Review by NoCalBB
By: NoCalBB
My dear friend Morgan Jon (you don't know I'm your friend, but Blue Citrus Hearts was such a great film that, trust me, I am)...
This was a valiant second (as far as we know) effort. Production values were somewhat better than BCH, it's ok...
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My dear friend Morgan Jon (you don't know I'm your friend, but Blue Citrus Hearts was such a great film that, trust me, I am)...
This was a valiant second (as far as we know) effort. Production values were somewhat better than BCH, it's ok that you've got the whole indie film, handheld camera, imperfect editing thing going, but you still have a long way to go in the audio department -- if I don't ride the volume control heavily, I will either miss critical dialogue or blast myself (and the neighbors) with the music. The direction and acting were better than in BCH - never did I get the impression that the actors were aware of the camera. The story was every bit as good as BCH -- we got a very real look at the honest story of two young men, very much in love, but very different in terms of their desire to be out, proud and politcally active. The subtlety of the progression of their relationship, juxtaposed with the evolution of Grandma's self-image and acceptance of the reality of her remaning life, is actually enhanced by your jumpy and enigmatic yet well-paced cinematic technique.
And yet, the film was not nearly as satisfying as BCH, for one simple reason.
**** SPOILER ALERT ****
You cut the ending short. Now, I'm not someone who needs a perfectly clean ending. I fully understand the concept of denouement, and I don't need details once I understand the result of the plot (unless the filmmaker needs to show me more). But let's face it MJ, you left us hanging on this one. The truth is, we don't even know, when you finish, whether it's a comedy or tragedy, given how you leave your young lovers near, if not in, harm's way at the end.
Contrast this ending with BCH, in which we knew that the boys had found a resolution to their search for understanding in the pureness of simple love, and that their destiny was, at least for the moment, secured. Even if it was your intention to end this film with a different resolution, we at least deserve to know what it is.
I will admit that I have not yet listened to your commentary on the DVD, nor have I sought any other comments regarding your film on the web. But, if I have to do that to "get it", then the film itself clearly did not succeed. The fact that I screamed an obscenity at you when the words "The End" appeared says everything you need to know.
