Transatlantic Coffee

In this exploration of profound loneliness and loss, Erik Peter Carlson miraculously has made a life-affirming, even inspiring film. Seamless camera work, gorgeous art direction/cinematography and truly challenging scenes help to bring us deep into the mind of an eccentric man who chooses an eccentric way to heal from his extraordinary trauma. Carlson has made a movie that subtly captures the essence of what we all love about cinema...that singular carnival ride that transports us into someone else's life experience.

My name is Randy Becker and I run NexTV Entertainment. We get thousands of submissions each year from emerging artists trying to make a mark on the list of significant industry players that we bring to our panels. TRANSATLANTIC COFFEE stands out not just because of the cohesive and compelling aesthetic or the challenging and topical subject matter, but because, at its core, it tells us a great story...one well worth experiencing.

-Randy Becker NexTV Entertainment

A dark and hypnotic drama that simultaneously explores the ecstasy of new found love and the wrenching pain of loss. Transatlantic teeters on the edge of a fever dream, but never falls off giving it a thrilling undercurrent, even when its pacing is deliberate and almost meditative. All of this while exhibiting an eroticism and honesty about sex that is all but nonexistent in mainstream American cinema. And I would be remiss if I didn't point out the beautiful and hardened lines of New York City serve as the perfect backdrop to the story. Transatlantic Coffee is another reminder that independent film is alive and well and worth finding.

So... the negative first, because that is how I roll. This movie is a mess. The writing is all over the place. The supporting actors, many of them, seem like they have never actually acted in a movie--or anywhere else, for that matter-before.I would give this movie tow stars. But! One thing absolutely saves this thing, and that is the lead. Pinassi is just stupidly good. I'd be very curious to see him on stage, because his subtle, nuanced performance plays perfectly on the big screen. Wonder if that would transfer to a live performance. Just... the stillness. The ability of this guy to express so much in a *look*. That is rare.

Whatever, I hope to see more from Pinassi. Will be on the lookout.

Erik Peter Carlson's "Transatlantic Coffee" is anything but your typical boy-meets-girl story. Alex (Kevin Pinassi), the guy in this tragicomic love story set in post-9/11 New York, is a middle-aged Brooklynite who's seemingly got some major problems. Life improves big time when he hooks up with Mandie (the delectable Rachel Marie Lewis), a teen-aged stripper from London. The results are thought-provoking and anything but predictable. This highly polished effort reveals a filmmaker and a young actress of some promise, and it's no surprise to me the film is being well-received on the festival circuit. Unlike so many films out there, it's fresh and original, and doesn't play like a rehash of something you've seen before.

This is a different kind of film than most big dramas, and is likely to be remembered as the director's quiet, breakthrough indie film that is more widely appreciated as the years go on, and his work is more widely recognized. . But if anything, it is a powerful demonstration of true range, and a hint at the great works that are yet in his future.

Kevin Pinassi is quite good when he's within his element though, really shines when he interacts with costar Rachel Marie Lewis or when he is left to be the focus on screen, which occurs multiple times in the film. Marcel Torres, who plays the best friend, does an OK job being the comic relief, however it never feels forced, which is a breath of fresh air.

Carlson has taken the extraordinary risk of handcrafting a film specifically to showcase the unique talent of his cast, revolving it around characters that absolutely no one else could pull off. The risk has paid off marvelously. This film extracts the best performances of any indie film I've seen in recent time, while drawing us in with an odd - and oddly touching - romantic tragedy. A delight to watch.