GraysonFilmGuy Reviews

Quinceañera (2006)

Pushing the limits of mediocrity.

[5/10 · 1 February 2006]

I saw this film at Sundance with high hopes of a true brilliance in film-making. Winning both the Sundance Audience Award and the Dramatic Grand Jury Award, I figured this was a sure catch of the Festival. After viewing it, I easily concluded that this was one of the most average films I've ever seen. Although the performances of the Emily Rios and Jesse Garcia are excellent, the film lacks originality and creativity.

This was the last film of 12 that I saw at Sundance, some of them being truly superb in originality and stylized cinematography complimented by goose-bump delivering performances. After being barraged by truly moving works of cinema, Quinceañera became the most mediocre picture on the Sundance screen. This film was packed with safe choices in cinematography, plot twists and endings that were cute but predictable and dialogue recycled from every other coming of age, acceptance film.

This is a movie that I would enjoy seeing at a mainstream movie theater with some popcorn and my girlfriend. How it received such honor and recognition over a truly superior collection of films is beyond me.

An enjoyable flick, yes. The best at Sundance, not even close.

Dot the I (2003)

Captivating

[8/10 · 24 March 2005]

The direction and writing of this film are superb. Matthew Parkhill has a wonderful and original talent of storytelling and the acting justifies every step the film takes. The dialog is interesting yet realistic and the characters are believable and extremely interesting. Natalia Verbeke has an acting style that is both likable and mysterious. I feel like the acting of the piece can potentially make or break the complicated story and I found that all three lead characters had a strong and specific enough performance that made the the plot fly.

I've been waiting for a film like this for a long time.

Truly excellent.