Skills Like This

Just saw at the Edinburgh Ineternational Film Festival. I saw many films at the fest this year and Skills was definitely my favourite. The film is fast and furious and has really none of the usual American comedy clichés. About a bad playwright turned robber and his friends. The Tommy character has some brilliantly funny lines I sure will be repeated. All the performances are really strong. The actress playing Lucy is so natural and fun to watch. The film takes you on fast ride and you have no clue where you are going, and this is just one of it's charms. A wee bit edgy and maybe too fast an ending but I look forward to catching this one again. It is a Cool Comedy.

Why would the writer(s) put the idiotic "Tommy" character in?! Why the dying grandpa?! I like this film. I'd _really_ like it if there wasn't so much stupid involved.

While I'm complaining, the sound mix is pretty bad. One last bit of advice to the producers: Please zoom in a little more; while I could easily see the molecules of the characters' faces during closeups, the atoms were hard to discern. ;^)

A festival winner! (and should be)

I saw this film at the SXSW film festival in a packed house... I didn't have high expectations... honest, I was with a group of people who wanted to go because they liked the afro marketing posters and I wasn't in a mood to go against the grain.

Yippee... I so enjoyed the film. I thought it was unpredictable... raw... funny... engaging... I actually felt connected to the characters and these aren't the kinds of characters that I normally find engaging. It was a surprise at every turn. I found the humor appealing as did the high school kids who were behind me. This film is a rare treat with brilliant performances from the leading man to the waitress with only a few lines.

Great job and good luck with distribution!

Every now and again,there is an exception to the fact that independently produced films are better than mainstream Hollywood fare. 'Skills Like These' is one of those exceptions. This is one of those films that tries like the dickens to be quirky & left of centre, but somehow fails. Max is a failure as a playwright. His latest bomb (called Onion Dance)has managed to clear the theater of audience members in it's opening night,plus given a major heart attack in it's one & only major backer (Max's grandfather). Max decides that he would do better trying to rob the bank across the street from the Mexican restaurant they spend most of their time at (where do they get the money to eat there,day after day?). Max decides to go on a crime spree, despite the guilt he feels for stealing other people's stuff. A romantic subplot only manages to bog this mostly unfunny shaggy dog story only further (although the female lead,Kerry Knuppe is easy on the eyes). Spencer Berger (who wrote the leaden screenplay)plays Max,a failed playwright with an impressive Afro hair-do. His two slacker friends,Tommy & Dave,are something out of a bad sitcom (Jay and Silent Bob have way more depth than these two). This is one film that is occasionally amusing,but lacks focus. Not rated by the MPAA,this film contains strong language & some mild sexual situations that would pretty much land it an 'R'. Thankfully,there are far better independent films to choose from out there.

Kick *** movie! Total comic ride with a huge fro and some mad skills. Just saw at Denver Film Festival with some of the Cast and Director. This film is shot with in a mod style that gives it a very energetic look and keeps the pacing moving throughout. The acting by complete unknowns (to my knowledge) was pretty amazing.

I can't get some of these classic "dumba**" lines out of my head. There are a few scenes where you are totally caught off guard and there is some true tension but pay off with the laugh or the situation. The film really never lets the viewer catch up and there are surprising turns throughout the movie. Some have called this a quirky comedy but I see it as less traditional indie style and more action comedy style with a killer soundtrack. Oh yes this film is not just pretty hilarious it makes some really cool statements about following your path.