Rule of Thirds

Instead of doom scrolling through movie titles I saw the poster for this and was intrigued enough to click on it. The synopsis intrigued me further but I wasn't expecting much. I was pleasantly surprised. Talk about DRAMA. Also a few plot twists that I actually didn't see coming which is rare for me so I always enjoy a movie that can do that even if the writing falls a bit in places.

Ashley Moore's Dakota was genuinely so likeable and I felt instantly drawn to her so her effect on the other characters made sense. She did a wonderful job.

There were so many unhealthy themes to unpack in this movie. There was some depth to the story as well that again, I did not expect. My jaw even dropped a couple times. All in all, solid for a drama and I would watch again.

"Rule of Thirds" starts with a deep, artistic, and philosophical undertone, building a beautifully crafted story. The characters are multi-dimensional, unlike typical American good-versus-evil tales; everything is shaded in grey.

Monte, the protagonist, is complex, balancing his beliefs about truth and beauty with distrust and distance from others. His friend is hypocritical, addicted, and full of self-pity, hatred, and jealousy. The girl is free-spirited yet desperate, making her an opportunist.

The ending made me uneasy, forcing me to consider what I would do in Monte's place. I felt his pain, hatred, and despair. This film made me discover Will Hirschfeld, and I believe we will see more from this artist. #RuleOfThirds #FilmReview #WillHirschfeld #DeepCinema.

I started this one with pretty low expectations. And about a half hour I was tempted to quit. But as luck would have it, it wasn't bad.

On the negative side, the acting was just okay. The leads were decent, but nothing exceptional. And the dialogue was a bit on the predictable side.

On the positive side, the production values were pretty good. It looked liked they spent a decent amount of cash to produce it. The sets were good and the camera work was decent as well.

Then there was the story. It kept me hooked and I stuck with it to find out how it was going to turn out. And the ending caught me a bit off guard. I didn't see it coming. After it was over I had to pause for a second to figure it out. Then I said, "I got it. Nicely done." --MovieJunkieMark.

Found this by accident, thought it sounded intriguing, so I gave it a shot. Very interesting and thought-provoking, touching on many themes about life, success, morality, and the influence of media on others.

The three main characters are well drawn, the situation they find themselves in is convoluted and dynamic, and the dialogue is crisp and realistic. I really appreciated the backstories, each told in a very engaging way... one via an interview, one through sharing at an AA meeting, and one spewed out in a moment of desperation. Knowing the stories made the characters "pop" and gave viewers an insight into the current dilemma that was much needed.

The much referenced "secret" is a surprise that isn't surprising, but drives the entire second half of the film, leads us to an alarming (and well-conceived) resolution, and takes us to a shocking ending that perfectly fits, and finishes the tale. I started this review as an "8" and bumped it up to a "9" because this is a well thought out fable about life, love, and fame, and is unique in the way it spins the narrative. Well done, Will Hirschfield... and highly recommended here.

As with other Hirschfeld films, lots of action, suspense and good plot twists. The movie keeps moving along and sets a great pace. Great for a Saturday night medium length film. Continued to be impressed with early career releases of this director. Enjoyed Ashley Moore performance as Dakota, and although it started out with unintentional typical aspiring young model theme, it quickly moved into deeper territory. Jonathan kowalski as Jeremy an ex marine was a character that continued to be teased in and out for a bigger role. Overall, it was entertaining and worth a short rental on prime. Glad to be able to support a new director on the scene with content worthy of watching.