Dixieland

It was a low budget movie for sure but entertaining for what it's worth. I wish it didn't end like it did. Faith Hill was great of course. I hate when some reviewers bash other people's hard work and risk, but they themselves just play it safe all their life at a 9-5 and never take a risk or never subject themselves to creating anything because they are scared. Some people will relate to the movie and some won't, but that's just how it is. For what it's worth the sound track was pretty good (if you like hip hop). There were quite a few songs from a group called LOWC, and it's hard to believe it was made 20 years ago. http://www.lowcbigballin.com

I loved the movie, because it deals with a situation that many ex-cons deal with once released from prison. Faith played a convincing , caring mother. I felt all the actors played their roles well. I loved her sons desire to go straight and help his girlfriend out. it showed he had a heart and was a good kid inside, just faced challenges in the environment he was in. The same for his girlfriend, a good daughter in a bad situation and only could work with what she knew. I love the fact also that Faith is so versatile in acting and singing. I know some reviews thought it was a waste of her acting ability, but I saw the opposite. she was very convincing and her love and concern for her son came thru in her acting.

Without a doubt, one of the subtlest, most real and visceral movies of the century. This film kicked my butt down the block. The dialog is genius, the acting is genius, the cinematography is genius.

A new dimension in cinema realism that echoes the revolutionary Italian neo-realism of the late 1940's. There is no proscenium with this film, no sense of stage. The story line is a baseball bat between the eyes. Meanwhile it sets a new standard, a new aesthetic.

For a "bad boy making good" film, it is low key, but an intense low key. No exploitation of paranoia. No textbook suspense tricks. No sense that the actors are acting. No need to suspend disbelief. The honesty of this film could earn a place at the Dogme 95 end of the spectrum. I'll be looking for Bedford's future work.

This indie, set in Pearl, Mississippi, has solid acting and believable characters, but evoked in me quite a lot of sadness. It moves along at its own deliberate pace, relies too much on flowery flashbacks, but is strangely enhanced by cuts to brief interviews with real locals of the area, who tell some harrowing personal stories.

Chris Zylka is quite solid in the lead role of Kermit, just released from prison after serving a 2 year stint. There's nothing new to the plot element that he's trying to go straight, but will be quickly lured back into one last job to help his neighbor and new girlfriend Rachel pay her mother's medical bills.

Riley Keough is excellent in the role of Rachel, and Faith Hill is superb as Kermit's sexy and free spirit mother Arietta. In supporting roles, Brad Carter is quite believable as the lowlife Larry Pretty, who's seeking revenge against Kermit, and Steve Earle adds well to the mix as Kermit's Uncle Randy.

All in all, although this movie written and directed by Hank Bedord, who's making his feature debut here, takes some predictable paths early on but it does have some twists and turns as it progresses, which I didn't guess were coming. The film gives the viewer a look at many lost souls who are ensconced in a cycle of poverty, drugs, violence, and family loyalties, often leading to incarceration. However, if one doesn't mind the deliberate pacing or the grimness and sadness, it can be worth a watch.

The acting feels natural, they are all more or less believable in the parts they play so that's good.

The story isn't particularly original though and fairly predictable, although instead of going the Hollywood route and squeezing out every emotion of every event the movie stays in a natural and low-key.

If that's good or not is a matter of preference I suppose but in the end I didn't feel any emotional connection with any of the characters so that's where it fails IMO.

To further the feeling of realism in the movie they have the occasional interview segments with real Dixieland people talking about various things every 10 minutes or so, which I thought was an okay idea but they did it a little too often if you ask me.