Acts of Worship

This felt like MORE than a movie... it felt as if we had some sort of porthole into the lives of REAL people living the life of real addicts in a real city. The acting in this movie was impeccable. The characters were more than believable, they were so authentic that is was like watching a reality show. The human emotions that would trail across the faces and through the eyes of the characters followed by the desperation for the next fix... the slow sinking to new lows... each scene depicted the underworld that's out there and the selfish but pathetic lifestyle and thought processes of the addict, played out to their inevitable consequences. This movie was so real it hurt to watch it and various scenes have come back to haunt both my husband and myself for several days after having watched it. An amazing portrayal that maybe asks some questions but definitely has no answers only looks to us with empty eyes and open, shaky hands.

I don't remember too much about this film, so my review is going to be vague, but this was an excellent film, and portrayed extremely realistically what its like for an addict out there. Nothing about this film is over the top or ignorant. You as the viewer are pulled in by the main character and her environment. You see what its like for someone who struggles with drugs. As someone who has never done drugs, this film impacted me more than I thought it would. Its a big wake-up call to those who don't know what its like. A big recommendation from me. Truly a insightful film. My rating-8/10 Rated R-Strong Drug Content, pervasive language and some sexuality

This is the autobiographical story of a young girl who gets hooked on crack and worse. At times this is an incredibly painful film to watch as we go through what it takes to live on the street and to get enough money to get that days fix. The performances are more often than not right on and the film can carry you along in rather unpleasant ways. The trouble is that as good as the film is it can, at times, come off clichéd. This is not the first film to depict life of an addict and so some of it seems like we've seen it all before. The film making is at times too polished and it grinds against the grittiness of the story.

My rating of 6 out of 10 might be a bit low. Intitally I was more up with the film, however in reading on the film I cam across a few negative reviews and my thoughts of the film have been undergoing a revision due to valid points that were made. Still I recommend the film to anyone who likes real life stories, or independent film making.

I was very glad to have other plans turned upside down so I could be graced to see this film at the 2001 High Falls Film Festival in Rochester, NY, USA. I found that the dry, honest directing coupled with the documentary-style cinematography tended to galvanize the film into my mind. It's been about a week now, and I still crisply recall scenes as if I had lived them myself.

To elaborate, there are three things I think are key to making this film as good as it is:

First, the entire feel of the picture is documentary-like. You're presented with a chronology of events about a young woman living with heroin addiction on the streets--I found it particularly remarkable that it does not beg for pity ... it really doesn't force any emotions at all, but simply offers the subject matter honestly for the observation and judgment of the viewer. Unlike most directors of this and other charged subjects, Rosemary Rodriguez chose to present the subject in an almost matter-of-fact manner.

Second ... wait: for these last two points let me just say that I have no experience whatsoever with heroin or any other drug, so my opinion is tainted with copious ignorance. ... Second, I was stunned at the realism of the drug use in the film. I really believed the people in the film were using heroin and that each of them responded in a manner consistent with how I thought they should. There wasn't even a hint of the fantasy world of drug use propagated by movies like Reefer Madness.

Finally, Ana Reeder was amazing. There was not a frame of footage when I thought I was watching an actress. I swear this girl was hooked on heroin and actually was living the life of her character. I am generally fascinated by the craft of acting, but once in a while I am confronted with a scene like the climactic breakdown of Alix where it is beyond my comprehension altogether how someone can possibly act that true to life but really be acting.

I believe this was a marvelous accomplishment which brought out the truth of living on the streets. Rosemary Rodriguez experienced it so, no one can say that this is cliché. Not even in relating it to other films in this genre. Alix's character is a drug addict right? but we believe her to have a grasp over it. that she is more than the addiction. this is partly true. like the director said, "there's humanity in everyone one of them". our belief at this point is predetermined but vanishes with change. with her willingness to stay clean being severed by the acts of her conscious temptations and every junkie around her. we believe her to live two lives. a straight life and a drugged up life. as in when she's playing with louie. kinda carefree, laughing. she, for the most part, separates herself from it, from the addiction, but she still has that guilt like when digna takes her picture with louie. even when she runs away from dignas place and pretends that she's clean around her friends, shooting them off and swearing at them. then, a day later she's back into her fix. that doesn't happen a whole lot in other films. Wonderful cinematography and great performances that make this film very believable. This film is very vivid and blunt with the characters addictions. It makes you cringe just seeing it. surely surreal. i like the directors use of narration from the main character's point of view or the non-verbal narration through what the character may be experiencing in their mind. What's the difference between reality and fallibility. But there's a good plot structure so it's not just random. not predictable. sure as heck not. One event stirs off the next. there's a sense of serenity that the characters meet up with and it's interesting how you seem slip out of it once again. some of it real serenity, some of it false. real heart wrenching. makes you feel for people who get involved with drugs and alcohol. how you're not only responsible for yourself but others. makes you investigate your own crutches. makes you examine your own life. yup. so anyways. Go out and rent it today!