Fairhaven

This was a surprisingly good movie. I'm not going to try and write a "pro" review. I'm simply sharing my opinion, and I'm a person who has seen A LOT of movies, and has studied fine art...so:

The cinematography is amazing. It's like the color version of The Night of the Hunter. I grew up in the Northeast on the water so it really hit home. It added a genuine romance to the homes and common sceneries you walk by everyday and never look at or imagine in the way it was presented in this film. It's almost like an old chair you have in your back yard that a photographer makes look like it belongs on the cover of a travel magazine.

The story is pretty hard hitting and well told. That said, however, the characters take too long to blossom as well and suddenly it gets cut really short. In other words, just as I was starting to get into the story...it ended.

So for me that was the downside. Otherwise this definitely gets a WATCH. It's quite good.

FAIRHAVEN is a quiet film that packs an emotional punch. Tom O'Brien does an amazing job writing and directing beautifully authentic scenes between people we all can relate to. Chris Messina can always be depended upon to deliver a scene-stealing performance (I loved him in Julie and Julia and Vicky Cristina Barcelona), however in this case his co-actors Sarah Paulson, Rich Sommer, Maryann Plunkett, and Phyllis Kay, are all so talented, they give him a run for his money. Lovely, wide shots of the melancholy Connecticut seacoast abound and the setting almost becomes a secondary character. This is a sleeper gem that's well worth watching. We have not seen the last of the talented (and handsome) O'Brien.

Watching FAIRHAVEN was everything I love about Tom O'Brian's theatrical plays come to life a million times over with all of the elements fitting together: lovely shots, poetic scenery, authentic acting, heartfelt pacing and musical score combined to remind me of what acting coach Wynn Handman would refer to as "a perfect pitch and tone". Tom's character was an endearing, curious, mysterious and fun protagonist. I understand what he means about Tom Brady! I love the story and how the film captures the way that we are all ever unraveling from, entwining in and learning from the events in our lives. We were riveted and while I knew it would be great, I was so excited and surprised by how great. My boyfriend watched in silence the whole time and when it was over he said, "that was impeccable… perfect". He said he loved it and wants to watch it again. We were both moved. I have been spending more time this past year in my hometown than I have spent in 26 years... I related so much to the relationships, internal and external landscapes and the heartbreaking beauty of watching life expand all of us no matter where we stay or travel to. Movie made with excellence!

How can I see this movie again? I saw Fairhaven at the Tribeca Film Festival and loved it. I was moved by its beautiful cinematography and flawed characters-- you end up relating to almost every character in the film. We need more character driven films! Fairhaven is story about friendship but addresses so many other issues at the same time. I loved it's documentary style filming --kind of reminded me of Friday Night Lights. It wasn't like watching people act, it was like watching people live. Rich Somer was fantastic-- his character was so sweet and vulnerable. Chris Messina was perfect as the asshole with a good heart...and Tom O'brien's character made the film--soul searching while he actually has everything right in front of him all along. Seriously folks, how can I see this movie again?

As a resident of the town this movie is named for I wasn't sure what to expect, other than recognizing the local scenery. What I got was a beautifully told tale of what it means to be a man in the Peter Pan world we live in. I could not take my eyes off the screen or the actors' amazingly understated performances. It is a quiet film, and if you don't look carefully or with the right kind of eyes you may think nothing much is happening. However, if you are a man on the wrong side of 30 and there is nothing left of childhood but memories then you will be hit with every possible emotion watching these three guys over the course of a few days.

If you have ever struggled with your dreams of youth maybe never being fulfilled, or with what it means to be a father, or if you have ever hurt the one you love the most because you knew they were better off without the mess you are...I could go on and on. I related with all three of the main characters so much. Also, for a movie about men made by men it must be stated that the women in this movie are all lovely and multi dimensional. I think it is easy to forget about women, or make them window dressing in such a film, but all of the best scenes in the film involve the strong male facade gently cracking under the gaze of the fairer sex.

I will just say that the film is honest and true and that is all you can ever hope for in any work of art. Maybe it was simply a case of me being in a certain place, looking with certain eyes that made me connect so strongly but this film stayed with me a long, long time afterwords. Buy this film. Rent this film on iTunes. Support this type of work because I want to see more films like this. A quiet film with purpose. We deserve it.