Reviewed by Lila Nordstrom
(March 2011)
Directed/Written by: Suzi Yoonessi
Starring: Meaghan Jette Martin, Vanessa Marano, Savanah Wiltfong, Elaine Hendrix, Beth Grant and Melissa Leo
Essentially a women’s “Napoleon Dynamite,” “Dear Lemon Lima” is a lovely mix of deadpan quirk and pastel-shaded whimsy — a meandering take on the awkwardness of adolescence, the perils of unrequited love and how we learn to understand and accept tragedy. Though it focuses on somewhat blunt messages about self-awareness and compassion, the recipe works because the characters are actually experiencing how trite sayings about accepting yourself and others get translated into real life.
In the film, Vanessa Lemur (Savanah Wiltfong), a part Yu’pik (western Eskimo) girl living in Fairbanks with her single mother (Eleanor Hutchins) enrolls in the same private high school as her ex-boyfriend Philip (Shayne Topp) in an attempt to win him back. The recipient of a scholarship for Eskimo students...
(March 2011)
Directed/Written by: Suzi Yoonessi
Starring: Meaghan Jette Martin, Vanessa Marano, Savanah Wiltfong, Elaine Hendrix, Beth Grant and Melissa Leo
Essentially a women’s “Napoleon Dynamite,” “Dear Lemon Lima” is a lovely mix of deadpan quirk and pastel-shaded whimsy — a meandering take on the awkwardness of adolescence, the perils of unrequited love and how we learn to understand and accept tragedy. Though it focuses on somewhat blunt messages about self-awareness and compassion, the recipe works because the characters are actually experiencing how trite sayings about accepting yourself and others get translated into real life.
In the film, Vanessa Lemur (Savanah Wiltfong), a part Yu’pik (western Eskimo) girl living in Fairbanks with her single mother (Eleanor Hutchins) enrolls in the same private high school as her ex-boyfriend Philip (Shayne Topp) in an attempt to win him back. The recipient of a scholarship for Eskimo students...
- 3/4/2011
- by admin
- Moving Pictures Magazine
Reviewed by Lila Nordstrom
(March 2011)
Directed/Written by: Suzi Yoonessi
Starring: Meaghan Jette Martin, Vanessa Marano, Savanah Wiltfong, Elaine Hendrix, Beth Grant and Melissa Leo
Essentially a women’s “Napoleon Dynamite,” “Dear Lemon Lima” is a lovely mix of deadpan quirk and pastel-shaded whimsy — a meandering take on the awkwardness of adolescence, the perils of unrequited love and how we learn to understand and accept tragedy. Though it focuses on somewhat blunt messages about self-awareness and compassion, the recipe works because the characters are actually experiencing how trite sayings about accepting yourself and others get translated into real life.
In the film, Vanessa Lemur (Savanah Wiltfong), a part Yu’pik (western Eskimo) girl living in Fairbanks with her single mother (Eleanor Hutchins) enrolls in the same private high school as her ex-boyfriend Philip (Shayne Topp) in an attempt to win him back. The recipient of a scholarship for Eskimo students...
(March 2011)
Directed/Written by: Suzi Yoonessi
Starring: Meaghan Jette Martin, Vanessa Marano, Savanah Wiltfong, Elaine Hendrix, Beth Grant and Melissa Leo
Essentially a women’s “Napoleon Dynamite,” “Dear Lemon Lima” is a lovely mix of deadpan quirk and pastel-shaded whimsy — a meandering take on the awkwardness of adolescence, the perils of unrequited love and how we learn to understand and accept tragedy. Though it focuses on somewhat blunt messages about self-awareness and compassion, the recipe works because the characters are actually experiencing how trite sayings about accepting yourself and others get translated into real life.
In the film, Vanessa Lemur (Savanah Wiltfong), a part Yu’pik (western Eskimo) girl living in Fairbanks with her single mother (Eleanor Hutchins) enrolls in the same private high school as her ex-boyfriend Philip (Shayne Topp) in an attempt to win him back. The recipient of a scholarship for Eskimo students...
- 3/4/2011
- by admin
- Moving Pictures Network
On the Road with Judas
PARK CITY -- On the Road with Judas is one more attack on the notion that films need to have linear stories with main characters and a cathartic ending. Adapting his novel of the same name, director-writer JJ Lask has fashioned a film about the nature of narrative and storytelling, along with other scatological observations about life and art that seemingly popped into his head. Clever and moderately entertaining, film is a puzzle that will find some supporters as surely as it will sharply divide audiences. Controversy could generate some interest on the art house circuit.
The starting point for On the Road with Judas could well have been the ending of Annie Hall where Woody Allen, playing a writer, stages a play in which he winds up with Annie, contrary to how events turned out in the "real-life" of the film. He tells the audience that if he can't get things to go his way in life, at least he can in art.
In Judas, Kevin Corrigan plays a character named JJ Lask who has written a book called On the Road with Judas. The so-called "real" people that the book is based on are played by one set of actors, while the same "fictionalized" characters from the book are played by another set of actors. Sound confusing? It is, intentionally so.
The storyline on its own is pretty straightforward. Judas (Aaron Ruell and Eddie Kaye Thomas) is a computer systems designer by day and, with his best buddy Francis (Alex Burns and Leo Fitzpatrick), a computer thief by night, vandalizing college campus all around New England. Judas meets a girl, Serra (Eleanor Hutchins and Amanda Loncar), falls in love and wants to tell her everything. But in Lask's version nothing is simple.
