Charlie Countryman

On balance I think I enjoyed "Charlie Countryman", though it sure was a bizarre film that left me confused. It's NOT a film more most audiences and is for someone willing to look at a film that comes at them from all sorts of strange directions.

The film stars Shia LaBeouf--and he's a very strange actor that is hard to categorize. Sure, he made fluff Hollywood pieces like the Transformer movies--but he also made this small film as well as the sex-filled films "Nymphomaniac 1" as well as Nymphomaniac 2" with famed Danish director Lars von Trier. There's just no telling where he'll show up next!

"Charlie Countryman" starts with the death of Charlie's estranged mother. Oddly, just after she dies, he (LaBeouf) sitting in the hall outside her hospital room--and she comes to talk to him! She's been a mostly absent mother and he asks for some advice from her and she tells him to go to Bucharest, Romania.

On the trip there, the nice guy sitting next to him dies in his sleep. But, like earlier, the dead guy then has a conversation with Charlie-- asking him to take a very silly hat to his daughter (Evan Rachel Wood). He does this but somehow has convinced himself that there MUST be more to the story than this--some other, higher purpose. So, although this daughter pushes him away and her husband terrifies Charlie because he's a psycho mobster (Mads Mikkelsen--in a very scary role). And, again and again, Charlie is nearly killed by the mobster and his goons...but he continues seeking out the girl, as he's SURE there is a purpose to their meeting and being together.

Along the way, there are a lot of violent and nude scenes--far more than in a typical R-rated film. It is not for the squeamish or prudish, that's for sure. In addition to LaBeouf and Mikkelsen stretching their comfort zones in acting, Rupert Grint plays a drug-abusing strange person...and I mean STRANGE. There are tons of things to offend you in this one, a confusing and strange plot, weird characters and Bucharest-- one of the least touristy towns in the world. I kind of liked it because the film took so many risks and because the music was great. But, there was an awful lot that just seemed to not quite belong as well. For the viewer who is looking for something different...very, very, very different.

The things we do for love. People end up doing the dumbest things when in love, its a known fact. Love is blind, they say and 'they' are true, most of the time if not all. Charlie Countryman is the story of Charlie played by Shia LaBeuof in a similar scenario. The director Fredrick Bond's debut movie, Charlie Countryman stands out in terms of visual flair and style.

Shia LaBeuof, surprisingly shows off his astounding acting skills here. He's come a long way from his Witwicky days and it shows. Charlie was a splendid role Shia was put into, quirky and goofy still, but way better than his earlier works. I'd say he displays a much more mature performance here. And it remains to see how well he'll perform in Lars Von Triers' erotic epic Nymphomaniac. It was hard to take eyes off Evan Rachel Wood who was inexplicably gorgeous as Gabi. Except when she talked in a odd Romanian accent, when half of the charm jumped off a cliff. It was hard to believe Charlie and Gabi could fall in love in such a short time. I can infer Charlie's feelings for her, being as naive as he was but Gabi, having gone through a fair chunk of regretful past, it just felt weird that she got smitten by him; nonetheless it worked wonders when they were on screen together. Mads Mikkelsen plays the psychopath thug Nigel and couldn't be more insane and intimidating.

The movie has a weak storyline and a weaker screenplay, but those are forgettable when the movie looks this gorgeous. I never thought Romania would be this alive. Fredrick, having directed music videos, knows how to take the shots beautifully and stylishly. The scenes were smeared with subtle color tones which made it feel like it was both warm and cold. And I said the story was only weak but it does keep things intriguing till end. Especially Charlie's ability or delusion to talk to the dead was a zany mechanic that kept the story moving.

An immense influence of music can be seen throughout the movie. Once again, Fredrick's experience with music videos comes into play making the movie's soundtrack enlivened with tracks from Moby, The XX and M83. Christophe Beck's score was also soothing to the ear.

Charlie Countryman might not be everybody's cup of tea but it was purely a sensory enrapturing experience for me. It has got comedy, action, drama and most of all romance, and it might have been more, had it got an NC-17 rating for its oral sex scene which was cut by MPAA so as to get it rated R. It might not be a worthy contender or come listed in this years best movies, but do give it a chance, have a walk in Romania with Charlie Countryman and fall in love with Gabi.

The movie is good, balanced and colorful with deep emotion bathing and fast pace, makes your heart race. I really enjoyed it.

But Bucharest is NOTHING like depicted in this movie. Bucharest is just like any other modern city in Europe. I was born here and I HAVE NEVER SEEN a group of gypsies just sitting on the ground like in one or two of the scenes in this movie. I found myself wondering if they really shot some of the scenes here. It looked kind of like India. ENOUGH with the gypsies already! This city.. pardon, this country is not about the gypsies, never been, never will be. Just a few rodents. Every city has its portion of rodents. Let's not make movies with them, shall we? PS. where did they get a trabant ? :) Been a while since I saw one of that around here. (10 years or so)

This movie really surprised me; I think this was one of , if not THE best Shia LaBeouf performance (looking forward for nymphomaniac).

The story is pretty simple and suffers from some plot holes but the movie strangely kept me glued to the sit wondering where Shia LeBeouf's journey of self discovering in the unknown city of Bucharest will get him.

The casting choice for the lead female role was a little odd, (i think it would've worked a little better with a more "traditional hot"-looking girl) Also noted should be the brilliant soundtrack of this movie (especially Moby's contribution). must listen: Moby -- After (Drumsound & Bassline Smith Remix) from the subway chase scene.

To sum up, this movie was a very nice surprise, the kind that keeps me watching and trying to discover the unappreciated beauty in the not-so-mainstream movies.

My Rating - 8/10

It seems like people have recently become quite callous because otherwise I couldn't understand why this excellent romantic semi-comedy/semi-drama/semi-crime story with excellent likable characters and a lot of love couldn't be highly appreciated.

It's not like this movies is without its flaws, for instance sometimes it dragged on and some parts of it could have been easily cut out without affecting the story in any way.

What you are about to see is a crazy love story involuntarily intertwined with the criminal world. It's not about being a hero and conquering the love of your life when you are lost, it's just about following the emotions which bring you to life.

I'd recommend this movie to anyone who thinks of himself as a romantic person, and I'd definitely recommend it to all ladies.