Still Life

I saw this movie at the New York International Independent Film and Video Festival, and I was very impressed. The script was tight and the dialogue was realistic...the movie managed to be touching, hilarious, and suspenseful, sometimes simultaneously! From the promotional materials and story synopsis I had expected suspense, and the movie delivered, but the humor and wit inherent to almost every scene came as a nice surprise. The story was engaging, and the film was beautifully shot. I wonder if the writer/director did actually come from a photography background, because it's not often that I notice when a movie has good lighting. :-) I was amazed to find out later that it was shot on digital video...it had none of the quality issues I would have expected from digital video, and I saw it on an enormous screen. I hope this movie gets more exposure...it certainly deserves it.

Besides the strong acting and the compelling compositions the thing I remember most about this film is that the story arcs for each of the four main characters aren't hackneyed or trite but genuinely surprising. Even when they seem like they're approaching well-tread dramatic terrain the script takes original turns to elevate this film above standard dramedic fare. It's a testament to the screenwriter/director (and to the actors for making these plot points convincing) that this comes off so well. Highly recommended.

When I first saw Still Life at Flickapalooza, I was completely floored. From the opening shot of the ensemble cast (Zak Jeffries, Jamie Sinsz, Natalie Roers, and Michael Caloia) to the closing shot of a broken down car on a highway in the middle of nowhere, I was captivated. This film set a new benchmark for independent film that will be hard to surpass.

The characters in this story were amazingly real and complex - a nice change of pace from the cardboard cutouts that come from Hollywood. Zak Jeffries (as Danny Potter) showed such deep inner turmoil and angst that he nearly broke my heart, and yet he never let his acting become too melodramatic. Someday this kid is going to go far in the world of screen acting.

Another brilliant performance came from Jamie Sinsz playing the role of David Stiles. Many people, including myself, feel that Mr. Sinsz's portrayal of David is brilliant, funny, and tragic. David is a living, breathing individual who's change through the film is astounding, yet the audience can't help but laugh at his sarcastic one-liners which, at times, steals the movie.

Natalie Roers is an incredible and lovely woman who pulls off an amazing performance in Still Life. Her style, charm, and class created a tragic sense of hope in everyone around her, yet her character, Karma, was incapable of ending a bad relationship which threatened her life and sanity.

Apart from the plot, which is completely engrossing, the cinematography was done so well, that at times I would wonder what they actually shot the movie on. It was shot on Digital Video, but the D.P. (The award-winning Nate Stark) managed to make me wonder if what I was seeing wasn't 35mm film.

Someday very soon, the writer/director/editor Mike Flanagan will be recognized by the general public for his talent in the area of film. I expect to see big things from him in the coming years, and can't wait to see his next film (whatever it may be).

If you have the chance, see Still Life while it is still running through the festival circuit. And, if not, go to Baltimore, look Mr. Flanagan up, and pay him to get a look at this jewel of a film. It was worth every dollar I paid to see it.