An ex of mine wanted me to see this film, Greencastle in a town she now resides near. Since we had a good break up and we are both single I figured even if the movie was like every other first time film maker I would just leave in the middle and tell my date I was tired then we would get a early start "catching up".
Needless to say living in New York City you see way to many "indie films" that are laced with contrived messages of some sort, that you can tell was created by a pretentious film student who's parents could not figure out what to do with 100k so they invested in their brat of a child's dream of going to film school, only to work for the family business after graduated. I was very sure Greencastle would join the ranks of those many films...
So Greencastle in a nut shell? When we first meet Poitier Dunning played by neophyte actor/writer/director Koran Dunbar. Poitier is in a state of emotional inertia that clinicians might identify as depression. He does not seem acutely unhappy, but then again, he doesn't seem to feel much at all, after a tragedy with his wife, what seems to "force him" to raise his son alone in small town America. It seems inevitable that "something" will come along to shake Poitier and his son out of his malaise. And sure enough, Leslie Davis played by the actress Nikki Estridge came into the picture with a troubled past. Julian (Poitier's son) played played by Koran Dunbar's real life son Aurelius Dunbar, connects with Leslie as some sort of mother figure. Poitier initially detest the idea of Leslsie staying how ever his son reminds him of the messages of helping other out in need, which he was preached to in church forces his father to change his mind out of guilt or dismay and irritation gives way to an instinctive flicker of compassion, and he allows Leslie to stay.
The interesting thing about ""Greencastle" is that even as it goes more or less where you think it will, it still manages to surprise you along the way. Leslie and Julian quickly become very close. And Poitier and Leslie become romantically interested in each other. Until her past test their relationship and Poitier is forced to decided what really matter to him in life in regards to happiness.
The characters - even the minor ones - are vividly drawn. When the film comes to a close, we want to spend more time with them. They're like artistically-enhanced versions of the individuals who cross our path every day, and we're interested to see the next chapter of their lives unfold.
Koran had many of your typical first time filmmaker mistakes which is expected ( I won't be an ass an tell you all of them but there were a lot). However the acting throughout the film was excellent. I would like to see Koran focus through the entire film some of his performances a long with Nikki were lack luster but other scenes they simply shinned. This could be first time acting jitters.
All in all this was definitely a quirky but surprisingly humorous film that had very emotional and moving scenes. For a first attempt Greencastle shows a lot of promise for this first time film maker. Hey the film was worth me writing a review from my phone if that says anything.
Needless to say living in New York City you see way to many "indie films" that are laced with contrived messages of some sort, that you can tell was created by a pretentious film student who's parents could not figure out what to do with 100k so they invested in their brat of a child's dream of going to film school, only to work for the family business after graduated. I was very sure Greencastle would join the ranks of those many films...
So Greencastle in a nut shell? When we first meet Poitier Dunning played by neophyte actor/writer/director Koran Dunbar. Poitier is in a state of emotional inertia that clinicians might identify as depression. He does not seem acutely unhappy, but then again, he doesn't seem to feel much at all, after a tragedy with his wife, what seems to "force him" to raise his son alone in small town America. It seems inevitable that "something" will come along to shake Poitier and his son out of his malaise. And sure enough, Leslie Davis played by the actress Nikki Estridge came into the picture with a troubled past. Julian (Poitier's son) played played by Koran Dunbar's real life son Aurelius Dunbar, connects with Leslie as some sort of mother figure. Poitier initially detest the idea of Leslsie staying how ever his son reminds him of the messages of helping other out in need, which he was preached to in church forces his father to change his mind out of guilt or dismay and irritation gives way to an instinctive flicker of compassion, and he allows Leslie to stay.
The interesting thing about ""Greencastle" is that even as it goes more or less where you think it will, it still manages to surprise you along the way. Leslie and Julian quickly become very close. And Poitier and Leslie become romantically interested in each other. Until her past test their relationship and Poitier is forced to decided what really matter to him in life in regards to happiness.
The characters - even the minor ones - are vividly drawn. When the film comes to a close, we want to spend more time with them. They're like artistically-enhanced versions of the individuals who cross our path every day, and we're interested to see the next chapter of their lives unfold.
Koran had many of your typical first time filmmaker mistakes which is expected ( I won't be an ass an tell you all of them but there were a lot). However the acting throughout the film was excellent. I would like to see Koran focus through the entire film some of his performances a long with Nikki were lack luster but other scenes they simply shinned. This could be first time acting jitters.
All in all this was definitely a quirky but surprisingly humorous film that had very emotional and moving scenes. For a first attempt Greencastle shows a lot of promise for this first time film maker. Hey the film was worth me writing a review from my phone if that says anything.
