Open

Early on in this film, lead character, Kristina (the wonderful Lindsay Anne Williams) muses about what it means to be normal. It's a question that the film forces audiences to wrestle with throughout as director Doleac and his team fully embrace the weird, bold, outside-the-box, at times, positively wild, both from a story and style perspective. And it totally works because everyone is committed to it fully, especially the game cast, all of whom deliver top-tier performances, with Williams and Jeremy London, as ex-TV icon Erik, whose "star has dimmed" considerably, delivering particularly compelling work. But Doleac as husband, Robert and Elena Sanchez, Emma have great scenes together and excellent chemistry and Yohance Myles shows up late as Erik's agent and nearly steals the show.

Doleac's casting game is strong here, even William Forsythe, as a crusty, wise-cracking police captain (and Emma's dad) is in on the fun. And, yes, it's a musical! But not that kinda musical. The MTV-style music videos that populate the narrative represent Kristina's inner monologue as she struggles to navigate a personal tragedy, unfulfilled childhood dreams, a struggling marriage, a decision to "open" said marriage in hopes of saving it, and her new relationship with Erik, which turns out to complicated. The songs are tongue-in-cheek (but thoroughly catchy, enjoyable, and, on occasion, riotously funny) and the videos embrace that trend of the 80's where every video seems to have been shot in a nebulous void space with lots of fog, the occasional actor in an animal costume and cheesy effects.

The fictional band is made up of the people in Kristina's real life, including Erik, Robert, Emma and more ... now clad in copious make-up, wigs, and lots of 80's-inspired vinyl, leather and such. Yes, OPEN is anything but "normal" in cinematic terms and that's what makes it absolutely worth a watch.

This film proved to be an unexpected gem. Initially drawn to the movie by the sight of Jeremy London, famed for his role in "Mallrats," donning a wig and wielding a guitar, my curiosity was piqued. This intrigue was not in vain, as "Open" turned out to be a killer movie with equally killer songs.

The film tells the story of a woman struggling in her marriage, who becomes enamored with a former teen idol, portrayed compellingly by London. His character, once a celebrated figure, has seen better days in the industry, adding a layer of depth to the narrative. The standout feature of this film is its clever use of hallucinatory sequences where the protagonist imagines herself as the frontwoman of an 80's New Wave Band. These moments are not only visually stunning but also serve as powerful metaphors for her internal struggles and aspirations.

Jeremy London delivers what might be the performance of his career in this film. While I have always admired his work in "Mallrats" and am still hopeful for a "Mallrats 2," his portrayal in "Open" brings a new level of depth and nuance. The film itself is a delightful blend of drama, romance, and a nostalgic journey through the music of a bygone era. It's an emotional ride, with the music and visuals complementing the storyline beautifully, making Open not just a movie but an experience. For anyone looking for a film that combines great acting, an engaging story, and memorable music, Open is a must-watch.

I love movies where you have no idea where the plot is going. Jeremy London is on fire in the role as a former teen heart throb who stumbles into an open marriage and gets a little too involved. The dialogue gets better and better with every scene and all the acting is outstanding. Drop in some hallucinogenic music videos and it's a wild ride. You wouldn't think having the main characters reenact the emotions of the movie in '80s style video clips would work but oddly it does.

Miles Doleac has made quite a few movies and none is like the last -- this one makes me wonder where he partner Lindsay Williams are going next.

Recently, I stumbled upon a lesser-known film on Tubi that was thoroughly enjoyable. The film features 1980's style music videos, complete with catchy tunes and clever lyrics. Some are even uproariously funny, like the song "Vomiting Sucks". This independent film really hits the mark with its bold creativity. Jeremy London delivers a memorable performance as a has-been TV celebrity. The screenplay by Miles Doleac and Lindsay Williams, who play a couple grappling with personal loss and the challenges of a long-term relationship, is notably strong. However, the highlight of the film is the music that reflects the inner thoughts of Williams' character, "Kristina". Her journey explores the complexities of being a wife, mother, and woman in modern America. The film is a commendable effort from all involved.

I was so fortunate to watch this film with main crews and casts in Sunset screen activities locating in LA, California. After the screening, I was so honored to have a long private Interview with fabulous filmmakers of this great commercial film. I am one of the huge fans of the actress Elena Sanchez. Delighted to see her use her skillful acting skill in front of real camera instead of being parts of hard working stunt actings in The hunger game and Avengers in the past few years! Honestly , this is a deep tone film from the director Miles's viewpoint about analyzing the broken marriage in a unstable musical atmosphere. The stage works in the shots of musical scenes are fabulous in the design of voice and costumes on main characters' clothings. To encapsulate, I would recognize this film as a stylish achievement in exploring the balance between the focus of life marriage in protagonist's daily life and reflected musical pieces. This gonna be a cool way for dragging ur mind into breaking stereotypes of a broken marriage. Because everyone's involved in thinking of who I really belong to making a brave choice in facing a broken marriage. The shots are going well in the whole film to serve for cut in between great musical imagination and reality after knowing the truth of marriage.