I just saw "Still Green", written by Georgia Menides, directed by Jon Artigo and produced by Doug Lloyd. Then I went right back and saw it again. I was glued to my chair and moved by the characters.
I love good movies, but most of my favorites are dramas and the most important part of a drama is the way a story is told. In this story, a few very different character types provide unique perspectives.
summary: A group of high school graduates rent a beach house for a short time to enjoy their last summer together before college, but are confronted by some severe circumstances.
The part I like the most is watching the way these characters reveal different sides to them and show such depth. Kerri (Sarah Jones) was fantastic. I think she has a strong voice as an actress. What I mean is, she can convey complex feelings with her eyes and facial expressions and delivers her lines with her Kerri’s purity and skewed disposition.
I enjoy the way the story is told – unveiling the ending without showing right away how each would be affected until further into the story as each of their stories unfold.
The large group going through its own drama reminding me of a summer when my friends were all around, but dark things always seemed to plague our time together.
The mechanics of the film: the cinematography, lighting effects, editing, art direction, music and the overall look of the film are astonishing and fresh.
I can’t remember watching something that drew me in that deep since in recent years. Especially a film that stars a group of actors so young and at a setting that was so beautiful.
Still Green has the dramatic strength of a theatrical play and the cinematography and music of a blockbuster film.
The vivid performances by these young actors and actresses had me wondering if they’ve ever had things in their own lives that were so intense and emotionally destructive.
I found myself in a strange gap with the timeline zigzagging, but it came through with a different spin than the way I thought it might end. This was maybe the first time I ever saw a movie that showed the end conflict so early in the film and then allowed the characters to develop into more familiar territories before you actually get to the end where they’d figure out what to do about it.
When it was all over, I started to think to myself, “What would the rest of their lives be like? Could this have a sequel or should it even be turned into a television series.
"Still Green" is a film by Uncovered Productions, written by Georgia Menides
Reviewed by Mark Doty Copyright 2007-2008 markdoty.com
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Thank you.
Somehow, I don’t think we’ve seen the real ending to this whole thing. Maybe somewhere down the line there will be more stories to tell with these characters. I’d love to see a spin off, where the focus on the lead actress and her next film be as the same character and moving forward in her life.
I think when a film gets you exited like this, the best thing you can do is run out and tell everybody about it. That’s what I’m doing. Go see “Still Green”.
I just hope I haven’t ruined the ending for anyone.
