Four Eyed Monsters

I saw this film this year at the 2005 Slamdance film festival, in Park City Utah. Four-Eyed Monsters was a very enjoyable movie. This is a unique film about the relationship between 2 people and their coming together and what develops between them and it's so quirky and different that this slice of life narrative feature works, and it works well. With some introspective comments from both of our main characters as well as random interviews from strangers about relationships, love and sex. Done in way that you lean to understand what is going on inside the heads of our couple, and compliments the overall story. This is a digital film shot beautifully and has some creative edits, uses of animation, time lapse photography, and other techniques which gave this film the feeling that your are seeing something truly different and experimental. And has some amazing and dare I say original ideas within it, the ending left me speechless and makes the entire journey that much more entertaining. I highly recommend watching this film, you will not be disappointed.

Definitely the product of young minds, this piece may very well appeal to the 20s crowd, who is still trying to find their place in the world, while obsessing over every neurosis. However, I can't imagine that the heavy amount of narcissistic navel-gazing, trite humor, or banal subject matter would be particularly engaging to anyone over 30. Another problem is that the peripheral characters, whom the filmmakers obviously have nothing but contempt for, are hyped up to such absurd caricatures for comic effect, that they fail to be relatable in any real way.

However, one has to give some style points to the filmmakers, who obviously grew up in the video generation, and use every conceivable editing trick in the book in order to spruce up an otherwise non-existent plot. There are 2 points to remember here. First, beware of festival darlings. Second, even though we live in the age of youtube, not everyone's account of their mundane lives deserves big- screen treatment. But these young filmmakers have every right to make their film, and if others 20-somethings can find something in it to identify with, then all the better. Yet I could not help but think at the end of this film how this latest generation, just now coming of age, will fare in the real world that presents so many challenges and complications. In the age when every child is constantly reassured of how special they are, and that they all deserve their 15 minutes of exposure, resiliency and the ability to deal with adversity does not exactly appear to be this generation's strong point.

Anyone who gets of their backside and makes a film should be applauded. The couple that made this obviously put their heart and soul into it. However, it's not always effort that breeds greatness. This film starts really well - the opening scenes suck you in and you want to know more - but after that it becomes banal quite quickly. 20 somethings worrying about their life, direction and relationships is a often used plot point.. but here it 'is' the plot. The film has the usual micro-budget tell tale signs. Some dodgy camera work, some 'not quite on the money' acting and some quality issues. But, overall, it works in the context of a slice of life in the myspace/facebook revolution.

I'd put money on Crumley and co making something big at some point in the future, but this is a public airing of their education really.

Well worth a watch, but don't expect a film with this kind of budget to compete with Hollywood.

I think this movie deserves more than 6. I wouldn't be indulgent with this two independent filmmakers because, these days, they are in good company. I would rather underline the emotional state this movie is able to communicate. You see catchy animations and other graphic sequences that make you think "Yes, we are now dealing with a new school of film-making" but at the end of the day you carry on watching it because it a has got a cosy and delicate pace. Someone find it too auto-biographical but in my opinion they have been good enough to make it look as little auto-autobiographical as possible. I managed to watch it on youtube just before they removed it but I'd still suggest to a friend. Don't expect to be amazed but enjoy a soft and quirky story-telling with a background of snow and dazzling voice-overs.

I liked this film fine, but I think I like their web episodes a lot better than the actual movie.

Maybe that speaks to short form content in the digital age; the movie itself is obviously building towards an ending, a payoff that was sort of a let down, where-as the web content had it's own loose narrative structure that lent itself more to their type of story.

Either way, I think the way they released and marketed it was genius.

I wish more independent films had the guts to go straight to their fans. I live in LA, and there's 100 new movies playing every weekend, yet I can never find a truly independent film unless I order it on Netflix. And that means I have to wait for months after hearing about it. I lose interest, and then when it comes, it sits on my microwave for a week before I get around to watching it.

Filmmakers should premiere at a festival, and then launch DVD, download, and theatrical screenings the following weekend.