Genres

Visitors Review

John DeSando 2012-05-17 10:26:04

A quality addition . . .

"You can take the girl outta Queens, am I right?" Mickey Bartlett (AlecBaldwin as Mickey Bartlett) Dysfunctional families as a theme reached its apotheosis ten years agoin Sam Mendes' American Beauty, a rich blend of realism and fancyinvolving real estate, coming of age, and infidelity. Just about thesame territory is covered in Derick Martini's Lymelife, only this timethe metaphors seem forced, the characters less developed, and thedenouement less ambiguous. Lymelife, however, is a quality addition to the deconstruction of theAmerican dream. It's 1979 America, and Mickey Bartlett (Alec Baldwin)has a burgeoning business developing upscale homes on Long Island. Hisfamily life is in decline as witnessed by 15 year old central characterJimmy Bartlett (Kieran Culkin), the only one whose prospects with babenext door, Adrianna Bragg (Emma Roberts), get better with each of hisendearing humiliations. Mickey is a philanderer (he is played byBaldwin, after all), a spendthrift, and family neglecter, all of whichmust be addressed by the film's ambitious albeit incomplete plot.The story moves gently but inexorably to a strong conclusion, wherethings seem to settle into their appointed fates, more an affirmationthat American life between here and American Beauty hasn't changed muchwith its defeats and victories abundant. While Lymelife (a reference tothe disease present in Long Island and a cumbersome metaphor) gains nonew insights about our materialism and sexual exploration, it doespresent a true look at a time when this American life might have beenmore complicated than it is now.

drunkenhopfrog 2012-05-16 19:29:36

A Gem With Brilliant Performances

A Martini Bros. Production/ Directed by Derick Martini/ Starring AlecBaldwin, Kieran Culkin, Rory CulkinDo yourself a favor. Do not overlook this movie. "Lymelife" was onlyreleased limited and its DVD run will begin September 22. It is abitter, sweet, dark, poignant, and often funny drama that builds one ofthe best multiple characters studies since some of Altman's betterwork. At 95 minutes, the film feels short but that it ended right ontime. Something that we're not really used to in this genre.Ostensibly the film is the "coming of age" story of Jimmy Bartlettplayed note perfect by Kerian Culkin. It takes place at a time wherethe tick and Lyme Disease scare dominated the lives on many in the late1970s. The undertones are familiar: Awkward boy has crush onlong-time-friend-yet-unattainable girl and also deals with familycrisis. But in this case the family crisis plays so much in to the typeof person Jimmy is and his actions for one scene to the next. Therealism of this built character has a broad depth often missing fromcinema.The film is packed with great acting performances. Alec Baldwin playsMickey Bartlett – a real estate developer preparing to strike it bigwhile the greater money brings greater problems at home. Baldwin is inhis groove as a much slimier version of Jack from the great televisionshow "30 Rock." Rather then being the purveyor of the dramatic moments,his character acts much as the fulcrum that allows other characterstheir leverage. Jimmy's older brother is played with amazing spark byhis real life older brother Rory Culkin. The brothers on screen dynamicis, as can be expected, genuine and both brothers pull offquestionable, touching, and sympathetic moments for their characterswith a sense of timing and the dramatic. Jill Hennessey as BrendaBartlett rocks out the wife-on-a-precipice character and, while weavingin and out of the main story, her character growth to its eventualmaturity is glorious. Emma Roberts as Adrianna Bragg is fun and cute asthe blossoming youth of Jimmy's desire. She really does a very good jobin the role, but "Lymelife" is filled with such outstandingperformances that hers gets overshadowed. At very least her characterwas natural and seamless to the story.Finally the wild card character is Charlie Bragg (Adianna's father)portrayed amazingly by Timothy Hutton. The name of the film, "Lymelife"comes from the concern involving Lyme Disease, its spread throughticks, and its mental and physiological effects on the infected. Braggis the only confirmed case of Lyme Disease in the town and his briefmoments on film in the movie are like poignant lances laced with darkhumor. Hutton's small role is a gem."Lymelife" is what independent filming is all about. The hook, aswritten, would not be an easy sale to a big time studio. However theprinciples involved believed in the project and made the film on asmall level. It's reported that the Culkin brothers and Baldwin wereattached to this film for several years and the payoff – for them thestars and us the viewers – was well worth it.from www.PopBunker.net

