ingridprice Reviews

Aerodrome (2014)

Aerodrome soars

[9/10 · 23 January 2014]

This short documentary about the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome in upstate NY is absolutely gorgeous. I had no idea what to expect when I went to a special screening of the film at nearby Bard College... after all, it's just a bunch of dusty old planes in a field, right? Wrong!

It's actually an intimate and beautifully photographed look into a near-magical place and the people whose passion make it (literally) fly. The filmmakers take you along for the ride - you get to experience wide-screen flight in a pre-WWI cockpit - but also invite you to enjoy the exquisite details of these marvelous old planes, and the real love of flight shared by their pilots. Period-appropriate music lends a sweet (but never cloying) nostalgia to the images on screen, and expertly edited interviews provide insight into what makes the Aerodrome the special place it is.

I'd love to see this film again! What an amazing ride.

Bunny (2010)

The Perfect Short

[10/10 · 24 September 2011]

I just saw "Bunny" at the 2011 Woodstock Film Festival. Afterwards, I turned to my husband, who is also film director, and we said simultaneously, "Now, THAT was a perfect short film". Choosing to shoot in a gritty, working-class Pennsylvania town, director Robert Snow beautifully sets up the world of his hero. Errol is just a kid, a sweet-natured boy with a pet bunny. His nemesis, a firecracker-popping, baseball bat wielding thief named Morgan, is truly threatening when seen from Errol's point of view. We're right there, too, immediately pulled into Errol's world; seeing things as he sees them. We feel so protective of Errol's pet bunny that the sight of its empty cage halfway through the film fills us with anxiety. Where is Bunny? What has happened? Did Morgan steal him? Errol bravely sets off in pursuit, and that's when the film really takes off. There's no turning back, as Errol makes a both a profound discovery, and a profound choice. Finding Bunny forces the kind of moral dilemma that a kid shouldn't have to face - and our hearts stop as we see how Errol handles it. The acting appears effortless, the direction is confident and understated. Photography is gorgeous. This film swept me along on a journey that took only a few minutes, but will resonate forever.

Strings (I) (2011)

First reaction: I want to see it again!

[10/10 · 16 July 2011]

I saw this stunning film at the Breckenridge Film Festival, where it garnered well-deserved praise and awards.

The story involves choices... and consequences. Each step taken by the main character leads him further into a world he (and we) don't understand. Gorgeous cinematography and deft editing seduce us into his dark reality. Clarity comes in lightening flashes. Directors Ben Foster and Mark Dennis attack an intriguing "what if" scenario with jaw-dropping originality.

The visually arresting wild ride is enhanced by outstanding music. (The Breckenridge Festival jury was sufficiently impressed by Billy Harvey's song, "Greatest Escape", to create a special award in its honor).

I'm looking forward to a wider release of "Strings", because I can't wait to tell people: go see it!

Frontman (II) (2011)

Wickedly funny and full of heart

[9/10 · 16 June 2011]

"Mockumentary" is a tough genre to pull off well. Epileptic camera work and straight-to-the-lens commentary only goes so far. It takes great writing and terrific performances to make it work, which is why I give this movie absolutely top marks. An incredibly talented cast, with superb direction by Ben Hyland, puts FRONTMAN on my "must- see" list. This band of aging rockers, fumbling hilariously towards their make-it-or-break-it performance, totally won my heart. I was with them every step of the way. And here's the icing on the cake: the music's great! Music videos salted throughout the film are good enough to stand alone. They're also humorous, affectionate homages to the genre. FRONTMAN is excellent. See it any way you can.

Fanny, Annie & Danny (2010)

Stunning and straight-to-the-heart

[9/10 · 16 June 2011]

"Fanny, Annie and Danny" is a knockout.

Incredibly honest performances, great writing, and simple, elegant direction conspire to make this a "must-see" film. Dysfunctional families (is there really any other kind?) make for deeply involving stories, and this film is a powerful example. We're treading on the thin edge between hilarity and heartbreak every step of the way.

All Mom wants is the perfect Christmas. Dad would just like a little peace. Siblings Fanny, Annie, and Danny each have their own powerful agendas, with a lot of family history lurking behind them. Annie's boyfriend is trying to navigate the domestic minefield. Everyone's got needs, desires, and stumbling blocks... what happens when they all collide? The ensemble cast nails it, as the family gathering accelerates toward its stunning conclusion.

Wholly absorbing and beautifully shot and acted, this film has earned every one of its accolades. Go see it.