selloutmf

Let me start by saying, this film was NOT aimed at me. I am male, not a lesbian, have never had cancer really affect my life directly, and honestly don't love tear jerker docs. In short, I watched it because it was not my turn to pick. And I'm so very glad I did.

This film somehow deals head on with the tragedy that is a young woman being diagnosed with late stage breast cancer, without being overly dramatic or depressing, or making you want to turn it off. The film actually flies by, with lots of great actuality (shots of the subjects living their lives rather than just talking about them) and good humor all along.

I really enjoyed the music as well and at the end of the movie I truly wanted to know these people. One other really interesting thing I thought was how the film demonstrates that a new cancer diagnosis affects a whole community of people, not just the person who is sick.

Really, really well done!

Wow. This film blew me away. Maybe it was low expectations since I've seen more than enough films about the hippie utopia that is Austin, Texas, but I found myself laughing out loud MANY times while watching this goofy stoner comedy.

Clearly inspired by films like Hot Rod and Superbad as well as the classic stoner films of yore, this movie has the pace of Caddyshack and just as many laughs. So many indie movies are so dialogue heavy and move at a snails' pace, but the editors of this film (who I now see are also the writers??) really did a first rate job at hitting all the right beats.

Lots of hot hot women and some really unforgettable scenes... my favorite was when one of the kids got a little more smoke than he was looking for, but there were SO many.

The ending was a little contrived and not great which is the only reason it gets a 9 and not a 10!

I am a long time attendee of Burning Man, and I've seen my fair share of films about it, because I find the subject matter so fascinating and so hard to capture. Let me just say that while no film can truly capture what it's like to be there, this film does far and away a better job of relating what the event and related subculture are truly about than any of the other pieces I've seen.

Damon Brown is listed as the director and the editor, which I would normally think is suicide for a feature of any kind, but he really did a bang up job of keeping the story moving along. A 105 minute documentary isn't exactly inviting to a lot of people, but this one flew by and left me wanting for more.

The depiction of the Burning Man organization was pretty great, if maybe a little too friendly at times. I have a lot of friends who would take these guys to task given the opportunity, but I think it was wise of the filmmakers to not focus on the inside baseball drama in the community, since your average watcher (or attendee) simply wouldn't notice or care.

I wish it were in HD... that's my only complaint. Kudos!

This film was truly unique. It mixes actors with non-actors in a way that doesn't seem so jarring as it typically does in indie films. The result in this one is a true feeling of a real family dynamic, where some family members ARE less polished, not as well spoken, and living different lives than our main characters. I think anyone who has ever been to a family reunion has felt that. It works to great effect in this film.

My only complain about the film is the lack of tangible conflict or action... I did wonder why I was watching these characters at this particular time in their lives, but in the end I really didn't care. I enjoyed "hanging out" with these people very much and the leads put forth outstanding performances without overshadowing the minor characters.

The film is a reminder of why we watch Indies.. they don't have to follow conventions of structure or even plot sometimes. I was glad I spent my 100 minutes here, and I think most people will too, especially if they enjoy the differences that indie cinema brings out in the form.

While no one would call this a polished film, it is also not one you are likely to forget anytime soon. In the vein of American Movie, The Devil in Daniel Johnson, and The Wild and Wonderful Whites, this film is powerful in its obvious reality.

The story is as old as any ever told of a man willing to throw away everything for his dream, no matter how unlikely. The main character is a simple, sincere, quite possibly mentally disturbed, and overall inspiring anti-hero. I felt at times guilty for what felt like macabre voyeurism in watching this apparent train wreck unfold, but I could not turn away. This was, after all, a man bearing his soul, warts and all, to the camera for ELEVEN YEARS.

Fascinating.

This was one of those films that had me wondering early on... "why in the world am I watching this?"... I mean it's the story of three people in foreign countries trying to get their drivers license. And that's it. Could there be any more mundane a premise?

But because of the quality of the characters and the filmmaking, it turns out to not be mundane or boring at all. Not that anything *really* crazy happens... I just found myself truly caring about these people and how they did on what is actually a very frustrating and arduous process to just get a basic privilege that we've come to expect as a sovereign right in America.

It's a window into just how difficult it can really be to be on your own in a truly foreign land, trying to just get through everyday life. Even the simplest of things can become hard and when you pile that on to life's real ups and downs and challenges we all face, it makes it seem almost impossible to pull this off on your own without going mad.

Really original, great film with lovely photography. I won't soon forget the Japanese driving instructor.

I really am not into the whole poker thing, but I have to say the filmmakers managed to make the story really hit home as a tale of a family going through it all together in the home of making their dreams come true. Its sad in its way, and you feel sorry for the whole family at first... well, through most of the film... but then if you step back you realize that America is filled with a lot sadder, just as insane tales as this... at least this family seems to be working together and supporting each other, but not without honest challenges.

All the pokers from the real poker celebrity world were fascinating also, and gives a great bit of dry humorous insight into their own ego-maniacal eccentricity. Modern day cowboys indeed. :)

Riveting, intense, and honest. Great work!