unrealistic as it can get, but you're not clued in until the final moments of the film. It's also a film that will benefit from repeated viewings.. what you might have missed the first time round will impress in added screenings.

Review: What a strange but we'll made movie which is based  around a conversation between 2 people, about there relationship. The only reason why I gave this movie a chance was because of Stanley Tucci, who usually makes good movies, and after seeing this film, I'm glad that I put it on my rental list. Right from the beginning I didn't have a clue were the movie was going or were it was going to end up. The twist near the end was brilliant and the chemistry between the two characters was believable and emotional in parts. It made me laugh how Stanley Tucci just wouldn't leave the girls house and how he kept picking at everything that was said. I'm sure that there are many couples that can relate to this situation which is why it makes it so realistic and I've got to take my hat off to the actors who done extremely well with such a small project. Anyway, i enjoyed this small budget movie which kept me extremely entertained throughout. Enjoyable!

Round-Up: It's such a shame that small budget movies like this, get overlooked! Anyway, you might recognise Alice Eve from Star Trek Into Darkness and Men In Black 3 but she isn't a household name. She put in a great performance in her role and she held her own next to Stanley Tucci who has starred in many top movies. Tucci was great in a Devil Wears Prada and he's starred in many big budget movies like Transformers and the Hunger Games franchise. Together, they were brilliant in this film but because of its small distribution and terrible worldwide gross, it didn't get the recognition that it deserved.

Budget: N/A Worldwide Gross: $6,000 (Terrible!)

I recommend this movie to people who are into there deep dramas about a man who turns up unannounced, on his ex-lovers doorstep expecting to rekindle there relationship. 6/10

Neil LaBute's work has always been raw in tone, frequently offensive, yet never lacking in punch.

SOME VELVET MORNING proves no exception to this rule. Set in a split-level apartment in a big city, is concerns an apparently unstable relationship between middle-aged lawyer Fred (Stanley Tucci), and his twentysomething former mistress Velvet (Alice Eve). Fred claims to have left his wife and returned to Velvet after a four-year absence, while Velvet apparently resents his unexpected appearance in her apartment.

Most of the film's eighty-two minute running-time is devoted to a roller-coaster depiction of the characters' relationship as it veers from protestations of love, false demonstrations of passion, and the more obvious depicting of male power based on strength. In the final reel there is an unexpected denouement that calls into question the entire basis on which the plot has been constructed. Some might consider it artificial; others a too-obvious elaboration of the film's basic theme.

In terms of style, SOME VELVET MORNING has much of the rawness of David Mamet's OLEANNA (1994), another two-hander based on the clash between a man and woman of varying ages, combined with the destructive potential of Mike Nichols's WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF (1966), wherein the main characters tear emotional lumps out of each other in pursuit of emotional as well as physical mastery.

As director, LaBute refuses to let his characters out of sight of his penetrating camera. We feel uncomfortably close to them, especially Fred as he tries to ingratiate himself once again into Velvet's emotions. Yet there is a sense in which the film glorifies as well as condemns male power; Tucci portrays Fred as the initiator of most of the conversations he conducts with Velvet. Until he achieves his desired aim, he will never give up.

In truth the plot begins to pall as it unfolds, as we wonder why Fred is so insistent on achieving his desired aim. Is it part of his own feeling of insecurity; that he is an emotional wreck with a pathological inability to articulate his emotions? As Velvet, Eve tends to be too much of a foil to him; in Beckettian fashion she tells us she is going out but never actually takes any positive action.

It might be said that SOME VELVET MORNING gives an uncompromising portrait of modern relationships. In truth it actually reveals the bile at the heart of the writer/ director's consciousness, which manifests itself in a consciously sexist piece of work.