Hit 'n Strum (2012) Poster

(2012)

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6/10
Music Homeless Idealistic Stereotypical
annuskavdpol3 October 2013
Warning: Spoilers
"Hit n strum" is a movie about the platonic connection between a man and a woman whose paths cross one night when the lady's car hit the male. The storyline is pretty straightforward. It is about the friendship between a rich lady and a poor man. In a sense it is a movie about class - high class versus low class. Two components are visible, [1] there are a lot of stereotypes and [2] there are a lot of transcending of the stereotypes. For example, homeless are known to have no money, vandalize and perhaps steal because the homeless person is hungry - however when the female gives the male a guitar he refuses it. This example by-passes the stereotype.

The story is idealistic. The female helps the homeless person get a record deal and is able to get the homeless person off the streets. This is what a lot of helpers in the field of addictions and mental health often try to do, however this is not always successful.

There were no drug-use and there was no violence in the movie, except by someone other than the homeless man.

The movie was shot in Vancouver British Columbia where there are a lot of homeless men and women.

There is a mystery to the movie. For example, why was the person homeless in the first place? There are hints here and there, like when he writes a letter to his father and then visits his father in Toronto, but there is not definitive answer. The audience is left hanging as to how and why the individual does not have a home - and only when he is in sickness does he reconsider his position and want to change.

The good thing about this movie is that there is a character transformation. This character transformation from homeless man to recording artist living in his own home versus outside. The driving force seems to have been the channels of friendship which is brought to light in both an idealistic and a motivating fashion.

The female character believed in the homeless man and started to see past his exterior to the soul of the man. Was this the factor that inspired the man to change? In the end the platonic friendship is separated out of free-will. The seeds of the platonic friendship kept on growing, for each individual. This was very uplifting and happy.

The movie had heavy subject-matter but it was delivered in a way of absolute success.

Written by Annuska van der Pol, BA, PDD-IMHA
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A wonderful movie to be enjoyed
rightwingisevil21 November 2013
what a wonderful movie! at first, i thought this is just a B leveled movie, but then when i watch on, it gradually became such a beautiful movie. both the male and female main characters are just fantastic, and the directing is also very smooth, never made me feel pretentious or unrealistic. the homeless guy wrote and sang beautiful and heart-felt songs again and again. and the story about this woman who has a guilty conscience and trying so hard to help this very decent but lost soul back on his feet is such a rare viewing experience for me. the only thing that i didn't quite feel comfortable is that if this guy got T.B., how such contagious disease won't become a problem when they aboard-ed a flight? when she so kindly let him stayed at her home temporarily, did she ever consider his health problem might cause some unpredictable problem later? the stubbornness of the homeless stay-on-the-street-better-stay-under-a-roof, sleep in the open on rainy days is more comfortable than stay indoor? what kind of psychological problem or phobia syndrome for those people living on the street? of course, this movie has completely avoided the absolutely avoidable drug abusing scene, all the street bums were nice people, making this film like a sanitized film, but for the purpose of making a kinder, gentler and even poetically beautiful film, these unreality are understandable. i don't know what happened when writing this review, i suddenly become so confused about the present and past tenses, but what the hack, all i want to say is that this film is a gem that should never be overlooked. if you like to hear some nice original songs, this film is also for you. don't forget to seek out Kirk Caouette's songs to appreciate further, because every song is so original and so unpretentious.
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4/10
Left more questions than it answers
jordondave-280852 May 2023
(2012) Hit N' Strum MUSICAL DRAMA

Straight-to-rental movie written, directed with a co-starring role by Kirk Caouette that has Stephanie (Michelle Harrison) accidentally hitting homeless man Mike (Kirk Caouette) with her car, while heading through an alley. And although, Mike wasn't hurt, Stephanie then tries to make it up to him on future occasions by buying him stuff, such as an expensive acoustic guitar or an expensive coat, instead of giving him some money. Viewers are never explained why she doesn't do that, only to assume that homeless people are just going to waste it on booze and drugs anyway, even though there are no signs that indicate that Mike is one of those people. Anyways, because of Mike's pride he gives the stuff away to other homeless passerby's, like the first person he sees instead of taking it to some pawn store and get a few extra dollars. And because he busks, plays music on the streets singing simple folk-like music, Stephanie then tries to either lift his spirits up or exploit his folk musical talent by attempting to find a station that'll appreciate his music. Take my word for it, there aren't any surprises, as the choices Mike the street busker or the homeless musician, gripes about things I am incapable to understand, with the main one like 'how come you didn't notice me before!,' and 'that it wasn't until you hit me with your car that you started to pay more attention to me'. Like every wealthy socialite is supposed to acknowledge every poor talented homeless person, when it's the gov'ts responsibility to do that. One of my main problems is that there's no sense of realism within it's two main characters, such as where had Mike learned how to play? Had Mike ever thanked Stephanie for saving his life from TB? What is the real reason Mike is on the streets or even prefer that kind of lifestyle? Is it because he's rejected by his dad, for viewers are never explained hardly anything about it's characters, making them rather artificial. And the music works, on like one or two scenes out of like 8 or more, and that is not sufficient enough to warrant this movie a pass.
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