Local Color is a film to make you feel good about going to the movies. It's designed to make you think and appreciate the moments and people that touch you in your life. It is uplifting and heart-warming and in these times, I believe audiences want a story of hope, regardless of what the major studios seem to think.
It's a movie about passion, commitment and following your dreams. John is an eighteen-year old on the cusp of manhood, seeking out his purpose in life and hoping he has the talent to reach his dreams. The movie seems to be about painting, but that is simply the canvas to examine life. It's really about seeking out the beauty in life and expressing it, through art and the relationships we form.
Trevor Morgan has a long list of credits, but aside from his childhood role in The Sixth Sense, I was not familiar with his work. I will now be on the lookout for future roles. Perfectly cast, he radiates a subtle empathy and is very engaging and believable as a young man trying to find his way. He has very expressive eyes that seem to soak up all the words of wisdom his mentor imparts.
Armin Mueller-Stahl is brilliant as the disillusioned master painter. Nicoli is a bitter, old drunk, ravaged by the cruelty of the world, yet he has a basic decency that defies his angry words. He rediscovers his passion for the beauty of nature as expressed in art, while expressing his outrage at the sad state of the modern art community.
The changing structure of the art world stands as a metaphor for the changes of society as a whole. Negativity and immediacy seem to have replaced hope and patience. True talent is ignored in favor of the latest fancy.
The entire cast is excellent with standouts Ray Liotta, memorable as the gruff father, and Ron Perlman, comically cast as an over-the-top art dealer who spars memorably with Nicoli. Samantha Mathis, Charles Durning and Diana Scarwid also have nice roles and it's always inspiring to know actors will take on roles simply for the love of the character and the relevance of the movie. Mueller-Stahl was drawn out of retirement simply because of the power of his character and the beauty of the script.
There is a voice-over narrative during parts of the film and for me that is always risky. It takes a deft touch to make the dialogue relevant without being pretentious, but it works beautifully for this film. Mr. Gallo does his own narration and that seems entirely fitting since he is now the middle-aged man whose youthful story is being told. It gives the film a reality and depth, continuing John's journey well beyond the scope of the movie.
This is a movie made out of love and passion, from the director mortgaging his home to the many well-known actors who worked for nothing to get it made. This is a movie that had me thinking Oscar; the quality is that great, especially Mueller-Stahl, except it holds none of the self-serving pretentiousness of some personal stories.
Local Color makes you feel I laughed unexpectedly many times during the movie, my heart soared other times, and tears filled my eyes on one memorable occasion, but most importantly it makes you think and reconsider your life and your dreams. If you are young it should help you find the focus to strive for what mark you want to leave on the world and if you are older it is a chance to reflect back on what your gifts have been and how you've used them. It offers hope for a better world if we would simply focus on the positive and the beauty surrounding us and go forward from this point trying to do our best and leave that mark because as Nicoli says, "Life is short."
I was fortunate to view the movie at a limited engagement in Phoenix and Mr. Gallo was there for a Q & A after. It is always fascinating to listen to the creative process of how a film is made and George was personable and insightful. As a novice writer it was comforting to know his perspective on writing follows along with how I write, mainly that the characters drive the story. As a writer you have a thought you want to present, you should know where you want to end up, but HOW you get there should be driven by the characters' thought processes.
Too many movies force characters to follow through with stupid actions to propel the plot along some preconceived trajectory. A great writer like Mr. Gallo puts his characters in an interesting situation and then follows them as they find their way to the end point. I do believe that is why his scripts are so true and real and don't feel phony or forced.
As the writer of Midnight Run, he has proved his worth as a storyteller. With the beauty and depth of Local Color he proves his vision as a filmmaker. The movie is filmed like a great masterpiece with each shot ready to freeze frame and mount on your wall as a fine art painting. Combining the visual beauty of the photography with the eloquence of his words demonstrates what great film-making is all about.
Local Color is a beautiful movie you will enjoy and be thankful for. It will open your eyes to the possibilities of life and what you can accomplish. It will reinforce the importance of mentoring and if you've ever been the recipient of someone's guidance it will offer you a moment to look back and remember the impact one person can make in another's life. Local Color is entertaining and heartwarming and will inspire you to make that connection and make the world better. What more can we ask of the movies?
