Black Limousine (2010)

Best movie of this year hands down!

If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

The first must-see film of the year.

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

The film originally had the hideous title, "The Land of the Astronauts." There is a feeling of impending doom throughout the film. The music, lighting and unshaven look of our star Jack Mackenzie (David Arquette) all work in unison to give us a noir feel. Jack is a Hollywood composer who has fallen from grace. He desires to get back with his divorced wife (Carla Ortiz) and child Kate (Jacqueline Mackenzie). He attends AA meetings, was involved in an accident were someone died and now works as a limo driver.The limo he is driving was the scene of a brutal murder where a limo driver cut the throat of his wife. Hitch (David Jean Thomas) who reminds us of a creepy Morgan Freeman, shows Jack the photos. He also collects items left behind in limos. Jack is also attempting a comeback. He has issues with his landlady (Lin Shaye) who wants a part in a film. While at an AA meeting, Jack meets the noir femme fatale Erica Long (Bijou Phillips). She is a model, singer, and actress attempting to pay her bills. Ironically she appears on vodka ads. Jack is inspired by her and quickly falls in love. They hit it off and seem to become soul mates, but alas Erica is clearly a girl Jack should not love.We know something is going to happen and every tidbit clue that the film feeds us will all cleverly tie together. The goal is to figure it out before the film tells us. And then the end happens and you are suddenly tasked with trying to figure out what just happened. Enjoyable, but not for everyone.PARENTAL GUIDE: F-bomb, brief nudity (lady in window)

here we see the effects of overpaid success on a man who would not have ever lived as he did and loose it all had he struggled longer for recognition.jack is actually a hard working average man who loved his family but he blew it on self indulgence and with no obvious restraint from his wife. that is made clear in their dialog. now the marriage is over and jack wants it back.climbing back up is much harder than the fall and jack isn't emotionally equipped to handle it. he see rejection where it doesn't exist and his comfort is pills, sex and the bottle - which further destroy him.my only problem with this story is the ending. very strange. it appears he didn't actually do it but imagined it. but then in the final scene he is the only thing that moves. is he dead?watch it - you decide.

Not sure what this was but I sort of like it. The director uses some weird surrealistic kind of moods and certain things don't make sense and I can't tell if it was on purpose or not. It's very awkward and unsettling. Lin Shay is very funny as the old lady and David Arquette is good and very emotional as the main character but is he crazy, depressed? Insane? Dreaming? There's murder and music and drama and comedy. The girl is very good and she has a nice voice.At times it's very cheap looking and other times it looks pretty good. Especially for the low budget this clearly had.But I kind of had fun at the screening even though I didn't fully understand it.

It's pretty rare you see an artistically made American film these days. Colpaert delivered on this one. I was fortunate enough to catch this at the Montreal film festival, along with several other great films.To be straight forward, this film isn't for everyone. It observes process over form, and the result is a surrealistic trip, layered with dream sequences. The person expecting an average Hollywood turn might be a confused or dislike the story.David Arquette shows a new side in this turn. He suffers deeply as Jack, the main character, and turns out a wonderful performance. Big thumbs up, this a truly great performance by him. I hope we get to see more of this from him in the future.Bijou Phillips has really come into her own. She's matured as an actress and the character she plays is almost a reflection of past characters - a young lady, growing up, struggling with the issues she's created for herself. She handles the role with great ease.Overall, there were several great performances and moments in this film. Carl Colpaert showed immense talent in handling of the material. It definitely has a European flair to it. Rare, and enjoyable.There are moments where the film feels like it's lost it's way or that the actors slightly balk during their performances. Regardless it's a refreshing movie that will reward the viewer who appreciates the artistic side of film making.