Local Color (2006)

Fun premise, good actors, bad writing. This film seemed to have potential at the beginning but it quickly devolves into a trite action film. Ultimately it's very boring.

Ok... Let's be honest. It cannot be the best movie but is quite enjoyable. The movie has the potential to develop a great plot for future movies

Although I seem to have had higher expectations than I thought, the movie is super entertaining.

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

There are pretty landscape shots. Writers putting trite mouthings into actors mouths. With lesser actors this show would be silly. 'Art must uplift humanity or it's BS.' Not so because art of all those mentioned is also to stir humanity and express the dark side. The lead character even says those who don't drink hide the shadow side. Wrong , he lived in darkness and repressed his dark side by drinking and being one dimensional not expanding his horizons with something other than landscapes. There wasn't a breathing organism in his work nor expression of his pain. All the artist did was limit himself to dime a dozen landscapes. The discussions between the characters was grade school, trite stuff always giving the one character the upper hand the writer wanted. I tried to like it after reading all the first wow comments on here. I had to dig deep to see those i agreed with. I figure the great comments were from those connected to the movie. I was moved only once towards the end. The kid was way too passive. The scenery was nice and the music ridiculous. Just my opinion but nowhere show for me.

John Talia Jr. wanted to be a painter. He realized that coming from a humble home and having a homophobic father, he didn't have a chance to make it in the art world. What's more, John wanted to absorb all he could from a reclusive landscape painter, Nicoli Seroff, that lived near him. For that, he appeals to Nicoli himself, who at first is puzzled by what John wants, so he refuses the lad. Seroff becomes intrigued by the young man's ambition and takes him as his assistant when he goes to a Pennsylvania farm where he works.Nicoli is a nasty, vodka drinking loud mouth who takes any opportunity he can to berate the young man; he even asks his new apprentice to do menial jobs around the farm. If John thought he was going to learn a lot from this guy, he was probably insane, but eventually master and pupil come to an understanding of what each one brings to a point they will remember forever. Relief comes in the shape of Carla, a neighbor of Nicoli, who awakens in the youth to a possibility of love.George Gallo, a painter himself, wrote and directed this drama that might be autobiographical, for all we know. The film, which opened in Manhattan recently, seemed to have been shelved for almost three years, although we saw it some time ago in other markets and overseas.Trevor Morgan is the young aspiring painter. He is credible and his inter action with a veteran actor Armin Mueller-Stahl is the most interesting aspect of the film. Mr. Mueller-Stahl makes a wonderful and complex Nicoli Seroff. Ray Liotta plays the homophobic father and Samantha Mathis is Carla.The film is a nostalgic trip to the past.

Local Color is a film to make you feel good about going to the movies. It's designed to make you think and appreciate the moments and people that touch you in your life. It is uplifting and heart-warming and in these times, I believe audiences want a story of hope, regardless of what the major studios seem to think.It's a movie about passion, commitment and following your dreams. John is an eighteen-year old on the cusp of manhood, seeking out his purpose in life and hoping he has the talent to reach his dreams. The movie seems to be about painting, but that is simply the canvas to examine life. It's really about seeking out the beauty in life and expressing it, through art and the relationships we form.Trevor Morgan has a long list of credits, but aside from his childhood role in The Sixth Sense, I was not familiar with his work. I will now be on the lookout for future roles. Perfectly cast, he radiates a subtle empathy and is very engaging and believable as a young man trying to find his way. He has very expressive eyes that seem to soak up all the words of wisdom his mentor imparts.Armin Mueller-Stahl is brilliant as the disillusioned master painter. Nicoli is a bitter, old drunk, ravaged by the cruelty of the world, yet he has a basic decency that defies his angry words. He rediscovers his passion for the beauty of nature as expressed in art, while expressing his outrage at the sad state of the modern art community.The changing structure of the art world stands as a metaphor for the changes of society as a whole. Negativity and immediacy seem to have replaced hope and patience. True talent is ignored in favor of the latest fancy.The entire cast is excellent with standouts Ray Liotta, memorable as the gruff father, and Ron Perlman, comically cast as an over-the-top art dealer who spars memorably with Nicoli. Samantha Mathis, Charles Durning and Diana Scarwid also have nice roles and it's always inspiring to know actors will take on roles simply for the love of the character and the relevance of the movie. Mueller-Stahl was drawn out of retirement simply because of the power of his character and the beauty of the script.There is a voice-over narrative during parts of the film and for me that is always risky. It takes a deft touch to make the dialogue relevant without being pretentious, but it works beautifully for this film. Mr. Gallo does his own narration and that seems entirely fitting since he is now the middle-aged man whose youthful story is being told. It gives the film a reality and depth, continuing John's journey well beyond the scope of the movie.This is a movie made out of love and passion, from the director mortgaging his home to the many well-known actors who worked for nothing to get it made. This is a movie that had me thinking Oscar; the quality is that great, especially Mueller-Stahl, except it holds none of the self-serving pretentiousness of some personal stories.Local Color makes you feel… I laughed unexpectedly many times during the movie, my heart soared other times, and tears filled my eyes on one memorable occasion, but most importantly it makes you think and reconsider your life and your dreams. If you are young it should help you find the focus to strive for what mark you want to leave on the world and if you are older it is a chance to reflect back on what your gifts have been and how you've used them. It offers hope for a better world if we would simply focus on the positive and the beauty surrounding us and go forward from this point trying to do our best and leave that mark because as Nicoli says, "Life is short." I was fortunate to view the movie at a limited engagement in Phoenix and Mr. Gallo was there for a Q & A after. It is always fascinating to listen to the creative process of how a film is made and George was personable and insightful. As a novice writer it was comforting to know his perspective on writing follows along with how I write, mainly that the characters drive the story. As a writer you have a thought you want to present, you should know where you want to end up, but HOW you get there should be driven by the characters' thought processes.Too many movies force characters to follow through with stupid actions to propel the plot along some preconceived trajectory. A great writer like Mr. Gallo puts his characters in an interesting situation and then follows them as they find their way to the end point. I do believe that is why his scripts are so true and real and don't feel phony or forced.As the writer of Midnight Run, he has proved his worth as a storyteller. With the beauty and depth of Local Color he proves his vision as a filmmaker. The movie is filmed like a great masterpiece with each shot ready to freeze frame and mount on your wall as a fine art painting. Combining the visual beauty of the photography with the eloquence of his words demonstrates what great film-making is all about.Local Color is a beautiful movie you will enjoy and be thankful for. It will open your eyes to the possibilities of life and what you can accomplish. It will reinforce the importance of mentoring and if you've ever been the recipient of someone's guidance it will offer you a moment to look back and remember the impact one person can make in another's life. Local Color is entertaining and heartwarming and will inspire you to make that connection and make the world better. What more can we ask of the movies?

"Local Color" is a wonderful gem of a film with powerful themes, complex characters who struggle with their fears and shortcomings, and a story that anyone who has ever felt intimidated by their dreams while at the same time wanting so badly for them to come true can relate to. The film draws you in gently, makes you laugh, makes you feel the longing and frustration of the characters, and takes you along a beautifully realized and genuinely heartfelt journey of self-discovery. The lead character is faced with many difficult challenges as he struggles to become a respected painter, but as the film progresses he finds his voice and the ability to confidently express his feelings on canvas. He is awkward at first, and wholly relatable in his fumblings, but by the time he finds the courage to paint with conviction, the audience soars with him. A wonderful film!