If I Had a Hammer

If you can find a copy of this film then by all means you should get it and keep it in your collection forever.

Josh Becker had been selling copies of the movie on his website and, to the best of my knowledge, has recently stopped.

This movie is about the changing of an era and is comparable to Orson Well's "The Magnificent Ambersons" and also to the legendary George Lucas's "American Graffiti".

It is an excellent commentary on life in America prior to the arrival of the Beatles and is fully supported by a highly energetic, though mostly unknown, cast.

Lisa Records and Brett Beardslee give wonderful, yet innocent performances and add to the overwhelming charm of this undiscovered diamond.

If you are looking for a wonderful thought provoking movie that isn't about special effects but, mercy me, is actually a well told visual story then "If I Had a Hammer" is just what the doctor ordered.

It is a down right shame that this, easily the best film by it's notoriously outspoken director, has still not found a means of distribution (outside of being up in 13 parts on you tube...not an ideal way to enjoy it's beautiful production value).

What I enjoy so much about this film is how different it is, both technically and aesthetically from the regular indie style most are accustomed to. There's no improvisation in a Becker film and while that's worked for some (Cassavetes, Jost, Leigh, etc.) most of the time it can come dangerously close to falling flat for an audience. Becker works like a poor man's Billy Wilder, filling his films with doses of humor, believable dialog, high production standards and perfectly structured scripts. This film, a not so sly jab at the dumbing down of art/music/film (entertainment in general) is a joy, shot on gorgeous 35mm with a wonderful cast of unknowns (probably the big reason for it's non-secured distribution status). It may not be a work of genius, but it's at least saying something. What was the last thing on the mind of Tarantino or Rodriguez?

Well worth the effort of seeking out.