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Reviews
Courting Chaos (2014)
A Refreshing Movie
I have seen two different movies by writer and director Alan Clay; the first was "Butterfly Crush," which Clay directed based on his novel Dance Sisters. I went into this movie thinking that Clay based it on his novel Moontan, A Clown's Story. Now, I think that he based the film on one of his books that I've not read. My point is that the movie is independent of any of Clay's books.
Ginger is a young up and coming model in Venice Beach, California. Unfortunately, her heart is not really in that career choice. Ginger meets Chaos, a street clown who shows Ginger a new way to express herself. Along the way, Ginger learns a great deal about her wants instead of those of her domineering mother.
The dialog seems refreshing and at times off-the-cuff. The characters came across as genuine. The storyline was timeless with a new twist. The lead actress, Rachel DiMaria, charmed me from the moment I met her. The actor who plays Chaos was so believable as a clown master and teacher. I wonder if Clay based the character on himself. The supporting actors and actresses added to the believability of the plot.
My final verdict...you should not pass up this opportunity for a smile and perhaps even a giggle from this refreshing and upbeat movie. I got it free with my Amazon Prime account.
Butterfly Crush (2010)
Wonderful Adaptation of the Book DANCE SISTERS
I have read three books by this author and watched this movie, which is the film version of the book DANCE SISTERS. The author of the book, Alan Clay, is the writer and director of the movie.
This film has won one award and is set in Australia. The musical duo, Butterfly Crush, has been selected to perform in a song/dance contest that could give them superstar status. Things get slightly off kilter though when one of the members becomes involved in a cult.
What did I like about the movie? The honesty of the dialogue, which followed the novel almost exactly, was spot on and very natural for the actors. The actress who played Star was very sexy and perfect for the role of villain. The soundtrack is excellent. If it wasn't for the allusions to sex, the musical numbers reminded me of the High School Musical franchise. The numbers are very well choreographed.
Who would like this? Viewers of small-house art films would enjoy this movie,as well as young folks who enjoy movies about the music industry. Although it is set in Australia, most audiences from all countries can relate as the storyline is a universal one. The reflection scene on the river (harbor?) was a great touch and added a touch of subtle allusion to human duplicity (at least in my eye).
My verdict: Right now it is free for Amazon Prime members, so it's definitely worth the watch. I don't know how much it costs to rent or buy. The movie length is almost an hour and a half. I watched it while drinking my morning coffee. It was a nice way to start my day.