In full postmodern mode, Judas is more a commentary on a love affair than The Real Thing. Much of the romance is literally played out on the stage of a talk show called "Let's Have Drinks," hosted by Rubin Parker Jr. (played by the real JJ Lask). The real characters, Corrigan as Lask, and even the fictional characters come on the show and dissect what's happening in the book.
Lask seems more concerned with exploring the creative process and how all characters are lies fabricated from some kernel of reality, than he is in the actual love affair. Consequently, one watches more with a sense of detachment, trying to figure out who's who than a rooting interest in these people getting together. Although the performances strike the right earnest but ironic tone, none of the characters -- only the author played by Corrigan -- come off as fully developed people. With the exception of one moving love scene where Judas bears his soul and says he would give up everything for Serra, Lask's way to the heart is clearly through the head.
Keeping all the balls in the air is a first-rate technical feat, aided by Lask's brisk editing (he was an award-winning editor of commercials) with Jason Kileen. Jennifer Dehghan's production design, particularly for the stage of the mock talk show and Judas' basketball-court-sized loft, captures the spacey tone of the material.
Savvy moviegoers may recognize elements of Charlie Kaufman's work, specifically the real-fictional characters of Adaptation, as well the shifting personalities of David Lynch films such as Mulholland Drive. Whether the pieces add up to anything will be a subject for heated debate after the film.
On the Road With Judas
P.S. 260 and All Day Buffet Films
Credits: Directed by JJ Lask; Writer: Lask (based on his novel); Producers: Amy Slotnick, Ronan P. Nagle; Director of Photography: Ben Starkman; Production Designer: Jennifer Dehghan; Music: Human; Costume Designer: Annie U. Yun; Editor: JJ Lask, Jason Kileen.
Cast: Judas, real: Aaron Ruell; JJ Lask: Kevin Corrigan; Judas, actor: Eddie Kaye Thomas; Serra, actor: Eleanor Hutchins; Serra, real: Amanda Loncar; Francis, real: Alex Burns; Francis, actor: Leo Fitzpatrick; Rubin Parker Jr.: JJ Lask.
No MPAA rating, running time: 103 minutes...
The starting point for On the Road with Judas could well have been the ending of Annie Hall where Woody Allen, playing a writer, stages a play in which he winds up with Annie, contrary to how events turned out in the "real-life" of the film. He tells the audience that if he can't get things to go his way in life, at least he can in art.
In Judas, Kevin Corrigan plays a character named JJ Lask who has written a book called On the Road with Judas. The so-called "real" people that the book is based on are played by one set of actors, while the same "fictionalized" characters from the book are played by another set of actors. Sound confusing? It is, intentionally so.
The storyline on its own is pretty straightforward. Judas (Aaron Ruell and Eddie Kaye Thomas) is a computer systems designer by day and, with his best buddy Francis (Alex Burns and Leo Fitzpatrick), a computer thief by night, vandalizing college campus all around New England. Judas meets a girl, Serra (Eleanor Hutchins and Amanda Loncar), falls in love and wants to tell her everything. But in Lask's version nothing is simple.
In full postmodern mode, Judas is more a commentary on a love affair than The Real Thing. Much of the romance is literally played out on the stage of a talk show called "Let's Have Drinks," hosted by Rubin Parker Jr. (played by the real JJ Lask). The real characters, Corrigan as Lask, and even the fictional characters come on the show and dissect what's happening in the book.
Lask seems more concerned with exploring the creative process and how all characters are lies fabricated from some kernel of reality, than he is in the actual love affair. Consequently, one watches more with a sense of detachment, trying to figure out who's who than a rooting interest in these people getting together. Although the performances strike the right earnest but ironic tone, none of the characters -- only the author played by Corrigan -- come off as fully developed people. With the exception of one moving love scene where Judas bears his soul and says he would give up everything for Serra, Lask's way to the heart is clearly through the head.
Keeping all the balls in the air is a first-rate technical feat, aided by Lask's brisk editing (he was an award-winning editor of commercials) with Jason Kileen. Jennifer Dehghan's production design, particularly for the stage of the mock talk show and Judas' basketball-court-sized loft, captures the spacey tone of the material.
Savvy moviegoers may recognize elements of Charlie Kaufman's work, specifically the real-fictional characters of Adaptation, as well the shifting personalities of David Lynch films such as Mulholland Drive. Whether the pieces add up to anything will be a subject for heated debate after the film.
On the Road With Judas
P.S. 260 and All Day Buffet Films
Credits: Directed by JJ Lask; Writer: Lask (based on his novel); Producers: Amy Slotnick, Ronan P. Nagle; Director of Photography: Ben Starkman; Production Designer: Jennifer Dehghan; Music: Human; Costume Designer: Annie U. Yun; Editor: JJ Lask, Jason Kileen.
Cast: Judas, real: Aaron Ruell; JJ Lask: Kevin Corrigan; Judas, actor: Eddie Kaye Thomas; Serra, actor: Eleanor Hutchins; Serra, real: Amanda Loncar; Francis, real: Alex Burns; Francis, actor: Leo Fitzpatrick; Rubin Parker Jr.: JJ Lask.
No MPAA rating, running time: 103 minutes...
- 1/21/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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