Outside In

Although Lynn Shelton's slice of small town Pacific Northwest life (pay attention Everett and Granite Falls) in Outside In is so authentic as to defy artful interpretations, it is a minimalist portrait of ambitions circumscribed and affections compromised. In other words, it elevates working class melodrama into art house heavy while retaining the hint of desperate housewives of any small town.

Almost 40-year old Chris (Jay Duplass) has been released from prison after 20 years with the aid of his do-gooder former teacher, Carol (Edie Falco). Arriving in Granite Falls, Washington State, he is faced with hitherto unsuspected expectations from the two leading ladies: Carol and her daughter Hildy (Kaitlyn Dever). A brief brush with another lady reminds us that a handsome bachelor, recently released from prison for being innocent, is fair game for romantically inclined small-town women.

Shelton's approach is to let the realism dominate without veering too sharply into contrived, ironic situations. Chris's adjustment into civilian life will be fraught with suspicion and jealousy, just as in the real world his siblings and friends have always lived.

Falco and Duplass are so believably good as two adults who need to start life over that you miss the clichés and unsurprising turns because the leads become family whose fates matter very much to us.

Outside In is not kitchen-sink drama; it is simply simple life warm, troubled, and endearing. And that acting . . . .

"There are aspects of small town life that I really like - the routine nature of it, the idea of people knowing you and your likes and dislikes." Cress Williams

(Some of the photography wasnt that great) story was touching and sensitive. The age differences needs to be acceptable in our society as well as ex-cons needing more attention. It was good.

Really beautifully written story and great acting. How it feels to come back to the world after a twenty year incarceration. Feeling deep feelings of love for the only person that fought for release from prison, in spite of a huge age difference and also complicated by her marital status.

This movie certainly kept my interest and I rooted for the two main characters, who portrayed a palpable sadness. I wanted them to find happiness, and toward the end of the film, I believe they did. Just not nicely wrapped up with a bow, as life is not usually like that. So I appreciated the ending also.

Great supporting cast as well.

Don't listen to the negative reviews. The subplots were also interesting and important. If you like films that steer away from action, sci-fi, and romance, and would like to see a film about the intricacies and complications of everyday life, this is a must see.

This movie may not fit into releasing to major theaters. However, it is a touching one. I like the unassuming kindness and unorthodox story telling.

Human beings are fragile in our own natures. There are moments when circumstances are beyond our controls and our morals and virtues are put into tested. Making right choices becomes challenging to our souls and bodies. We have to turn to the higher power for guidances. Doing right things seldom presents conveniences. It often requires courage. But if we don't consistently challenge our souls, our lives as we know might be heading into extinction.

We have nature to be selfish and unsympathetic. This movie showed how the opposite side could be. It is a great treat for our souls.

The more I think about Lynn Shelton being gone, the more it's a punch in the gut. Outside In is yet another simply told story about people who are just fully themselves in all their vulnerable and warm and sometimes very troubled ways. This is filmmaking where you barely feel a false note, because you can feel the person behind the camera is intimately connected with her subjects. It's like Cassavetes if it was... calmer. This is a film with such compassion without ever going out of its way to go for the easy emotions. Jay Duplass quietly makes a powerhouse performance being so natural we don't see any acting. And Edie Falco is given a splendid, conflicted person who knows her heart is in one place and not the other. It's a film about what it means to have a family in the starkest sense.