It's a movie about passion, commitment and following your dreams. John is an eighteen-year old on the cusp of manhood, seeking out his purpose in life and hoping he has the talent to reach his dreams. The movie seems to be about painting, but that is simply the canvas to examine life. It's really about seeking out the beauty in life and expressing it, through art and the relationships we form.
Trevor Morgan has a long list of credits, but aside from his childhood role in The Sixth Sense, I was not familiar with his work. I will now be on the lookout for future roles. Perfectly cast, he radiates a subtle empathy and is very engaging and believable as a young man trying to find his way. He has very expressive eyes that seem to soak up all the words of wisdom his mentor imparts.
Armin Mueller-Stahl is brilliant as the disillusioned master painter. Nicoli is a bitter, old drunk, ravaged by the cruelty of the world, yet he has a basic decency that defies his angry words. He rediscovers his passion for the beauty of nature as expressed in art, while expressing his outrage at the sad state of the modern art community.
The changing structure of the art world stands as a metaphor for the changes of society as a whole. Negativity and immediacy seem to have replaced hope and patience. True talent is ignored in favor of the latest fancy.
The entire cast is excellent with standouts Ray Liotta, memorable as the gruff father, and Ron Perlman, comically cast as an over-the-top art dealer who spars memorably with Nicoli. Samantha Mathis, Charles Durning and Diana Scarwid also have nice roles and it's always inspiring to know actors will take on roles simply for the love of the character and the relevance of the movie. Mueller-Stahl was drawn out of retirement simply because of the power of his character and the beauty of the script.
There is a voice-over narrative during parts of the film and for me that is always risky. It takes a deft touch to make the dialogue relevant without being pretentious, but it works beautifully for this film. Mr. Gallo does his own narration and that seems entirely fitting since he is now the middle-aged man whose youthful story is being told. It gives the film a reality and depth, continuing John's journey well beyond the scope of the movie.
This is a movie made out of love and passion, from the director mortgaging his home to the many well-known actors who worked for nothing to get it made. This is a movie that had me thinking Oscar; the quality is that great, especially Mueller-Stahl, except it holds none of the self-serving pretentiousness of some personal stories.
Local Color makes you feel I laughed unexpectedly many times during the movie, my heart soared other times, and tears filled my eyes on one memorable occasion, but most importantly it makes you think and reconsider your life and your dreams. If you are young it should help you find the focus to strive for what mark you want to leave on the world and if you are older it is a chance to reflect back on what your gifts have been and how you've used them. It offers hope for a better world if we would simply focus on the positive and the beauty surrounding us and go forward from this point trying to do our best and leave that mark because as Nicoli says, "Life is short."
I was fortunate to view the movie at a limited engagement in Phoenix and Mr. Gallo was there for a Q & A after. It is always fascinating to listen to the creative process of how a film is made and George was personable and insightful. As a novice writer it was comforting to know his perspective on writing follows along with how I write, mainly that the characters drive the story. As a writer you have a thought you want to present, you should know where you want to end up, but HOW you get there should be driven by the characters' thought processes.
Too many movies force characters to follow through with stupid actions to propel the plot along some preconceived trajectory. A great writer like Mr. Gallo puts his characters in an interesting situation and then follows them as they find their way to the end point. I do believe that is why his scripts are so true and real and don't feel phony or forced.
As the writer of Midnight Run, he has proved his worth as a storyteller. With the beauty and depth of Local Color he proves his vision as a filmmaker. The movie is filmed like a great masterpiece with each shot ready to freeze frame and mount on your wall as a fine art painting. Combining the visual beauty of the photography with the eloquence of his words demonstrates what great film-making is all about.
Local Color is a beautiful movie you will enjoy and be thankful for. It will open your eyes to the possibilities of life and what you can accomplish. It will reinforce the importance of mentoring and if you've ever been the recipient of someone's guidance it will offer you a moment to look back and remember the impact one person can make in another's life. Local Color is entertaining and heartwarming and will inspire you to make that connection and make the world better. What more can we ask of the movies?