The Falls

The director was there for a Q and A. This was a good film done in the film noir homage. I liked the plot and the twists were all very good that occurred at the end of the flick. I loved the two cops and was surprised to see that Briscoe was also a producer for the movie. When I walked into this movie, Rick Schroder was sitting there. Even though that has nothing to do with this movie, I just thought I would mention that. Anyway, on to the movie. The movie was done for under 75K. Kudos to the director, DeNegris, for making a good flick. Not bad for a first time feature film director.

I give this movie a good review.

I thought this movie was awful. I understand it was shot on a small budget but the acting was terrible and the movie itself was just plain dumb. The plot was predictable and the central character was an unsympathetic moron. In fact, all of the characters were unsympathetic and none were fully developed at all. The audience relates to no one in the movie. It was supposed to be suspenseful but if you don't care about the characters, it's hard to get "into" the movie at all. I felt like an outsider being forced to listen to someone tell me a stupid story. All the plot twists at the end were just a little too much - I was actually laughing when I guess I was supposed to be "shocked." All in all, I thought it was really just a bad movie.

Although I don't go all gaga over film noir thrillers, I enjoy them o.k. in general. However there's not one second, while watching The Falls, that the viewer is not thinking, "I'm watching a film noir movie," and I did grow to find that rather annoying. I dislike 99% of soundtrack music but I usually try to ignore it. That however is impossible with this movie.

OK, what about everything else? Well, it is a well-crafted and well-acted (except maybe the fight scenes) flick. If you love film noir thrillers, like redheaded babes (for guys) or this type of male (for gals), like jazz music with some rap music thrown in, like film festival selections (as opposed to the standard Hollywood pap), and like seeing a different setting than Los Angeles or New York City, then you may well enjoy this. The characters did all have the typical failing of acting stupidly (as is even commented on, by the narrator) but the multiple twists at the end were rather fun. Unlike with most films, I got the impression that everyone involved was trying to make the best movie they could, rather than simply the most money possible. And at least after watching The Falls, I didn't end up with the feeling that I'd wasted my time, as I often do with (random) DVDs that I borrow.

As for the DVD, I learned plenty, from the behind the scenes feature, which I wouldn't have realized about the making of the movie otherwise. The movie's bonus commentary track also was interesting and enlightening (which often isn't the case.)

This wannabe film noir is dreadful. First and foremost, there is WAY too much narration. Apparently the writer/ director worried that the audience wouldn't understand his derivative stab at a story, so in most scenes points are made visually while the narrator explains what we're seeing .. it's insulting to an audience and just plain awful filmmaking. At the Phoenix Film Festival the director introduced the movie (shot on DV), clearly proud of its "225 visual effects shots" -- which obviously took precedence over an actual story. Yes, guys, digital toys are fun, but don't make a movie just so you can play with them. Yuck.

I'm only going to write more because it's required. However, the summary I put at the top is way too wordy for what this film was. You pretty much know who's in on it from the beginning. In spite of its attempts at plot twists and turns -acting 'talent' trying hard to have looks of shock and dismay when a twist happens-, you never really need to wonder 'whodunit' in this 'mystery'.

The more I write, the more I feel bad that I have to write so much in order to have a comment, but rules are rules. I really feel bad about saying this, but this is the lowest I've ever rated a movie... I think. It makes me wonder what I'm saving votes of 1 and 2 for. However, I thought this film deserved a 3, since I believe there was some talent in the film. Johanna Watts (or is it Watson) did a pretty good job. She was crying and distraught in one part and I thought she conveyed that emotion well. The man who played the character that was 'the drummer' did well, too, for his short part.

Many of the actors did an 'ok' job. But the lead actor, David -forget his last name (terrible with names)- was pretty bad. I think he must have thought he was doing dramatic displays for 'The Young and the Restless' or 'Days of Our Lives'. If you try, you can just picture him in a white lab coat, playing a doctor with multiple personalities on 'General Hospital'. It doesn't help that the movie is even shot like a daytime soap. Although, I'm pretty sure I could shoot this same movie with a camcorder; though without the obvious and soap'ish sound editing.

First time I ever thought the money to rent this movie was wasted. Though, I wouldn't watch it again, unless I was paid a large sum of money.