Freeze Out (2005) User Reviews

witty slackers in denial

[consumer-5 · 18 October 2005]

A poker table is the backdrop for a group of friends to play out their anxieties, fears, desires, pettiness & anything else that crops up.

The young, entertainment-industry-wannabes in LA are by and large savaged; the movie works because it isn't only a send-up of self-absorbed Angelenos (though it is that). First, it is pitch-perfect in its treatment of these Beautiful People (at least to themselves they are): the mix of self-importance and self-loathing is dead-on, and the characters' foibles and frustrations (interpersonal, creative, familial, sexual, substance-related and more) will be familiar to most of us, without being trite.

Second, it is clear that Loheed feels for these characters, so that when he does savage them, it is lovingly rendered. This tenderness & care for the characters is what prevents the movie from being merely an exercise.

But even if it were just an exercise, it is a success on that score as well: Loheed has a great ear for dialogue; we all know people who talk like these characters. While the movie is very funny, the characters are awkward as well, and crack jokes that fall flat, so the movie avoids the problem of having every character speak as though he had a team of Hollywood sitcom writers working on the dialogue.

So yes, this is a poker movie. And an Industry movie. And an LA movie. Any one of which would make it worth watching. But it's also more than any or all of these, individually or together. See it.

An LA movie with wide appeal

[captaindistracto · 10/10 · 2 November 2005]

An impressive debut for director Loheed, Freeze Out is an LA film with wide appeal.

The story revolves around John and his group of friends, all of whom are out of work actors/comedians just trying to survive until they catch their big break. The setting of the film is a weekly poker game the friends share to get their minds off of the day to day rigors of an actor's life. When John tires of constantly being the butt of his friends jokes, he takes it upon himself to get them back and get them back where it hurts the most. The ego and the wallet. The delicate balance of friendship, humor, pain, and survival make this film not only work, but very believable. As the viewer, you know the characters on a personal level. Clearly, this is where Loheed's success is at it's greatest. His dialogue and pace equates with the banter and emotion of real conversation the viewer can relate to.

While most films about the Los Angeles scene alienate their viewers with vague references and inside jokes, Loheed uses his experiences only as base, not as the basis. I expect great things from Mr. Loheed and am confident he will not let me down. This is a creative mind worth watching and I for one, will be.

Straight Flush of Poker movies.

[thebtrain · 10/10 · 21 December 2005]

I just watched Freeze Out and loved it. I think that it's great to have a poker movie that so many poker players can relate to. If you've ever sat down at a home game and played cards with your friends, this movie will hit the spot. If you even have a group of friends this movie will appeal to you. If you have never played poker and you don't have a group of friends, maybe pass on this one. Although it should inspire you to get some friends. I think that all of the characters are VERY well developed, I think that the poker action in it is very true to a real home game. And I think it is very funny. If you have Rounders and Shade in your collection, this one may be a hard find, but worth the trouble.