sara-monk 2012-05-13 21:57:14

Fantastic little gem

Caught this on the BBC Friday night and got stuck immediately. Couldn'tstop watching it. Great performance from Alec Baldwin and Mckulin (HomeAlone's Brother)about turning of age angst and homegrown problems withparents. Soundtrack is great and I was the protagonist's age in the70's...even bothered to watch the credits with Scorcese as producer. Aquiet, sweet movie with loads of metaphors, especially the visualcross- carrying Baldwin does at the end with the flick of a white tie(like the flick of a deer's tail) at the end. Beautiful. Since I need to write more: I loved the miniature models to showsuburbanite living in Long Island and how the film was edited in minutesequences which could have been freeze-framed and each interesting intheir own right. Again a beautiful movie.

yogi-14 2012-05-13 01:11:26

95 minutes well spent

I can't wait for my next three-Martini film! If Lymelife can be done inless than a month, let's have at least two more before year's end––thelast positioned for awards season. Yes, I worry this remarkable filmwill be unheralded and forgotten in eight months. I can visualize everymember of this excellent cast reading the script and beginning todrool. All this tight, little character-driven story needed was a castthat knew whereof it spoke and a director who could give that cast'sinstincts and improvisational abilities free rein. Obviously, theMartini brothers with a cathartic, autobiographical exercise infamilial dysfunction said, "Hey, the Culkins will know where we'recoming from!" And do they ever! The scenes between the brothers areheartbreaking in their awareness of fraternal love and filialdisillusionment.The sexual initiation scenes are tender, funny and soooo real. Thefloundering, faulty adults, right on the nose! This is Timothy Hutton'sbest work since Ordinary People.The 1979 setting is subtly established by the scrupulously selectedmusic and the vehicles of the time. The only effort to tie in currentevents in this post-Viet Nam war-weary era is an almost subliminalreference to the takeover of the American embassy in Tehran. And thisis all so right, because the characters and relationships, which iswhat we're here for, are timeless.The symbolism––right up to the real estate baron bearing the cross of aFor Sale sign––hits just the right note. if you have a chance to seethis film, go.

2012-05-10 08:33:55

Enjoyable with a surprise ending!

I always like watching Alec Baldwin and Timothy Hutton acting in just about any film and they certainly add their credibility to "Lymelife". No spoilers, but the ending caught me by surprise! An enjoyable film.

charlytully 2012-05-09 13:47:42

Not as sexy as JUNO; not as violent as SNOW ANGELS

The main problem with LYMELIFE is that this story was in the heads ofthe Martini brothers for so many years during development that when itcame time to finally shoot the thing, they apparently forgot what theyhad only visualized umpteen times in their brains, and what they hadactually FILMED. How else can they explain a movie that looks like itwas produced with the Hays censorship code of 1934 in mind; a moviethat alludes to illicit sex, infidelity, brooding anger, impendingviolence, etc., but seems to always pull back at the last instant likea thoughtless tease, culminating with a rifle shot over a fade to black(who was hit?--the doe, the cuckolding-neighbor, the daughter-popper,or, most likely, a tree?). Jason Reitman covered some of the sameground in his 2007 film JUNO, and the teen sex initiations werebelievable. David Gordon Green dealt with impending violence in his2007 movie SNOW ANGELS without pulling any punches (as did VadimPerelman in the 2007 story THE LIFE BEFORE HER EYES, and countlessother directors in the modern era of flicks in a high school setting).Furthermore, Kieran Culkin's character Jimmy Bartlett clearly issupposed to be an American, so how is it that he finishes boot camp in1979 at the beginning of the Iranian Hostage Crisis with theexpectation that he's going to be "called up" any minute andtransported through a wormhole to run the radar on a British aircraftcarrier in the 1982 Falkland War (which has somehow been transmogrifiedfrom Britain vs. Argentina to America vs. Spain in a parallel universeof continental drift, though LYMELIFE is otherwise devoid of thescience fiction elements of Richard Kelly's 2001 classic DONNIEDARKO)??!!

