got_a_penny
When I was 14, out of my sheer "love" for Elijah Wood, I rented this movie. To say the least, I was pleasantly surprised with this movie. I found it to be thoroughly enjoyable and not at all the disappointment I faced after watching "Try Seventeen" (But that of course, is another comment.) Mazzo is by far my absolute favourite character in this film, and Barney is perfect (along with his two sidekicks, Billy and Ally) for helping Mazzo reach his goal of how he wanted to end his life. The love that happens between Rachel Leigh-Cook's Cassie, and Elijah Wood's Barney Snow is somewhat a reach of desperation for those two characters. We see that come out fully when the two finally embrace with a passionate (yet immensely sloppy) kiss. We as an audience are able to forgive them the mess of a kiss because it is oddly suited with the scene. All in all, an amazing film, and I would recommend it to anyone who would ask. The soundtrack, as well, is definitely worth it.
Aeris4ever
Since seeing LOTR: The Two Towers, I've been on an Elijah Wood kick, trying to see as many of his films as possible. I first saw him in "The Good Son" almost 10 years ago and immediately saw his talent, as he upstaged the great Macauley Culkin in that film. I knew this was an independent, low-budget film, so I didn't expect much. The movie was so strong in some areas, but very weak in others, making it an odd viewing experience.All the characters in this film were incredibly well played. The acting was top notch. The actors playing the kids in the hospital did such a fine job, that I really fell in love with their characters. In my head, I chastized Mazzo for being so mean to Barney, but came to like him in the end. These are the kinds of feelings any great actor tries to elicit in his viewers, and in this case, they all succeeded. The big names, Elijah, Rachael, and Janeane, were just as good. Especially Elijah, who has this incredible gift of conveying emotion with a simple glance. I was so impressed with the acting, overall, that I could go on forever.Now it's time for the not so good things, mostly due to the film's low budget. I wasn't thrilled with the film's environment. The hospital looked so cold, I felt like shivering. I'm sure that was the point, but I wish we could have seen more than just the hospital, the junkyard, and the little park outside. There only seemed to be 3-4 patients, including Barney, so the hospital felt really empty. I won't take extras for granted again, because tossing a few in this movie would have added so much. I can come up with symbolism for everything in this movie, but at first glance, the film is just "cold".Another "low budgetism" is that rush to get everything filmed and in the can. One of the most annoying mistakes was mentioned by another user, the way Mazzo's name was pronounced "Mazzo" by everyone except Elijah, who said "Matzo" every time. Things like that shouldn't happen.
The romance between Barney and Cassie just wasn't working. Not that they're incompatible, but the story made it a rush job. The kiss at the end was so awkward and it was hard to watch. It looked like someone was behind Elijah, pushing him onto Rachael.My biggest problem is with the story itself. SPOILERS! Barney is an amnesia victim, staying at a care center for terminally ill children. The only things Barney can remember are his name and a red convertible. He is subjected to some form of treatment that affects his memory. Mazzo, a terminal cancer patient the same age as Barney, is extremely angry at him for invading the kids' "turf". The other two kids befriend Barney for the most part. When Mazzo's twin sister, Cassie, comes to visit, she and Barney meet and start a rather unrealistic romance. All is well until Barney finds out who he really is - a cancer patient who was cured by having his memory erased. This theorizes that if a patient doesn't remember his cancer, his body won't recognize it, either. He had agreed to take part in the experiment, the stupidly titled "Bumblebee Project", but obviously can't remember. In the meantime, he manages to build a car out of junkyard parts and helps Mazzo in his longing to go out (die) in a blaze of glory. There is something so horribly wrong and ludicrous about pushing a dead person out a window. It may be symbolic, but geez was it wrong. I'll stop with that, because there is more to the ending, but I just about had it with the wheelchair going over the roof.It probably sounds like I hated this movie, but I really didn't. It's a great film for die-hard fans of any of the castmembers. As a drama, it has excellent acting and a good setup, with the storyline developing at a good pace. The story manages to skip around the medical mumbo jumbo that could have killed it, so thank goodness for that. It just wasn't a captivating story for me. But the acting was great, so I'll give the film a 7.5/10.
wyoon
This is a film that needs watching more than once to get all the subtle symbolisms and meanings. Heck, I've BOUGHT this film, and keep noticing something new each time I view it. As an English teacher, I suggest that those who don't get it, try again. Maybe it's just over your head?As far as the acting goes, I was initially disappointed at the lack of clear emotions being expressed. But as time goes on, I've decided I appreciate the low-key displays of emotion - certainly closer to real life than the usual soap-opera acting present in such an emotionally-charged movie, As for the plausibility of the story line, anyone who has a relative or friend being treated for cancer knows the importance of mind-over-body techniques; and certainly patients who tire easily will sometimes feel the need to use a wheelchair, and sometimes not - that is not the big issue here. The screenplay does a fairly accurate job of showing life in a long-term care facility, while restricting itself to a relatively small number of characters. What you want to consider is... what would your decision be, considering all the consequences?Did anyone else watch all the way to the end of the credits and notice that at the end of the "Special Thanks to..." list they included a priest, and Elijah Wood's mother and sister? I HAVE seen all his previous movies, and this is the only time they have been listed. I'd love to know the true story behind that. Verrry interesting, hmm?
