Synopsis: A pessimist unexpectedly finds love with his roommate’s sister.
Release Date: January 8, 2010 MPAA Rating: PG-13
Genre(s): Drama, Romance
Film Review
Production
As the film revolves around the main character’s life situations it is wholly apparent you are to see pessimism as not an incredibly negative way of life nor a healthy means of existence. Ben is a broken man who does not know how to balance the multitude of questions and doubts he has with the World with the things he should be overtly proud to have surround him. When he meets a woman from Senegal his tendencies to be a shut-in recluse slowly melt away but the romantic angle of the story never reaches a peak of true believability. We know she helps to bring about his change but there is not enough given to actually make us give her any credit. It is really just Ben making his way through the trials set before him that actually draws him out of his dark place. As much as watching this character piece of a film is just that, watchable, it lacks any real high or low points of dramatic sentiment. It merely moves along begging you to follow it through, only to never deliver on a level where you feel something great has occurred.
Writing
The writing throughout is very succinct. The overwhelming feeling of not needing to say things is heavily apparent. The character Ben is overwhelmingly pessimistic but the way the screenplay is written this negativity comes across as more of a hopeless dreamer mentality. A person who needs answers. Who wants to know more of how and why the world and the people in it are the way they are and do the things they do everyday. Ben does not feel the need to sugar coat things. His bluntness and outward honesty is refreshing if not hard to handle at times. As Ben moves along his journey of learning to re-connect with his daughter, love a woman who sees the World through a different perspective and find his true self his pessimism never dissipates. It simply becomes a smaller part of his existence. He learns to see moments for both there beauty and ugliness. It is a slow moving endeavor on his part and for that of the viewer but it is altogether genuine.
Cast and Crew
- Director(s): Joshua Goldin
- Producer(s): Josh GoldinMatthew Broderick (Ben Singer)
- Screenwriter(s): Sanaa Lathan (Khadi)
- Story:
- Cast: Jeff CanavanDaniel ShulmanKristin Bicksler
- Editor(s): Liz Staub
- Cinematographer: Craig Richey
- Production Designer(s):
- Costume Designer:
- Casting Director(s):
- Music Score:
- Music Performed By:
- Country Of Origin: USA