Expired

The movie describes the life of a meter maid in Los Angeles. She lives with her disabled mother (played by Teri Garr). Beyond her mother, some other aspects of her life are also disabled. She has a positive outlook on life and tries to keep that as the story unfolds. Her relationship with her mother, her aunt, and a potential romantic interest at work weave together to make the story. This was a Sundance film and it was fairly well attended, but I am guessing the tone of the movie will make it hard for a wide release to happen. Cringing is very common throughout the movie as the characters choose paths or actions that most of us would steer clear of. At least a couple of the scenes could do with better editing as there were jumps that should not be in a big studio production.

7/10

Expired world-premiered at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival to outstanding reviews. It is probably one of the best reviewed films at the festival. I saw the movie with a thousand plus audience - and all I can say: THIS IS A MUST SEE FILM! Expired is a turbulent love story (to say the very least) between LA parking enforcement officer Claire and LA parking enforcement officer Jay. Simply put, Samantha Morton is outstanding, so is Jason Patrick. With respect to Jason Patrick, most likely his best performance to date. I caught a review in USA today, which says:"Patric plays a violence-prone hot-head, who may be one of the nastiest dinner date since Joe Pesci in Goodfellas." I have to agree. He's something else. Not sure how - what Italian born filmmaker Cecilia Miniucchi did with her actors, the chemistry between the two leads makes everybody in the audience twitch on their seats. What direction!!

When it comes to the theaters, go check out this unlikely romance. You'll see that I wasn't exaggerating one bit.

about halfway through this film i came here to see if i should continue... like i said, 'not easy viewing'. granted, i've seen 'harsher' films...slower films...less 'adrenalized' films...and many films that TRY to be this film that, at the end, i sit and wonder, 'WHY did i put myself through THAT?!!?!' but i knew that when i got to the end of this ride, i had come to the end of some brave storytelling... the strong point of this film would seem to be the casting/execution of parts...everyone seems to excel in communicating their part of the story...and it IS both dark and quirky...and designed to not 'coddle' us, unlike so many stories with their eye on success. not that i'm knocking success... but the point, i guess, is that this IS a success although i doubt it will EVER be a best seller... like i said, brave story telling...moments of absurdity(takes comic relief a step further) relief... if you didn't find this comment helpful, why'd you read this far?

She starts by telling us she is the most hated in the world. That's because of her profession, but her attitude towards life is really much like the hated one. This woman, Claire, is shy, a loser, and she doesn't expect to be anything else. But there really isn't anything tragic about it.

Then this man turns up. An emotional invalid and an impossible love relation starts. These are people who don't take anything for granted. He's aggressive about it, she isn't.

Samantha Morton is tremendous in this part as a completely non-boring bore. She teaches us that you can live a life without success. And that life is a true one.

I saw "Expired" in Salt Lake City at a regular theater screening. I simply loved it. I had no idea what to expect but my gut instincts told me to go the minute I read that it was about two parking enforcement officers (what a great premise and original idea!!!) and their unusual love affair. Well, first of all, I would like to say that I think this is Jason Patric at his best. This should be his comeback. His character, even if you may at first think he is not that nice of a person, is so well played. He manages to add so much humor and charm to his role and you do understand why she would put up with him. Samantha Morton is also great. She does so much with so little. All from her inside and so settle! It's a powerful, genuine, frank performance by both of them that carries you through the film in such a wonderful way. This film makes you feel so many things all at once: laugh, cry, sorry, uncomfortable, fun! And how can one not relate? We all have been under the spell of the parking tickets people and we all have been in a somewhat unfair relationship. But I do also think that Expired makes you think a lot and makes you realize that we are the victims of our time, with its loneliness and isolation and that this film pushes us all to go out there and get love! Does anyone know who is distributing this wonderful indie and when? I would love for my family and all my friends to see it.