Turning Green

I was totally taken by surprise seeing this film. I didn't know what to expect and was blown away. I have tons of family in Ireland but was brought up in New York my whole life and this film struck a chord with me. It was so realistic to all the situations I have experienced with family over there and family over here. And I loved the characters. You so quickly "got" each of them right from their first scene. I think the plot is brilliant. It's simple, realistic and fun to watch. I think so many people seemed to be preoccupied with the ending but I was more satisfied by the entire film throughout that it didn't phase me in the least how things turned out. The acting by this young man was phenomenal and I always love seeing Colm Meaney in these roles. I felt so good leaving the theater. It made me want to go back for another visit and share this film with all of my cousins over there.

TURNING GREEN is an interesting title for this well made film about an American boy surviving in Ireland. Written and directed by Michael Aimette and John G. Hoffman the story takes place in the 1970s in a little town in Ireland. 16-year-old James Powers (Donal Gallery, a very promising new actor on the screen) and his little brother Pete (Killian Morgan, also a find) are of Irish ancestry but were born in the United States. When their mother dies they are sent to Ireland to live with their three 'heinous aunts' - Aunt Nora (Brid Ni Chionaola), Aunt Maggie (Deirdre Monaghan) and Aunt Mary (Billie Traynor) - who keep a tight fist on the boys and disrupt the only pleasure James has, that of extended onanism with the door to the loo locked. James and Pete want to go back to America. Their only real friend is Tom (Colm Meany), but they are bonded to Bill the Bookie (Alessandro Nivola) to make money: they collect bets on dog racing for Bill. Bill's assistant Bill the Breaker (Timothy Hutton) is the cruel one who beats up insolvent debtors and keeps the boys frightened enough to stay in line.

James and Pete are sent to London by their Aunts to see if James has a physical problem that keeps him in a locked loo so much of the time. In London they encounter a magazine salesman who specializes in girlie magazines, illegal in Ireland. James works out a deal to sell the magazines when he returns to Ireland and both James and Pete do very well in their new business. But Bill the Bookie catches on to their secret manner of making money and the results of this discovery changes the lives of James and Pete and others - but not an end to James' compulsion to go back to America.

The story is brief but the acting by all concerned is absolutely first rate. Donal Gallery is a very fine young actor and manages to make us not only believe in the character he has created but to also to root for his success. He balances humor with fear and anger in a well- considered way. Nivola and Hutton continue to impress as first-rate actors and the supporting cast is rich in cherishable characters. The intoxicating musical score is by Pull and the scenery of Ireland has never seemed so beautiful. This is a fine little independent film that deserves a lot of attention.

Grady Harp

it is nice, amusing and sentimental. a subjective picture of Ireland. nothing more. two boys. a desire.and much confusion. a joke. without precise ingredients. figures, bizarre business, strange humor. only sin - it remains unrealistic. a nice story with a kind of potential. almost chaotic, almost fake, it is expression of desire to say all. and the result is not impressive. it is nice. and this fact is only refuge. but far to have a little form of common sense, it is only game with old dusty pieces. a drama, a comedy, a crime, adventures. in same bag. it is too much. but the good intentions are a small basic virtue. if ignore you the not inspired character for Timothy Hutton.

A long time in the making and almost released, this respectable effort from first time auteur director/screenwriter/creative director will surely find a place in the hearts of filmgoers everywhere. Soon to be added voice-over work will add additional "dramatic flair" to be sure. It seems Creative Director Aimette has focused his energy on last years much unnoticed Snickers campaign instead of finishing this important piece of work. Unconfirmed internet rumor has it that now producers have decided to release the little seen prequel to Turning Green, tentatively titled Turning Blue, to build renewed anticipation. Aimette is currently scripting the Turning Colors Trilogy's final dark chapter and expects to begin pre-production in late 2012.