Passenger Side

I thought the two brothers seemed to be more like gay lovers than brothers which destroyed the credibility of this sometimes affable sometimes sickening movie. Like a greeting card from the edge of what a human can tolerate in a day, it seems to deliver the goods and then backs away and starts doing cheap tricks, literally. Best avoid this ode to nowhere on a hot afternoon, it isn't that great to watch even as an art film. Sort of shades of a film Mat Damon did a few years ago about being lost in the desert, but this film has none of that other films drama. While the taxi driver character makes some valid points during the ride, the frame of the comments is to distracting for anything he says to have any real meaning. This film is to comedy/drama what Erasorhead is to action movies.

I picked Passenger Side as one of the 15 films i would watch during Cinequest this year as its the closest film festival to me, and they usually do a good job of picking both independent American films as well as noteworthy films of world cinema. Anyhow im glad they showed Bisonnette's "Passenger Ride". Although compared to Apatow, i think Bisonnette brings fresh comedy with a different style than Apatow. The writer/director does a good job setting up the mood using effective cinematography and a cool soundtrack. I liked the fact that they are basically driving across Los Angeles from one hot spot to another, the acting and writing linked up well as the director's brother was perfect for the role which seems to be somewhat biographical, and Adam Scott delivered one hell of a performance as the main character. The story is about Michael(Scott) giving his brother(Bisonette) rides around town to handle some things, the true reason kind of vague until later. Overall this was a film that was enjoyable, meaningful, and at times downright hilarious, hopefully it gets proper distribution.

"Passenger Side" consists of two brothers (Adam Scott and the writer/director's brother, Joel Bissonnette) spend the entire movie on a roadtrip--driving aimlessly all over the greater Los Angeles area. Much of the time you have no idea why they are doing this nor what the one brother is looking for during this day. All you really do know is that they talk A LOT and meet lots of quirky, almost funny characters.

This film by Matt Bissonnette is the perfect hipster movie. It has a soundtrack filled with discordant music that most other folks would dislike. It has TONS of dialog that is extremely smug and self-aware (and no one actually ever speaks this way in real life). And, it has no real purpose...it just drifts aimlessly until the movie ends. None of these things are what others want in a film but hipsters, who generally revel in finding a film no one else understands or cares to understand, will love it because it's just a rather unenjoyable experience. The film has a few moments but never does anything to capitalize on them.

It's Michael Brown (Adam Scott)'s 37th birthday. He gets a call from his brother Tobey for a ride. He gives a ride but Tobey won't tell him the reason. Michael keeps hinting at his birthday but Tobey is obviously clueless. They go on a long meandering journey through L.A. encountering sketchy characters and weird situations. Tobey comes clean that he's searching for his drug-addicted girlfriend Theresa.

It's a lot of grumpy sarcastic indie banter. Adam Scott is usually good at it if he could have a comedian to bounce around the conversation. Joel Bissonnette is a perfectly good character actor but he provides no comedy. This has nothing truly funny. It's a lot of aimless complaining. It has a lot quirky without comedy. A transvestite jerking off in the car is sort of funny and Adam Scott tries his hardest. That's a small scene and it doesn't completely work anyways. It takes Michael a bit too long to challenge Tobey. This movie has lots of weird ideas but the comedy isn't there.

surreal story twists aside, which are enjoyable, and make the movie quite unique just for those, the highlight of the film is what seems like a 90 minute banter exchange between the 2 brothers.

Likely Adam Scott's best role. Maybe one of his first? Not the personality he's known for.

Joel Bissonette is much less known but the acting is good.

Matt Bissonette's writing and originality in this film instantly means wanting to see all of his other films.

The film is rewatchable if only to appreciate or criticize the plot choices.