"Border to Border" is a very impressive film to watch, especially for a low budget film. I caught this film at the Napa Valley International Film Festival a few years back and meet the director Tom Whelan after the screening. When I watched the film I was very entertained and had a good time joining the crazy journey with the two lead characters Neil and Alex. Sure there were holes in the story (what independent film doesn't have them?) but then I learned that Whelan shot this film on weekends and holidays for about 8 months while working at Warner Bros. Eight months! I was able to speak with him after the screening (which happened to be the only sold out screening in the entire festival- and he received a standing ovation) and he was very nice and appreciative when he spoke to the audience. He managed to get this film in the "CAN" for only $225,000 while shooting in five states and over 140 different locations all without ever getting film permits! He manged to shoot the film on 35mm and with a crew of about 18 people, not including producers, I found out they had many producers - all people from the studio. He would start shooting scenes in one state and then finally finish the scene five months later in a different state. It's dam tough nowadays to make an interesting independent film and he managed to do it. He talked about shooting films in foreign countries and I have just recently noticed he shot a film in Thailand/Malaysia called "Somewhere" and a feature he just finished filming called "The Art of Travel" which was shot in Los Angeles, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, and Bolivia! I'm dieing to see that film. The guy has talent and seemed liked a guy who really loved to make movies. "Border" is really worth viewing. It's a dam good independent film.
Reviews
2 Reviews
Havana
(I) (1990)
A beautiful motion picture that pays tribute to the old school of cinema
31 July 2004
The reviews were horrible when released in 1990. But, what went over the heads of so money people was that this film set at the turning point of 1958 revolution in Cuba was designed to be an over the top romance filled with the style and craft of the early days of cinema. It doesn't matter if it finds inspiration from the crafty Casablanca, one of the best films ever made. Both examine similar themes and play to the adventurer in all of us. Havana is an escapist picture, and both Redford, Olin and Pollack do their jobs here, not to mention a wonderful supporting cast. They transport us to a place rich with color and mystery. Havana is a hidden gem for those who love travel, and spontaneous adventure and love. If you have not seen it, it's well worth the trip to the video store. For those who love Havana and location films I'd highly recommend the independent film "Somewhere," set in Thailand and Malaysia.
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