Mind the Gap

I was tempted to give up on this movie very early on. It seemed odd, sluggish and pretentious in that 'Touched by an Angel' sort of way.

And it was. The movie tries very hard to be heart-warming and self-important to the point that I imagine turns off many viewers.

But they are missing out on a true gem. Despite its over-earnest nature, the movie succeeds in being a feel-good movie thanks to a well-written story and some superb acting by a group of relative unknowns.

The film touches on 5 very different people's lives and how they keep their heads up despite some very sad fortunes. The film teases at first, giving us almost no information about these characters and expecting us to care about them as they plod along. But patience is certainly a rewarded virtue here as the BIGGER PICTURE is slowly revealed and the intricacies of these character's lives come together in a way I would have never imagined.

The fantastic acting done by the whole cast helps to move the story along whenever it appears to be stalling. Each actor manages to etch out deep, hidden emotions and secrets from their characters that are not fully-realized until the very end of the film. If nothing else, this movie is a great study of "effect and cause", rather than "cause and effect". You are privileged to see how each character has been changed by events in their life long before you find out what those events were and how profoundly they impacted their recipients.

In some vague ways, this movie reminds me of the 1984 film 'Paris, Texas' starring Nastassja Kinski and Harry Dean Stanton. A sparse, slow-moving film about a man deeply affected by an event we don't know until the last 15 minutes.

Looking at it's IMDb page, another user gives 'Paris, Texas' the "Life-Changing Movie" stamp of approval that others have given 'Mind the Gap', and I agree. If you have the patience and can stomach the incessant mushiness, 'Mind the Gap' is the type of film that makes you step back and look at the world (and your life) with fresh eyes. There is nothing in this movie that will blow the average-movie watcher away - but that is precisely why it is so good - it just doesn't work without YOU.

YOU are the 6th story - the 6th character.

'Mind the Gap' only sets up the formula, the pattern.

***YOU fill in THE GAP***

'Mind the Gap' is an enchanting spiritual quest by eccentric characters who by converging from the sylvan north, south, west and east to the gritty sidewalks of the island of Manhattan, face death, their own or a loved one's, in different ways and find salvation in accepting that no person is an island.

While each is as damaged from relationships as the motley crew in 'Italian for Beginners,' this is far more than a romantic quest as these oddballs, who we on a rotating basis very gradually learn how they got so damaged, cannot have real relationships, including between parents and children, until they solve their spiritual malaise to make a positive choice. Their physical health and sensual perceptions are also linked to their emotional and spiritual well-being.

While the film is very long as it leisurely follows these characters' twisted trajectories, the mostly strong acting (particularly by Alan King in what I presume was his last film role) and the intriguing situations and lively conversations keep us curious, though the precocious kids interact with the adults like Gilmore Girls.

Like 'Magnolia,' we gradually find that some of the characters are linked in disturbing ways, others by coincidence (asymptotically cute) of need, time and place, but unpredictably. As brutally frank about the weaknesses, cruelties and foibles of human nature as the former film, writer/director/producer/co-star Eric Schaeffer is less cynical and more hopeful than Paul Thomas Anderson, without resorting to incredible magic realism to restore faith.

While these characters literally face the notorious undertow of the waters of Spuyten Duyvil (spiting the devil, per Dutch folklore about the treacherous waters off the mainland) --and their uniform hatred of the NY Yankees-- to enter Manhattan, I didn't catch all the theological interpretations about the sins of the fathers to discern any particular philosophical consistency about forgiveness, including the Krishna Das tracks on the soundtrack. I do question the meaningfulness of a child granting forgiveness to an adult, but I think it's about the adults growing-up.

Co-star singer/songwriter Jill Sobule's "Bitter" (available both on her CD 'Happy Town' and the compilation 'I Never Learned to Swim: Jill Sobule 1990-2000') serves as the satisfying culmination; five other of her songs, not specifically written for the film, are also featured as commentary, as she plays an isolated busker with a literal broken heart.

Some recurring images I didn't quite get yet, particularly of a dancer in Times Square, perhaps going around and around at the crossroads of the world.

One of the most hopeful and uplifting movies I've seen in a long time, it will bring a smile to "mind the gap" every time I get on and off the subway -- the gap between reach and grasp, between nirvana and humanity.

This was the third film I've seen written & directed by Eric Schaeffer. If you liked this film, please check out his movie "Fall". It could be classified as a romance, but not the kind that would ever cast Jennifer Aniston or Meg Ryan. "Fall" is painful and passionate and clever, and unlike any movie I've seen since. It absolutely crushes you. I have also never witnessed such intense chemistry between two actors. It absolutely crushes you. Eric Schaeffer plays the lead role himself. So far, he always stars in his own movies. In his movie "If Lucy Fell", he plays opposite Sara Jessica Parker. I'd recommend seeing this after "Fall" or "Mind the Gap" so you get a feel for Schaeffer's style first. "If Lucy Fell" is much more light-hearted than his other movies; but very witty, fun, and strange. Ben Stiller plays a hilarious role as a stereotypical artist who lives life in the abstract. I love Eric Schaeffer! I only hope he continues to bless us with his work.

A strikingly poignant examination of the role of forgiveness in our lives. Schaeffer has created a collage of memorable characters and provides the audience with ample reason to care for their fates. The dialog is crisp and meaningful, the characters are unique and memorable, and the film concludes balanced and cohesive.

The film managed to brush the very edge of my tolerance for adversity as each character faced with their personal demons, but never stepped past the threshold into contrivance or absurdity. The usual cliches and "movie" plot mechanisms were ably dodged and the ending was more than I'd expected and all I could have hoped for.

This is the film that Magnolia wishes it could have been.

This movie, while at first seems like a series of vignettes, ultimately connects to the watcher, and pulls you in, and then weaves a tale, thats heartbreaking, and heartwarming, all at the time. I was very impressed with all the performances. I will admit that I watched it solely because I am a Jill Sobule fan. Her performance was amazing in my opinion, but I was very drawn in and loved every minute of this film.

I think more people need to see it, and hopefully tell all their friends to see it. I can only hope.

Also, Elizabeth Reaser should be on everyones "to watch" list. I recently saw Stay as well, and she is amazing in that film. I cant wait to see what she does, and I hope that someday she will recognized for her talents.

At any rate, this movie is well done. Please see it, enjoy it, and be touched by it.