Nothing against famous actors having an artistic pet project on the side, but this film was actually shot with a camera any of us could own and edited in a guy's garage. And as inspiring as this is, it wouldn't matter much if it weren't a good film, but it is. It shows a tremendous amount of heart and talent to work on a shoestring budget and not only get to Sundance but win an award. "Anywhere USA" is thought-provoking, politically incorrect, laugh-out-loud funny and there's an occasional shock or heartbreak, much like real life but with a better soundtrack. The little girl, Perla Haney-Jardine (previously Uma Thurman's daughter in "Kill Bill Vol 2" and most recently Diane Lane's in "Untraceable")is a charming natural actress, probably destined to be a star but don't hold that against her. Jeremiah Brennan who plays her uncle is an unknown, also a standout with emotions as translucent as his soulful blue eyes. These two move gracefully from comedy to tragedy and back again in a way big name stars could learn from. The 3 story lines come together with a subtle but satisfying ending. If you're bored with formulaic Hollywood movies, give this one a try.
