Standard Time (2002)

User Rating:

5.8/10   

Director:

Robert Cary

Writers:

Robert Cary (writer)
Isabel Rose (writer)

Genre:

Musical | Romance

Plot:

A corporate lawyer is caught in a love triangle with an ambitious cabaret singer. |

Plot Keywords:

Independent Film

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Andrew McCarthy	...	Elliot Shephard
Isabel Rose	...	Billie Golden
Cameron Bancroft	...	Greg Ellenbogen
Alix Korey	...	Laney Golden
Ilana Levine	...	Marcy
Sean Arbuckle	...	T.J.
Victor Argo	...	Sal
Michael J. Burg	...	Amboise
Eartha Kitt	...	Herself
Josh Stamberg	...	Steve
Matthew Lawler	...	Ted
Shannon Lewis	...	Suzy
Leslie Bell	...	Annette
Angela Pietropinto	...	Peggy
Caroline Hall	...	Kyra

Also Known As:

Anything But Love (USA) (new title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for some language and innuendo.

Runtime:

102 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:PG-13

Company:

Intrinsic Value Films

De-lovely

At some movie theatres lately, you have the choice of seeing "Love Actually" or "Anything But Love"; ironically, the titles are the exact opposite of what these films are really about. After the depressing fairy-tales of "Love Actually" it was so refreshing to see a film that may not have had the advantages of a big budget or top-name talent, but makes up for it with sincerity. For Billie Golden, the first love in her life is her music, and she finds love with a man who has the same philosophy. How reassuring to find a film that doesn't glorify materialism and appearances and subjugates the love story to the more important life journey of finding one's passion. Miss Isabel Rose certainly looks and acts the part and has a nice little voice; Andrew McCarthy, as already noted, is perfect as the sclubby pianist. The rest of the cast is serviceable (Cameron Bancroft, I thought, was the weakest link). Costumes (particularly Billie's glorious retro fashions) were great and although there is a heck of a lot of distractingly bad ADR, there are some great NYC locations that make this one of the great movie valentines to the Big Apple, along the lines of "Annie Hall." The Technicolor dream sequence was a nice touch. Some interesting, not-oft-heard standards are to be found in the score. The script was awkward at times, particularly in the ending, but overall this is a fine little movie and a great holiday treat.