Free Ride

Anna Paquin leads a very competent cast to portray Christina, a mother of two who flees an abusive relationship. She heads south into an ever increasing storm of drug influenced business - as their lives become paradoxically easier and more difficult at the same time.

The lead roles are compelling, with Paquin showing moments of superior skill, proving that her Oscar from 1993 was no fluke.

As it's a true story, the story line is a series of dramatized facts, woven together in a nearly challenging way.

The attention to 1970s set, wardrobe and script (a Walton's reference!) was superb - throwing my head space back into my own 1970s childhood a number of times.

The movie could have been preachy, but wasn't - it instead conveys the practical necessities that sometimes cloud choices. Christina was confronted with truly desperate situation, and we are left to consider the magnitude of that in a world more sexist than today.

I was left with the sense that this movie entirely escapes the worst of Hollywood, rather it has an Indie feel to it that I found enjoyable.

This movie is written exactly how things used to happen in 1977 Florida. It was very true to the time period. I grew up in this area at this time. Although it jumped a little it did get the story through.

"Free Ride," the feature film debut of Shana Betz, who wrote the screenplay, has the benefit of being the true story of a part of her childhood and is narrated by her alter-ego, the grown-up Shell. From top to bottom, it feels authentic, and its laid-back, nonjudgmental tone evokes the easygoing world of Jimmy Buffett songs celebrating how changes in latitude bring changes in attitude. Much of the movie seems bathed in the pink-grapefruit haze of a Florida sunset.

Before long, Christina and the girls are moved from a seedy motel to a farmhouse with a barn that shelters a horse for M J but also doubles as a drug warehouse that the girls are forbidden to enter. The domestic drama focuses on Christina's increasingly fraught relationship with the sullen, rebellious M J, who is itching for grown-up adventure and balks at having to take care of Shell while their mother is away on business.

Their conflict comes to an ugly head after Christina allows M J to accompany a drug-addicted acquaintance, Rain (Brit Morgan), to a rock concert. Ms. Morgan's Rain is a frighteningly accurate portrait of a bitter, superannuated groupie on the skids.

"Free Ride" is shrewdly cast. Ms. Paquin balances her character's two sides: the caring mother and the pragmatic working-class survivor who does what is necessary to survive. Cam Gigandet is equally believable as Ray, a shady, laid-back hunk with whom she flirts and who is the closest thing to a love interest. Ms. De Matteo is all sharp edges as the tough Sandy, who ominously disappears. That's the thing about this world: People tend to vanish at the first sign of trouble.

"Free Ride" offers an unsettling vision of a demimonde whose inhabitants live with the reality that there may be no tomorrow.

This film tells the story of a young woman who gets involved with drug trade in order to raise her two daughters.

A good thing about "Free Ride" is that it stays true to the period of 70's, even the font is very 70's. Even though the film is fast paced, the plot is not so well developed. It's not so thrilling, and towards the end it's even confusing. After watching the whole film, and re-watching some critical parts of it, I still don't understand what exactly Christina got for the free ride. I don't understand why the girl going to the concert had to lie to MJ and goes berserk in the car. Maybe the story telling can improve a little, but I think the dirty length of the film is another merit.

I thought it was a great movie, considering those who watch it will not know what scenes were cut out completely. The Sarasota, FL bar scene and all in it, cut out...Aay Mate...The Sarasota school scene, where are the girls? Cut out.. That is a disappointment for all that participated and waited 2 years to see. The movie needed to last 1/2 hr. longer. But all in all, it was a great production True Story. I like the mix you put in it. It was a pleasure and FL Boy enjoyed participation. Cast was wonderful. Wish I could have kept some photos........but rules are rules, right Mr. Moyer....Good job Annie and everyone else.

FL MOM