City Baby (2013)

As Good As It Gets

I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.

An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

I was completely engaged throughout this movie. It has a real sense of Cinematic quality and flow, which is what I want from a Narrative Feature. Unlike an episode of Girls where everyone is talking abrasively to render a shallow conclusion or to get in a bit of witticism that ironically sums up the Y generation. As for the mixed feelings about the main characters personality.... I think you either like a cookie cutter film that follows a semi flawed but likable protagonist and has an identifiable villain, or in the case of this movie, you want your characters real and unpredictable. If you like the bitter taste of "Greenberg" Noah Bambach better than the flighty whimsical "Frances Ha" then you will love this movie. Its good either way and one of my favorite Indies. Not a boring mess like the mumble core movement either.

For the most part I agree with some of the others, just maybe not as harsh. The main criticism I have is that the movie looks a whole lot better than it is. Thirty years ago a film like this one would have been made with a super eight camera or even on home video, but today, because of the easy access to Canons and Red and Epic cameras, it's fairly easy for even the greenest of new filmmakers to make a movie that looks pretty good if only on the surface. Bottom line, there's way too much attention given here to composing a slick look and not enough to imagining a passionate story with convincing, memorable performances. The music helps you get through it.

I totally agree with all of what "feelsgoodalot" said in their review. So, I will say ditto, and go ahead and expand on it. First off, I'm unsure why this film is getting lower user ratings in the 4s at the moment. What are some peeps wanting to make them rate this movie so poorly? Granted, truth told, as a local actor myself, I do know a few people in the cast, but with me, that can sometimes be a bad thing because I can be ultra critical of talent, especially with those that I know. That being said, there were many actors I didn't know before watching this piece, namely the two lead actresses, of whom I walked out of the theater completely enamored with their performances (as well as many of the others). The acting is fresh and natural. Not a weak link in the bunch. Yes, of course, just about everybody is pretty to look at, but these aren't just some hot models spouting their lines. They delivered complex and compelling performances that just rocked the screen. Plus, I did not know the director or DP, but this is a well-crafted film. Took a fairly simple storyline (at least appears so on the surface until you dig a little deeper into the brilliant subtleties that abound) and peppered it with rich camera angles, purposeful lighting, well-timed editing, and a layering of different moods. The local music and beautiful Portland backdrop were characters also all in themselves. Watch this movie and you will perhaps see people you will recognize from your own life. You may not agree with the characters' choices (for good reason), but you are bound to empathize with them, which is the true mark of any great film, even a sweet indie film such as this. I hear this movie is showing on the biggie again soon in LA at the Dances With Films festival. If you're around, I suggest you check it out. And if not, find it elsewhere and dive in.

I just witnessed this gem at a local theater in Portland, OR, where this movie is staged. Having gone to many independent films in the local area, I was actually a bit skeptical and my expectations were low going into it, due to having seen many recent duds. But boy, from the very beginning of the screen roll, I fell in love with this movie! The directing and shooting were stellar - I was truly blown away by the artsy yet purposeful way in which it was shot (at one point, there is a "rainbow" lens flare that protrudes subtly across the screen during a scene that was masterfully done - I wondered: was this a brilliant mistake or done on purpose? But then decided it didn't even matter, because it just made sense with the rest of the film and coincided with the hilarious "play within a play"). But digressions aside, it was also the acting that truly carries this film. Cora Benesh is so damn sweet and natural in her lead performance that you want to just watch her all day long. Jillian Leigh is stunning in a multi-faceted role. Andrew Harris brings us a complex portrayal of a seemingly dark douche bag, and Richard Keith and Dustin Rush knock it out of the park with their suave and fantastic performances as well. Great job, I'm a big fan! Three words: See. This. Movie.