Viena and the Fantomes

This movie is more of a cautionary tale than anything else. I was drawn to it by the incredible cast and after watching it, I found my s/o and I talking about the scenes for the next few days, analyzing, questioning, critiquing. Yes, the film dropped the ball on backstory..but maybe that was the point. We were supposed to follow this girl in this moment in time and that's it. Dakota Fanning (not Ellie, as another reviewer mistakingly called her) was phenomenal as Viena and her love triangle outlined the harrows of an abusive relationship juxtaposed next to a functional and passionate one. I was left wanting to see more of the band and yes, I craved that back story, but I was happy with the result of this movie. Frank Dillane and Caleb Landry Jones were exceedingly fun to watch, as usual. For those who say it meanders, I think that's the point. It escapes from you and with you. And who doesn't love a happy ending?

In downbeat rock drama "Viena And The Fantomes" Dakota Fanning joins a rag-tag crew of roadies / assistants (inc Frank Dillane (Deppesque) & Evan Rachel Wood) supporting a mid-rate new-age punk band (inc Jeremy Allen White, Caleb Landry Jones & Zoë Kravitz) while on the road on tour. Amid tawdry sex, drugs & rock 'n' roll Fanning's torn between Dillane & Allen White as the darker, seedier, mysoginistic, even violent side of the band emerges (esp through Landry Jones & dubious manager Jon Bernthal). It's well performed by the fine cast, and written & directed in original punchy style by Gerrado Naranjo, yet still feels rather inconsequential in the end.

To start telling the story of this film, would be useless because there is no story. If you can a girl who hangs out with the members of a band in their trailer in the middle of nowhere a story. I don't think there is one single good thing to say about it, in spite of the group of talents in it, the script is beyond bad, so it's just a complete waste of time.

What did I just watch? A bad version of Almost Famous? There was no point to this movie at all, no story, no likeable character, no nothing. Just a bunch of bums hanging around in a van on the road in the middle of nowhere, drinking and having sex. Dakota looked like a cadaver in this movie.

It's a different kind of movie. I wouldn't recommend it to novice film watchers. I was shocked at how bad the reviews were, which makes me wonder how many other movies i have disregarded in the past, due to the low rotten tomatoes percentage. This film is definitely a diamond in the rough and/or hidden gem in my opinion.

It's shot really well. The cinematography is really well crafted and thought out. Yes the movie can be slow moving at times, but it's a really delicate artistic film. Some of these films take a while to bloom, and patience is required but the pay off is worth it. It's also worth noting that Dakota Fanning is incredible and the rest of the cast is great too.

The soundtrack is in incredible. With music choices that are new and melodic, that really capture the essence and the soul of this film.

This relatively unknown filmmaker took his time to make things right, I believe i read somewhere that he edited the film for 3 - 4 years before releasing it after film production, in order to make things perfect, and it shows. You really get wrapped up in this love triangle and bizarre group of roadies/punk band. It's one of the first films that really engrossed me into this world, which I don't think many other films have delved too deep into, which I appreciated. To me the film is really about attraction and a study on what that means, how important personality is to relationships. With a thrilling frightening final act.

Overall a very thoughtful crafted film. It's refreshing to see a movie that is so different from other films.

Thumbs up all the way on this one, great job, and I hope to see more of what this director has in store for the future.