Junction

I liked this movie. Not a little, not a lot, but I liked it. It starts out a bit slow, the Arizona scenery is as dry and depressing as one could wish, and every single character is unsympathetic. Michaela (April Wade), the young wanna-be photojournalist, is one of the least attractive leads you will see in a while. She grows on you though, and eventually you reach the point that every movie wants you to reach, you care. All of the other unsympathetic characters do their jobs and there are some interesting role reversals along the way. Give it a viewing and in the end, I don't think you will be disappointed that you watched it.

This film is a micro budget. Yet you'd never know by the remarkable acting and cinematography. The script is solid without any glaring plot holes or impossible-to-believe set ups that are common in films in this budget. This movie stands out far above the others in its category. April Wade is devastating as a woman emotionally ravaged by events that bring out the darkness of her family's soul. "Powerful" falls short of describing her gifted talent. The entire cast does remarkably well to bring you vicariously into their world. And the cinematography of the mountains, the desolated, cracked and dry landscapes is mesmerizing. The direction was also well done with the exception of a few too many intentional jump cuts. The entire film belies its micro budget. Put this on your list of "must see" films.