Channels

A movie like this is rare and wonderful. This sweet whimsical movie that is entertainment the way I like it. it makes you, forgive my cliché, laugh, cry and think. I thought about how little actual time we have here to enjoy what is "real" to us. And not to let little things get in our way.

The acting was real. Nat Christian, as the main character, never hits a false note. This actor couldn't lie if he had to. Kim Oja graces the movie with her charm. John Kassir, a terrific actor, is very funny as an agent. It was a joy to see Taylor Negron not camp it up and still be funny, but in a real way. Ed Asner plays it gruff with a skillful mix of comedy and drama. A scene with Joan Van Arc and Nat Christian is very moving. Both are consummate actors.

The direction is crisp with a sure hand by writer-director, Christian. The score by Rossano Galante is extremely moving. I recommend it to anyone of all ages.

I've been watching a lot of romantic comedies lately. Don't know why, but maybe because the advertising offers a refreshing change form all of the ultra-high special effects movies out there. Nothing negative about them I just wish that they put a little more into character relationships.

Which brings me to CHANNELS. Didn't really know what I was getting into. So, initially I thought "okay, another romantic comedy on the lighter side." I was kind of on track with the "lighter side." Then the story takes a turn and I was drawn into what was being said and the value of time in regard to the people we become intimate with.

This seemed like a very personal movie for writer, director and star, Nat Christian. And he delivers from his heart. As the main character, he gives a truthful performance, natural and he delivers his lines with great ease. Kim Oja as the female co-star makes for a great match with him. I cared about them. They don't play down to the audience.

John Kassir, Taylor Negeron, Ed Asner and Jan Van Ark round out a superb cast of high caliber actors who are in this movie.

CHANNELS is a romantic comedy that reaches higher and in a subtle and seductive way manages to do so.

Channels arrives with a somber mood, and a cynical attitude, but then does a fantastic job of creating a romantic atmosphere in which we can believe in.

Actor, Nat Christian, gives a powerful, truthful and passionate performance as Black, a man so emotionally not alive, that when he comes home after a very busy day at work (he's a producer on a film shoot), he needs to just sit back and channel surf. His cynicism is delivered straightforward and not for show. He then starts to loosen up when he meets Katherine, played by the adorable Kim Oja. Christian, a masterful actor, doesn't immediately do a complete turnaround, but he does more of a gradual awakening, wonderfully playing these different moods. There is a lot of kissing and romance between Christian and Oja and the two of them burn up the screen (And there is no nudity). I've seen Nat Christian on TV when he started out doing soaps, and he was always engaging to watch.

Kim Oja was a very pleasant surprise as a comedienne. Taylor Negron gives a vulnerable performance. John Kassir is perfect as a cynical talent agent. Ed Asner rules. Joan Van Ark is also great and should be doing more movies.

Christian equals his acting talents as the director of Channels. Storytelling is the operative word. Done with artistry and sureness, he takes us to another place and we are there.

The music by Rossanno Galante was enchanting. The cinematography by Michael Hardwick was alluring as well as the set design. There is a song written by Daryl Orenge and Nat Christian, that is quite catchy.

Wonderful!

Yeah! A movie that not only entertains with chuckles here and there, but really moves you with some knockout punches. The main characters played by Nat Christian and Kim Oja have a marvelous chemistry. You WANT these two to be together. Christian has the magnetism and sex appeal of some of the old time male movie stars. Oja fits right in with the sweet yet sexy clan. Both are great actors. Christian never hits a false note and allows us to journey with him throughout the movie. As the director of the movie too, Christian selflessly gives a lot of screen time to all of his co-stars. Oja is able too show us a comedic style that hasn't been shown before. Joan Van Ark, still hot at her age, is able to project a vulnerability under her character's hard shell. Ed Asner has a great monologue which made me nearly fall over laughing. John Kassir and Taylor Negron are perfect matches for these actors and are always interesting to watch. It was great to see Amber Barretto on the screen, along with Chloe Hunter. Both are beauties who could grace any movie. Gil Glaskow is a standout in a supporting role.

The director takes us on an emotional journey step by step with our main characters and mixes it up with some great imagery. The composer, Rossano Galante, delivers an emotional score.

Wow!

I just started writing comments on movies. I watched three recently. Two I loved. One I didn't. I'll get around to writing about the movie I didn't like. But the two I loved were "Slumdog Millionaire" and "Channels."

"Channels" is a very special piece of work. it is funny, romantic and beautifully quite profound. Questions were posed that I suppose I've had passing thoughts about, but "Channels" brought them to the surface for me by pulling me in to the story.

It was directed and written by Nat Christian, who did quite an artistic job of putting all of these moments together. His vision imbued the movie with a poetry, or maybe a lyrical quality that was quite appealing.

The cinematography by Michael Hardwick very much helped capture this vision as did the nice production design by Dolores Piazza. Duane Condor gave the movie some haunting Visual Effects. The musical score by Rossano Galante is quite marvelous. And there is a cool song written by Daryl Orenge, with Christian providing the lyrics.

The actors all were wonderful. Ed Asner is fantastic in a cameo appearance and is funny at times. John Kassir, famous for his character roles and "voices", gives his very fine talents as a manager. Taylor Negron, who normally plays goofy characters, does a really nice job and comes off quite sincere in this. Joan Van Ark is also sincere and appealing while keeping her character tough.

The lead character is played by wonderfully talented Kim Oja. She's really fun to watch and, in the moments when she loosens up, she sort of reminds of an old movie actress, Carole Lombard.

Christian plays the lead character with a powerfully nuanced performance. In his subtle looks and gestures, we know what is going on with him. I would like to see more of this compelling actor.

And I would like to see more movies like "Channels", and that's what the energy out there feels like.