Rollercoaster

Remember being a teenager? The feeling of isolation from everyone and everything? The certainty that things are as bad as they can get and they won't get any better? Scott Smith certainly does, and he uses that knowledge to make the film "rollercoaster" one of the most disturbingly realistic looks at adolescence since "Kids" and "Dazed and Confused" in the mid-'90's.

Darren, Chloe, Justin, Stick, and Sanj are five kids from a Vancouver group home who break into a theme park that's gone out of business and whose equipment is about to be auctioned off. The point of this is Darren and Chloe--pregnant with Darren's child--have made a suicide pact and want their friends to be there with them when they jump off the roller coaster. Justin--Darren's younger brother--and Stick--a sociopathic bully who is secretly in love with Darren--don't like this plan, but feel powerless to stop it.

And that's what this film is really about: feeling powerless. The only way that the suicides can be averted is if these kids express their feelings honestly. Darren needs to tell Chloe he loves her. Justin needs to tell Darren he needs a brother. Stick needs to tell someone he's gay. But these kids only know what they've learned in the group home: hippie-dippie psychobabble alternated with sexual abuse. And so they vandalize cars and drink and smoke pot and Stick beats people up and Justin draws cartoons and they all rail about the meaningless of life.

Because this is a debut film (and because it is from my native Canada), it is riddled with flaws: we never learn much about Sanj, and a subplot about a pedophile security guard just doesn't work. But this is an impressive debut from Scott Smith. Imagine what he could do with a budget (but only as long as he keeps in touch with his inner suicidal teenager)! 7 out of 10.

Not a disaster pic, not teensplatter fare nor a 3-D actioner, "rollercoaster" is a surprising ride about five very real kids who in one day at a closed-down fair come to terms with the everything that is wrong in their lives. Director Scott Smith turns a good tale here and gets his best performance from the explosive Brendan Fletcher, an actor to watch.

"rollercoaster" got great buzz at the Toronto Film Fest, won Most Popular Canadian feature at the Vancouver Film Fest, Best Canadian Feature at the Victoria Independent Film Fest and is nominated for a Leo award, along with Fletcher and Turton each for Best Actor.

When 'rollercoaster' played the Vancouver International Film Fest earlier this year, I thought it demonstrated a kind of emotional depth and a sense of visual style that are exceedingly rare in film these days. While it would be misleading to label the story 'slow', it does have a vaguely European feel to it - a narrative that unfolds more through place and emotional state than through a linear set of events. Ambitious, haunting, and well worthwhile.

**** Roller Coaster **** 7.5/10 Starring: Brendan Fletcher, Kett Turton, Crystal Buble, Brent Glenen, Sean Amsing, David Lovegren

Plot: A Group of teens jump the fence of a defunct amusement park with a plan to end it all. Love stories, surprises and great acting ensues.

Not everyone is going to like this movie. Most people will, in fact, hate it. Its fairly slow, a little boring at times, and has unknowns as the leads. But it has one redeeming factor that makes it all worthwhile: Its so true. Every last bit is like its taken from the life of the average city teenager. Every parent should see this to know whats going on in their child's head.

The Acting is incredible. All except Sean Amsing. Hes just bad. But Brendan Fletcher should go far in his career. A Homosexual homophobic. Its an oxymoron and he plays it like a pro. He denies his feelings, but knows they are there. Crystal Buble's character could have been played by almost any young female actress, and the part about her being a slut wasn't that believable, but the rest rocked!

The character that stood out for me was Darrin (Kett Turton) He was so....disturbed. You could tell what he was really thinking on his face, even when he didn't express it with actions.

This is not a Hollywood fluff movie. It definitely does not have the romantic Hollywood ending, it is depressing, and if you don't watch every minute you wont know exactly what is going on. But if you want a quality movie about real life things then this is a great choice!

7.5/10

You can buy this movie at famvid.net for under $8!!. I couldn't stop watching it once I rented it. The realistic teen drama was enhanced by the dreamy music that floated thru the amusement park. I could never imagine climbing a roller-coaster, and this was really amazing to watch. I don't understand why Darrin jumped off the coaster. Was it because Chloe persuaded him to do it, or was it because she slept around and betrayed him?

Anyway it was different, and enjoyable to view. Dark and depressing, but a lot of good movies are that. The character Sketch was really creative, and I was glad that Stick joined him on his mission to his sisters.

Does anyone know if the soundtrack is available anywhere?