Love, Ludlow

I like to relax, kickback and watch a comedy. Therefor I kept waiting and waiting for the comedy to start. In the end my wait was over, the fun hadn't come. A comedy? questionable. It looks more like an independent movie which leans more toward the genre known as drama.

In 'Love, Ludlow' the life of a woman living and having to take care of her retarded(?) brother is being portrayed. The ups, the downs and how one would have to deal with it; how it affects aspects of life. She's trying to date a guy, pretty sensitive and scared, but in order to start a working relationship both have to overcome and accept the obstacle known as Ludlow (her brother). Very good, very nice imagery, not a good comedy. But definitely a good movie. As a drama (or what I think of as drama) I'd give it an eight point five, as a comedy I'd give it a two, not much fun. After a compromise with myself I gave it a seven.

We saw Love, Ludlow at the Big Apple Film Festival and like it very much. Big Apple is the newest and still the smallest (and I'm sure they want to feel, the hippest) of the three NYC festivals--NYFF and Tribeca.

The first several minutes are slow and not involving enough, but then once the characters start to play out, you are taken in. Terrific acting, and a great woman hero for a change. I grew up in Queens and I think the lead character is completely right.

Brendan won Best Male Performance of the Festival, and the film took second place for Best Feature.

All deserved, of course.

It appears I am the among the persons providing a less than stellar review for LOVE, LUDLOW. I'm trying hard to figure out how LL received so many "9"s and "10"s and am trying even harder to figure out how those folks make room for CITIZEN KANE, THE KING'S SPEECH, or other highbrow stuff.

LL is enjoyable if you've truly got time to kill; i.e., as opposed to having limited time for entertainment due to kids, job, etc! The dialog is particularly funny and the two love-interested characters' scenes are especially good. Alicia Gorenson plays it just right; i.e., just a wee bit over the top, which fits in perfectly with the shooting and pacing of the film as well as the score, background music. In light of the setting and somewhat zany characters, I was reminded of HENRY FOOL.

But the set-up, conflict, etc. is not particularly new and the sister's obligation toward her brother is not fully explained nor convincing. Ludlow himself is not given enough background, is not particularly funny, and generates little sympathy or concern. Indeed, brother Ludlow more or less functions as the obstacle forming the conflict between the romance driving the film.

I will start off by saying that this film was amazing. It made me laugh, it made me cry, and it made me feel "warm and fuzzy inside." Movies like this do not come around very often.

"Love, Ludlow" is about a woman, Myra, from Queens and her "relationship" with a sweet mid-western man from her work, Reggie, and how she has to deal with her troubled brother, Ludlow.

This film never once had a moment when I wondered about a character's motivation, or if something was truly necessary.

Simply put, this is a beautiful, touching film that will stick with you for a very long time.

"Love, Ludlow" is a neat, quirky and entertaining romantic comedy about three quirky young adults (only one is dysfunctional) striving to thrive in New York. The film describes their daily struggle, a colorful and clowny mini-circus based in a Queens walk-up. There's no sex, no violence, and no drugs, but there are some tear-provoking scenes and many laughs. It's kinda sorta like an early Woody Allen comedy.

The script, an excellent collaboration based on an earlier play by David Patterson, is heightened by three terrific show-case performances and superb cinematography under the direction of first-time film-maker Adrienne Weiss. Could be the late-bloomer of Sundance '05.