For Catherine (2005)

Director:

Ethan Hunter

Writer:

Ethan Hunter (writer)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

After a two year courtship Catherine's departure for Oxford University sends Duo completely 'round the bend leaving his friends to try and pick up the sad, silly pieces.

Plot Keywords:

Independent Film

Cast

Christopher Arbor	...	Mr. McPheely
Travis Barkley	...	Travis Stone
Catherine Campbell	...	Catherine Knight
Ed Fickle	...	Ed
Grant Henry	...	Duo Black
Ethan Hunter	...	Grant
Brunilda Rodriguez	...	Bru
Matt Shelton	...	Cell Phone Guy
Rachel Stephens	...	Rae
Nikki Talley	...	Michelle
Cleve Williams	...	Craig
Cleveland Williams	...	Craig

Runtime:

USA:107 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Company:

207 Pictures

Trivia:

This film began as an entirely separate screenplay titled, "207" which took place entirely in two dorm rooms.

I was lucky enough to catch the premiere!

I had certain expectations for this movie based on the things I'd seen and read prior to today. I was expecting, based on that first scene, a wordy, cynical, angsty, postmodern treatment of the romantic comedy genre. I certainly got all that, but I also got something I didn't fully expect - a movie with a heart a mile wide and a soul as deep. I really felt like Ethan really laid himself out there emotionally and the movie benefits greatly from the vulnerability he projects.

Grant Henry did a great job as both the lead actor and score composer. The score is very subtle, but very well done. It doesn't get in the way of anything, but it adds the perfect atmosphere throughout.

Although this story was about love and loss and the relationship (or lack thereof) between Duo and Catherine, for me, the emotional center of the movie was the relationship between Duo and Travis, played by Travis Barkley. Travis basically makes this movie what it is. I think the character is exceptionally well conceived, written, and acted, and it's obvious that Ethan trusts him with such a pivotal position in his story. We've all been that guy too - the best friend of the guy who is going through hell, and we have to walk the line between putting up with all the s**t, and doing all we know how to help out a brother in need. Travis' performance was outstanding. Travis, your performance was both kickass in your face and totally sublime at the same time. The scene where you were waiting for the "AAAA" was so good, and thinking about it right now is making me kind of teary-eyed.

Matt Shelton was the shizz-nite up in there, boy. Every time he was on the screen was funny, culminating in the "He's beating me...with my own shoe!" scene.

There were a few problems, however. The sound was kind of rough in places, and there were lines of dialog that weren't as clear as they should have been. It would have been OK if the overall volume was a little louder in the theater though. The lighting was inconsistent, and even bad in places. Some of the lines, while cool, seemed awkward. They probably look great on the page, but sound a little clunky when spoken. In other words, it's not as conversational as you may be accustomed to with dialog. However, I think this is more of a conscious stylistic choice rather than an oversight, so listing it as a "problem" isn't completely fair. The issues were mainly technical, but given that the movie was produced for less than the price of a decent used car, you can't expect million dollar slickness. There's very little "slick" about this movie, but it may have suffered if it had been.

I'll be buying at least two copies of the DVD - one for myself, and one for a friend of mine who is an aspiring screenwriter. I'm sure he'll love it. If you can't relate to it on some level, then you're obviously not old enough to have had your heart broken.

Since I'm not a professional movie critic, I don't have any fancy rating system. I'll just say it's good and leave it at that.