King of Herrings

First things first; admittedly, I am a producer, was first A.D. and had a small role in "King of Herrings." But even with all that good will towards the film, nothing could have prepared me for the two screenings with packed houses at The Prytania Theatre for the 2013 New Orleans Film Festival! Having seen the film many many times as we were working on it in post production, it was such a gift to be able to see it ANEW, through the audiences' eyes. They laughed, they loved, they hated, and some of them even cried. While watching the film with these audiences it was so apparent that they were hooked in, taking the ride, and that they loved it. Afterwards, they enthusiastically told us what they thought: "It's a quirky odd little film that's funny and packs an emotional wallop!" "It's refreshing to see a film that's really just about people...a character driven film with great dialog and stellar acting!" "Such reprehensible, yet human characters that we all actually care about and end up rooting for." These were all things I heard people say to us after the screenings...and so many other great things, that there is simply not room for here. Since we didn't really campaign to get people to vote for us, it came as a complete surprise to all of us when we won The Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature! My feeling about how good the film is, has been validated on levels beyond my own expectations. Sincerely, John Mese

King of Herrings reminds me of the excitement I felt when I first saw Jim Jarmusch's 'Down By Law.' The writing is fresh and fits the setting. The characters live in a parallel universe that draws the viewer in and enlists you to care about their decisions. No car crashes or bank heists. Just human conflict - petty and personal - and believable resolves. Very glad I discovered this film and this unique collection of actors. Eddie Jemison has written himself a memorable character cut from that Joe Pesci cloth of spontaneous and utterly unpredictable screen wise guys. King of Herrings is a pure old school indie, the kind of film that makes you wish you were still hammering out your screenplay on a typewriter rather than a MacBook.

King of Herrings is a wonderful film. It speaks to a way of life in New Orleans, to anyone who has lived with the same group of people for many years only to find you don't like them all, to anyone who has hoped for rescue only to find that they must rescue themselves.

When you look into the world of King of Herrings, you see characters that have fallen into painful rhythms, hurtful, manipulative relationships, and petty oneupmanship. And yet some of these beautifully rendered characters still strive to reach beyond the limits of their day to day existence and make good on their dreams.

The characters are each brought to life in performances that are visceral and truthful. Some content with their way of life an others hoping for a change that will make their life somehow better. The story follows the characters as they go about their lives over several days, and through events and interactions that will impact their lives going forward.

The actors have been friends for more that twenty years, and their on-screen chemistry comes from a genuine friendship and rapport. This charm is evident from the first frame and through to the end.

It is the winner of the Audience Favorite Narrative Film at the New Orleans Film Festival, and I was fortunate to have seen it there. I have to recommend this film to anyone who loves film.

What can I say about "King of Herrings?" So very much. First....you will recognize these people. And that doesn't happen often in American movies. "Ditch," Gat," "The Professor," "Leon," "Augie," and most especially, the women in this film, "Mary" and "Evie." We all know them. We see them in the corner diner, or on the subway, or, likely, in our own homes. Particularly if you have lived in any big city...New Orleans as depicted in "King of Herrings"....but also Chicago, New York, LA....or Philadelphia or wherever. These are real people. Urban characters that live and breath and live and love and strive or fail. What is it about "King of Herrings" that makes it stick in your head and in your thoughts? The story and the writing first. Not many American movies let the viewer decide for themselves how to feel about the characters up on screen. The acting, certainly...uncompromising and rich. Eddie Jemison, known for his wide variety of character roles, often comic, zones in on a whole other realm of his talent. Brando-like he is here. And Joe Chrest, David Jensen, Wayne Pere, Carl Palmer and John Mese all compliment and further Jemison's breakthrough performance. This is excellence in ensemble acting. But, when all is said and done, the secret of "King of Herrings" is its women and the soul they give to it. Andrea Frankle, a featured player in a number of movies, gives a breakout performance as "Evie." It is a performance that should be seen and, when seen, will be appreciated. But, most of all, Laura Lamson is the heart and soul of "King of Herrings." Her performance is impeccable and heartbreaking. Without Lamson, there is no movie. It is a quiet performance amidst all the testosterone hue and cry. And it kills. Lastly, the co-direction of Sean Richardson (with Jemison) and music of Chris Walden fulfill every moviegoer's hope by bringing completion to this wonderful writing and acting. I loved "King of Herrings."

The makers of this film suffered from many misunderstandings. To identify a few for them, filming in black and white doesn't make you an auteur (and it makes a plot mystifying when one character is referred to, for over an hour, simply as "the redhead"); casting character actors as leads doesn't always make them good enough to carry the larger role; long pauses in conversations do not make that conversation meaningful; and working without a script does not inspire brilliance. OK, I'm guessing on that last point, but it sure seems like no one knew their lines. Oh, and lens flare isn't an especially good look in black and white.

In sum, a pretentious, vapid, poorly constructed story.