Fix

How does one make a drug movie these days, and not look like he or she is ripping off films like, "Requiem for a Dream", or "Spun". Well a good start is to stylishly shoot the picture from a first person perspective, giving a documentary feel.

Fix is really one of the latest takes on the "mocumentary" genera. Films by Christopher Guest come to mind when discussing mocumentaries, and movies like the "Blare Witch Project" defined it's boundaries. The decision to shoot the picture this way allows the audience to immediately connect with the characters, and keep them interested throughout.

I liked "Fix" more as a mocumentary than anything else. As a movie about two brothers bonding, it was not as innovative as the spin, it's photographic direction, put on the story being told. The performances are honest, and garner no more criticism than praise.

I screened the film in late 2008, and it was a breath of fresh air from the other pictures I was reviewing. I would recommend "Fix" to any movie goer, but especially to the independent movie fan; who will enjoy the picture for it's independent spirit." I am interested in seeing the next film Tao Ruspoli directs, and hope it matches "Fix's" style.

Filmmakers Bella (Olivia Wilde) and Milo (Tao Ruspoli) are pushed into driving Milo's brother Leo (Shawn Andrews) from prison across town to rehab or else Leo will be spending time in jail. Bella is not too happy as Milo is obligated despite their previous appointments. As they film their trip, Leo goes from one location to another in search for money to pay the $5k for the rehab. They meet sketchy characters doing questionable things as it seems like there is always another stop.

This looks like an indie a bunch of friends did on their day off. Shawn Andrews gives a very kinetic performance, but it wears thin quickly. The problem with the story is that Bella and Milo keep repeating the same mistake over and over again. Leo is obviously lying to them as he spends the money on drugs. At some point, a clear thinking person would just stuff Leo into the back of the car while they drive him to the rehab instead of letting him go to every drug spot he knows. Somehow the movie needs to set up why the couple would go along with any of this.

I suppose the "shaky camera" style is there to add a sense of realism. Well, it doesn't. It just makes you think your watching a high school project that was made with the parents Handycam. The entire movie is shot from the storyteller's Point Of View, which is very hard to do well, and in this case it isn't. (Try any episode of Peep Show to see this technique done well). Also annoying was the preposterous situations. Like drug dealers supposedly being "cool" with video taping the transaction and many more like this. The minor characters were almost universally unbelievable and very poorly acted. Most of the dialogue was sparse, uninteresting, and unrealistic.

Shawn Andrews is the bright spot and adds a professional touch to an otherwise puerile film.

I had a chance to catch this film at a screening and wow, I am so glad I decided to go see it.

Tao and the rest of the creatives really put together a wonderful team -- the ease and joy with which they worked is apparent in every shot. The character performances are bold, lovable, strong and somehow vulnerable at the same time. The locations are stellar -- it is a complete and all-encompassing homage to Los Angeles. And the cinematic guerrilla-style shooting really serves the piece -- allowing for some truly magical moments to unfold throughout the film that would not have otherwise been captured.

The audience was laughing, or should I saw guffawing, at the beginning and also at the end of the piece. Yet we were also moved by some very touching, pulled-from-real-life dialogue and the patchwork of cultures that make up the fabric of a fabulously seedy, not-often-shown-in-the-movies LA.

What else can I say? I loved it. Go see this film -- if you can, as fast as you can, with as many people as you can. You will not be sorry.

"Fix" is a wonderfully shot, brilliantly acted and incredibly well directed film, which deserves all the praise that can be thrown its way. Tao Ruspoli takes the audience on a witty, energetic and truly emotional journey through Los Angeles in the course of one outrageous day in the lives of the characters. The jumpy hand-held camera style is not among my favorite film-making techniques and has gone horribly wrong on numerous occasions. However, if there ever was a film in which this works, it is "Fix". The sheer inventiveness of director/cameraman Ruspoli gives the film a gritty energy that is truly unique. Almost every single scene in this picture is a work of art itself. Add to that the extremely well-written (or amazingly improvised, I cannot tell) dialogue and the amazing performances of both Olivia Wilde and Shawn Andrews and you are left with a wholly satisfying experience. I would tip it for My Favourite Indie Film of the Decade. Seriously, I enjoyed it THAT much! Outrageously funny one second and deeply touching the next, this movie has all the advantages of an independent production and none of the down-sides (being too naive or too self-indulgent).