HOT VOD is a new occasional feature where we chronicle what we're watching on Video on Demand. Our goal is to cover new movies released on VOD that will likely not grace Buffalo cinema screens. As always your feedback is appreciated either by commenting below or at BuffaloMovieBlog@gmail.com.
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Directed by Daisy von Scherler Mayer (whom I learn from IMDB has been working in TV as of late, her last feature film was 2002’s The Guru), Some Girl(s) is an adaptation of Neil Labute’s play – and how vintage Labute it is. Downsizing after his turn in commercial films (including the disastrous Nick Cage outing The Wickerman, and two effective films – the racial thriller Lakeview Terrance and the smart comedy remake Death at a Funeral) he’s gone back to his roots – small character driven films including his Some Velvet Morning (which received some mixed reviews at Tribeca). Some Girl(s) adapted from a play has barely been opened up despite a few insert shots of its lead in transit: from one girl to the next, in cabs, trains, plains, airports, hotel lobbies.
Adam Brody plays the “Man” – an unnamed writer who travels cross country reconnecting with his former exes including Sam, his high school sweetheart (played by Jennifer Morrison). She’s turned out exactly as he predicted in a painful opening scene (the film takes place entirely in luxury hotel rooms). Brody then reconnects with Tyler (Mia Maestro) a free spirit whom was just enough phase in his life – then its onwards back to Boston for the most heartbreaking encounter, Lindsay (Emily Watson). Lindsay and our lead were once young college professors together: our lead was in over his head – teaching graduate literature courses without the proper life experience to really grasp it all, he was book smart but lacked life experience. He and Lindsay had a tryst – almost causing her divorce and she arrives back to the scene of the crime to make him pay for the stupid mistakes of inexperience.
Cut back to Settle and Reggie (played by Zoe Kazan) – a stupid mistake made when he was 16 she’s hell-bent on making her feelings felt – the point of view he can never have in his writing. He finds some redemption with Bobbi (Kristen Bell) – or at least closure to his journey – and this is where it becomes difficult to talk about a Neil Labute script – to review it is to reveal spoilers.
Some Girl(s) is now on Vimeo on Demand and its worth checking out: each scene is well written and stands on its own, while on the whole its limited in what it can do. The performances are all uniformly excellent as is the direction by Daisy von Scherler Mayer which makes very good use out of the limited space, the film is psychologically cruel and contained (as a Neil Labute movie should be!).
Some Girls is available for rental on Vimeo on Demand.
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Adam Brody plays the “Man” – an unnamed writer who travels cross country reconnecting with his former exes including Sam, his high school sweetheart (played by Jennifer Morrison). She’s turned out exactly as he predicted in a painful opening scene (the film takes place entirely in luxury hotel rooms). Brody then reconnects with Tyler (Mia Maestro) a free spirit whom was just enough phase in his life – then its onwards back to Boston for the most heartbreaking encounter, Lindsay (Emily Watson). Lindsay and our lead were once young college professors together: our lead was in over his head – teaching graduate literature courses without the proper life experience to really grasp it all, he was book smart but lacked life experience. He and Lindsay had a tryst – almost causing her divorce and she arrives back to the scene of the crime to make him pay for the stupid mistakes of inexperience.
Cut back to Settle and Reggie (played by Zoe Kazan) – a stupid mistake made when he was 16 she’s hell-bent on making her feelings felt – the point of view he can never have in his writing. He finds some redemption with Bobbi (Kristen Bell) – or at least closure to his journey – and this is where it becomes difficult to talk about a Neil Labute script – to review it is to reveal spoilers.Some Girl(s) is now on Vimeo on Demand and its worth checking out: each scene is well written and stands on its own, while on the whole its limited in what it can do. The performances are all uniformly excellent as is the direction by Daisy von Scherler Mayer which makes very good use out of the limited space, the film is psychologically cruel and contained (as a Neil Labute movie should be!).
Some Girls is available for rental on Vimeo on Demand.
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