Lost on Purpose (2013)
Our story takes place in the fertile, San Joaquin Valley. Fueled by gin and sheer determination, Elizabeth James (Ms. Liz) operates her third generation dairy farm outside the region's domineering co-ops. To help keep the place afloat, she's employed five renegade ranch hands. These boys have put a pin in responsibility and opted to stretch out the party as long as possible. Unfortunately, women, booze, and fisticuffs can only lead to one outcome: trouble. With the dairy farm reporting its third straight deficit year, Ms Liz is attracting some unwanted attention. Delbert Furgeson, the owner of the area's largest co-op, is pushing to buy her out. This only incenses the prideful Ms Liz and starts a volatile feud between the two. Sharing the narrative are the ranch hands.
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Simply Perfect
everything you have heard about this movie is true.
The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.
In a small town in Central California, we meet five young ranch hands living and working on a dairy farm owned and run by the very capable Ms. Liz. I instantly felt as though I lived there with them on the farm - so vivid are their faces, emotions and dialogue. I became totally immersed in the struggles of these very real human beings. I laughed and I cried, I cheered and I ached.The direction, acting and cinematography are superb. They meld together into something very warm and familiar - with the use of local settings, and that air of closeness so characteristic of rural communities. Everybody knows everybody and then some - which is not always a good thing! The cast is outstanding; the chemistry perfect. It's a wonderful mixture of the happily recognisable and the newly unforgettable.The music score is wonderful. Each piece and song has been selected and performed so well, that they highlight and complement without encroaching. It is a memorable soundtrack that will have you seeking out the artists afterwards.I'm Australian, living half a world away from where this film is set and the story nurtured - but this is my town too. These are my people. These are my struggles. And these are my triumphs. There is a good chance that they are yours too. I cannot recommend this film highly enough. You will be richer for seeing it, and it is one that will stay with you for a very long time.
LOST ON PURPOSE is a wonderful film! You would never know that it had a low budget because the production values are so high. It is beautifully written and directed, has gorgeous cinematography and is perfectly cast. The storyline is captivating, the music is lovely and the acting is truly superb. It is funny and moving and even heartbreaking at times. The boys all share a wonderful dynamic and you can see that they had fun working together, it really shines through in the film. A great job by everyone involved - I am so in love with this film that I am about to watch it for the second time today! Do yourself a favor and watch this movie, it has something for everyone and you won't be disappointed. I really enjoyed it!
I was immediately reminded of "The Last Picture Show" and "Hud" after seeing "Lost on Purpose." It's a drama that takes a truthful glimpse into our changing country and tells it without gimmicks and bull-crap, unlike "Promised Land" by Gus Van Sant. It is a soulful journey full of insight and integrity. Although the area of Central California this is set is not necessarily the prettiest in the state, the filmmakers find the beauty of the land and the pathos of its people. They don't make a lot of films like this any more...but thank goodness the Nelms brothers have. Not sure if the rest of the audience recognized J. Robert Spencer from Broadway's "Jersey Boys," but I sure did. He's a sensational stage talent and great here in a small role. Phenomenal music by All The Real Girls as well and a charming performance by the musician, Peter Donovan. He's like John Cougar Mellencamp in Chuck Taylor's. Kudos as well to great secondary performances from Michelle Lang and Michael Lawson, whom I immediately recognized from HBO's "Enlightened."
A beautifully photographed simple yet poignant slice of life story that captures the fight for the American Dream and the dustiness of the new American West. It's a story about survival, loss and determination. Jane Kaczmarek is spot-on with her portrayal of a third generation dairy farmer struggling to stay afloat. As the film progresses , through both story and cinematography, one identify with her struggle and even asking at times, "why doesn't she just sell the farm to the shady, Delbert Furgenson, played by C Thomas Howell. It was great to see Mr Howell in this film. In a lot of lower budget films the presences of a named actor sometimes takes away from story. But not in this film. Mr Howell does a great job portraying the shady land grabber. The hands hired to help Ms Liz are great as men trying to find themselves.