Coffee & Donuts

Who wants to see another boy meets girl, boy falls for girl, happy joy tra-la-la. Who gives a crap?!?

How about boy obsesses over girl to the point of physical illness and drug induced escapism, girl comes back to boy, boy seems human again, girl eats boy's heart in front of him and laughs demoniacally? Sounds more like my speed. We've all been there; unrequited love rotting our insides, delusional thoughts, smart-ass friends, retarded cats... OK no cat. But we all know how living through pain can make life hell. Green digs into the very heart of pain in this film, pouring his personal demons out on-screen in an attempt to connect with us in a mere 90 minutes.

Nightmarish dating scenarios and unsympathetic friends give us a feel of realistic human relationships lost in most on-screen interactions; much of it confidently declared. Not an easy feat to impress upon a group of strangers sitting in a dark room watching you in 2-D.

Lots of subtle, dark humor may be lost on audiences viewing for the first time. Context is tantamount, and if you're not intent on the high-speed banter, you'll miss a lot. If you can keep up, however, the brazen wordplay between Adam and Steve is classic. See it twice.

I saw this film by chance. A friend of mine had a copy and said that "I had to see it." I wasn't all that moved by his recommendation, but as soon as the movie began, I thought Steve and Adam did a great job portraying the life of a recent college grad, miserable in their jobs, disillusioned by life in general and really more interested in pursuing their dream job rather than concentrate on their careers. And as far as the relationships are concerned, Coffee and Donuts is great here as well by portraying Adam as a typical guy who can't get over his ex, who can't relate to that. Plus the movie does a great job of showing dating after college can be hell, especially when you can't get over someone else, as it was for Adam. I really think this movie captures a brief time in everyone's life, say somewhere between the ages of 22 - 24, and captures it well. And there are some genuinely funny scenes. I'd recommend this for sure. Plus made on only 400 bucks, that's even cooler.

This project by ArieScope Pictures is an amazing testament to the talent within this company--especially when considering the limited budget with which they had to work! Both the writing and production are exceptionally well done. Some of the acting is a bit raw but impressive nonetheless for the newcomers and volunteers.

The movie bleeds heartache and viewers are quickly compelled to feel for the main characters--most often empathizing with them as they stumble through all-too-familiar painful situations. However, through most of the movie, comedic overtones and great writing lighten the mood making it easy to laugh (by far, my favorite scene is the "Living Dead Girl" date gone bad!). The dialogue makes you feel like you're hanging out with your best buddies, which is a rarity that I find exceptionally endearing (and impressive) when done well, and the biting wit and quick-paced banter are a huge relief from the insipid, formulaic drivel found in many romantic comedies. There's so much heart, sincerity, and truth in this film that I find its simple existence redeeming to the film industry as a whole!

Overall, the movie is a treat leaving you wanting to see more from this team...and with this kind of talent, I expect we will.

I found this film to be a joy to watch. It had so many elements in it that reminded me of my life right after school, and before I had a steady job; The dating nightmares, the friends that cruised through my life and turned potential victories into disasters, The Roommate who watched me self destruct and still managed to find something redeeming about me to still consider me a friend, And of course the old flame that would bounce in and out of my life just long enough to rip my heart out, and leave me licking my wounds. This film may not have all the belly laughs of American Pie, but it has the heart and soul to make up for it.

This is a great first film for Mr. Adam Green and I expect to see great things from him in the future. If nothing else I know his heart is in the right place.

Blade

C&D is a no holds-barred comedy fueled by male angst, the music you grew up on, the girl that got away (or ran away), the dream of the little guys trying to make it big, and dialogue and gags that redefine how to cross the line (i.e. the developmentally disabled cat), and lastly a true story. It's a familiar model (except for the cat). But C&D is smart and fresh. Hi-Fidelity came out during the same year and they definitely share a point of view...C&D has more edge. Each scene pushes the limits. Some, like the extended guy-getting-over-girlfriend crying scene (think Ben Stiller here), are both funny and painful to watch because most of us can relate. And that's the hook in C&D. As outrageous as it is, you can really relate to it. Looking forward to more from Green.