Standard Time

Just happened to catch the Canadian Premiere of 'Standard Time' at our local indie film festival. What a surprise! My fiancee and I thoroughly enjoyed seeing this wonderfully charming film. The star, Isabel Rose, introduced the film, and it was great to see how much of herself she put into it.

A lot of understanding and research of the Musical heyday was required to make this film authentic and Ms. Rose has a look that brings the experience together and makes it work.

Unlike a lot of other referential films, the 40's musical aspect of the film does not bog it down with obscure references, instead making the film a treat for the experienced and newbie alike. The narrative is compelling and in contrast to the films of the period in which our protagonist 'dreams', progressive as well, far more so than many of the other romance/comedy/marriage films of today.

I must mention that Andrew McCarthy does a wonderful turn as the piano teacher, probably a note better even than New Waterford Girl, showing far better chops and charm than he ever did in 'Pretty in Pink'.

Overall, an amazing debut effort that deserves a turn on the distribution merry go round; it just might pick up as much steam as that 'Ethnic Wedding' film.

I just saw Standard Time at the Victoria Film Festival. Not just for incurable romantics like me, it should also appeal to fans of nostalgic flicks like "Purple Rose of Cairo". Deserves a full release.

Debbie

Billie Golden (played by Isabel Rose, in a part she wrote herself) is an extremely small-time cabaret performer in a seedy neighborhood of Queens (or is it Brooklyn?). She sings pretty well, and loves the great cabaret standards, but her musical career is going nowhere, and when she loses the one real performing job she's ever had it precipitates a crises in her life.

Billie lives in a world of Technicolor musical numbers, which occur at frequent intervals throughout this extremely entertaining romantic comedy. She meets a handsome corporate lawyer and falls in love with him, then gets an unexpected chance to perform again at her old stand. Many complications ensue, some of which are quite predictable, but all of which are written and enacted in a very charming way.

Andrew McCarthy as the third corner of the love triangle is very appealing here, in a scruffy sort of way. Isabel Rose is terrific, and the remaining cast members turn in quirky and convincing performances. Of particular note are the cinematography, set decoration, and costumes, which manage to achieve the look of vintage Technicolor on what must have been a very small budget.

This film has been released for cable under the title "Anything but Love," from the song that is a key part of the musical score. Whatever the title, "Standard Time" is well worth watching.

I saw 12 films at the 2002 Fort Lauderdale Film Festival and Standard Time was by far my favorite.

In my opinion Isabel Rose has done a remarkable job of creating a polished and entertaining film with a low budget. The script and story, performances, music, costumes, and the wonderfully vivid and lush cinematography successful blend to make Standard Time such a pleasure to watch.

Hopefully Standard Time will secure U.S. distribution because I would love to see this movie released in theaters. I found it thoroughly entertaining and enjoyable and I would certainly see it a second time.

Andrew McCarthy is very appealing in this movie. Eartha Kitt also has a small, but very significant role. The rest of the cast is less familiar, but all gave quality performances.

At some movie theatres lately, you have the choice of seeing "Love Actually" or "Anything But Love"; ironically, the titles are the exact opposite of what these films are really about. After the depressing fairy-tales of "Love Actually" it was so refreshing to see a film that may not have had the advantages of a big budget or top-name talent, but makes up for it with sincerity. For Billie Golden, the first love in her life is her music, and she finds love with a man who has the same philosophy. How reassuring to find a film that doesn't glorify materialism and appearances and subjugates the love story to the more important life journey of finding one's passion. Miss Isabel Rose certainly looks and acts the part and has a nice little voice; Andrew McCarthy, as already noted, is perfect as the sclubby pianist. The rest of the cast is serviceable (Cameron Bancroft, I thought, was the weakest link). Costumes (particularly Billie's glorious retro fashions) were great and although there is a heck of a lot of distractingly bad ADR, there are some great NYC locations that make this one of the great movie valentines to the Big Apple, along the lines of "Annie Hall." The Technicolor dream sequence was a nice touch. Some interesting, not-oft-heard standards are to be found in the score. The script was awkward at times, particularly in the ending, but overall this is a fine little movie and a great holiday treat.