In his third outing as a full-fledged hyphenate, writer-director-actor-producer Eric Schaeffer ("If Lucy Fell", "My Life Is in Turnaround") ushers in "Fall", an essentially straight-faced story about a cocky New York cabbie (Schaeffer) who gets into a hot and heavy affair with a European supermodel.
Hey, it's a guy's movie.
While this anatomy of an intensely physical relationship has its moments of perceptive clarity, it is ultimately hampered by the kind of self-indulgence that gives vanity filmmaking a bad name.
Distributed domestically by Schaeffer's newly formed Five Minutes Before the Miracle, "Fall" nevertheless has a low-enough budget (under $1 million) and an unrated allure to keep Schaeffer's meter running.
A prolific writer who prefers driving his cab, Michael Shiver (Schaeffer) picks up the fare of his fantasies in the form of internationally famous model Sarah Easton (former model and British TV personality-turned-actress Amanda DeCadenet).
It's not exactly mutual love at first sight. She's indifferent (not to mention married), but he's relentless. Before you can say "Dear Penthouse", they're getting sweaty against his refrigerator.
The tryst turns into a full-fledged affair much to the wide-eyed amusement of his friends, Robin (Francie Swift), who's studying to become an Episcopalian priest, and Sally (Lisa Vidal). But in the end, being from different sides of the tracks proves to be an insurmountable barrier and the relationship breaks down with Sarah returning to her jet-setting husband.
Although Schaeffer's filmmaking dexterity is admirable, a little distancing would have gone a long way in the credibility department. While it has its odd charms and occasionally the carnality strikes a convincing chord absent from most screen romances, for the most part "Fall" feels like an ego-fed, forced fantasy. One conceit that has the lead characters expressing their innermost feelings in continual voice-over be-comes particularly annoying.
At least actress-model DeCadenet , who brings an interesting, likable presence to the role, didn't have to feel too objectified by taking the part since Schaeffer seems to prefer parading his own body across the screen.
Production values, given the tidy budget, are solid. Joe De Salvo's photography lends the New York backdrop a sophisticated sheen, while Amanda Kravat's score and tunes blend nicely with selections by the Verve Pipe, Duncan Sheik and Jars of Clay.
FALL
Five Minutes Before the Miracle
Director-screenwriter Eric Schaeffer
Producers Terrence Michael, Eric Schaeffer
Executive producer Tom Gamble
Director of photography Joe De Salvo
Production designer Michael Shaw
Editor Thom Zinney
Costume designer Kim Marie Druce
Music Amanda Kravat
Casting Sheila Jafee and Georgianne Walken
Color/stereo
Cast:
Michael Shiver Eric Schaeffer
Sarah Easton Amanda DeCadenet
Phillipe Rudolph Martin
Robin Alterman Francie Swift
Sally Lisa Vidal
Running time -- 92 minutes
No MPAA rating...
Hey, it's a guy's movie.
While this anatomy of an intensely physical relationship has its moments of perceptive clarity, it is ultimately hampered by the kind of self-indulgence that gives vanity filmmaking a bad name.
Distributed domestically by Schaeffer's newly formed Five Minutes Before the Miracle, "Fall" nevertheless has a low-enough budget (under $1 million) and an unrated allure to keep Schaeffer's meter running.
A prolific writer who prefers driving his cab, Michael Shiver (Schaeffer) picks up the fare of his fantasies in the form of internationally famous model Sarah Easton (former model and British TV personality-turned-actress Amanda DeCadenet).
It's not exactly mutual love at first sight. She's indifferent (not to mention married), but he's relentless. Before you can say "Dear Penthouse", they're getting sweaty against his refrigerator.
The tryst turns into a full-fledged affair much to the wide-eyed amusement of his friends, Robin (Francie Swift), who's studying to become an Episcopalian priest, and Sally (Lisa Vidal). But in the end, being from different sides of the tracks proves to be an insurmountable barrier and the relationship breaks down with Sarah returning to her jet-setting husband.
Although Schaeffer's filmmaking dexterity is admirable, a little distancing would have gone a long way in the credibility department. While it has its odd charms and occasionally the carnality strikes a convincing chord absent from most screen romances, for the most part "Fall" feels like an ego-fed, forced fantasy. One conceit that has the lead characters expressing their innermost feelings in continual voice-over be-comes particularly annoying.
At least actress-model DeCadenet , who brings an interesting, likable presence to the role, didn't have to feel too objectified by taking the part since Schaeffer seems to prefer parading his own body across the screen.
Production values, given the tidy budget, are solid. Joe De Salvo's photography lends the New York backdrop a sophisticated sheen, while Amanda Kravat's score and tunes blend nicely with selections by the Verve Pipe, Duncan Sheik and Jars of Clay.
FALL
Five Minutes Before the Miracle
Director-screenwriter Eric Schaeffer
Producers Terrence Michael, Eric Schaeffer
Executive producer Tom Gamble
Director of photography Joe De Salvo
Production designer Michael Shaw
Editor Thom Zinney
Costume designer Kim Marie Druce
Music Amanda Kravat
Casting Sheila Jafee and Georgianne Walken
Color/stereo
Cast:
Michael Shiver Eric Schaeffer
Sarah Easton Amanda DeCadenet
Phillipe Rudolph Martin
Robin Alterman Francie Swift
Sally Lisa Vidal
Running time -- 92 minutes
No MPAA rating...
- 6/27/1997
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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