jaredmobarak 2012-05-08 17:58:43

She can bring you an icepack or some Yoo-hoo or something … Lymelife

There is nothing like a critically acclaimed indie to bring you back toreality after the opening weeks of summer and the influx ofblockbusters like Star Trek, Terminator, and Transformers 2. DerickMartini's Lymelife is just that kind of film. A story about twofamilies and their comings and goings through each others' lives, wewatch as Rory Culkin's Scott sees the world around him, seeminglyidyllic, fall apart. He sees his father as a hero, getting richer andricher everyday with his housing developments; his mother slowlydevolving into lunacy as she misses Queens despite the "wonderful" lifethey live; his brother as a war hero fighting for the country's safety;and his neighbor Adrianna as the girl of his dreams. But none of it isreal. Just like the fantasies he plays in front of hismirror—pretending to be Han Solo—the American Dream hasn't left theBartlett family happy. On the cusp of manhood, his confirmation soonapproaching, his eyes are opened to the truth. Life is hard, messy, andopen-ended—much like this film—and it must be experienced for oneself,even the bad, in order to cherish what truly matters.Scott is somewhat of a loner, hanging out with the girl he likes, butwho tells him he's like a brother to her; getting bullied and callednames; and babied by his mother who duct tapes every opening of hisclothes so as not to contract Lyme disease from a tick. And that worryisn't unwarranted as Adrianna's father actually has it. Her family haschanged ever since as Charlie Bragg needs medication just to function,and even then he goes from euphoria to unending pain as his body dealswith it. He is no longer the man Melissa Bragg married and thereforeshe starts to stray into the arms of Scott's stress-heavy father, injust one cross of the families that comes into the open, changing alltheir lives. That affair coming to light, (even though many of theparties already knew), is what alters Scott forever. It shows the liesall around him, the weakness each person exhibits, and the fact thatmaybe we all don't live happily ever after, no matter if we have thebig house, the white picket fence, or the chance to be a millionaire atyear's end.Lymelife is full of nuance and heart; even at its toughest moments, theemotions wrought are real. No matter where each goes to satisfy theirheart, the feelings they have for others are unchanging. Just becauseAdrianna goes after an older boy doesn't mean she likes him, she mayjust be trying to make Scott jealous; just because Mickey Bartlettstarts to sleep with Melissa doesn't mean he has stopped loving hiswife, nor that he wants to abandon his children, even if he may havealready pushed one too far away to get back; and just because JimmyBartlett is in the army, smoking cigarettes and unafraid to beat up hisbrother's bullies doesn't mean he is oblivious to what is going on inhis house. Everyone is running away, but just like the quote about thetrain being heard from anywhere you may be on Long Island, no matterhow far you run, the problems that drove you away will still be there.I have never seen Jill Hennessy perform before and I have to say I wasimpressed. Here is the epitome of suburban housewife trapped in asituation she doesn't want. Knowing her husband has been sleepingaround, and the kind of person who can't accept the money andcomfortable life as compensation, she acts out to get attention fromanyone who may be looking. By trying to get her son to see her as funshe in fact makes him believe she is going crazy. As for that son,Scott, Rory Culkin is fantastic. It's so good to see these youngerCulkin boys getting their starts in low-key indie-fare rather than thebig budget schlock their brother Macaulay had, the same kind thatspiraled his career into oblivion. He is the star here and he handlesthe responsibility deftly, playing off of some very accomplishedactors. His sibling, in the film and real life, is Kieran Culkin'sJimmy. It is a role that seems simple enough, as does most of the film,until the layers get uncovered and you discover what really makes himtick; how his relationship with his parents affected his decisions inlife and decisions in the present.My favorite role, however, came from Timothy Hutton. His Lyme diseaseinflicted Charlie Bragg is a startling performance. His confusion andticks, (no pun intended), craft a unique being that is trying to livehis life as it was, despite the fact he can't. Between hallucinationsand the medication, he cannot find work and his love of hunting isn'tsafe anymore. He is losing his family from around him and soon seesthat young Scott is the only friend he has. This arc is one of the mostintriguing in the film and his character's conclusion one of the mostimpactful, culling together all his strength. The ending in general isone that definitely hits home by showing each character and where theyhave rested after all the lies are brought into the open. It is aperfect finale for a very worthwhile film, showing the audience thatnot everything is black and white; some people make mistakes and we areall flawed. It is what you do with that knowledge that defines who youare and what you are willing to achieve in life and the future.

David Traversa 2012-05-08 10:54:27

Another awful movie.

I frankly don't get it. What kind of taste, intelligence, knowledge oflife, has the people that tell us it's a masterpiece?? I stopped seeingit about after 10 minutes run. I couldn't stand the look of those two(brothers?), the stupid script, the aging Baldwin... I'm quitedisoriented by all these fabulous eulogies. Do they love anything thatcomes out of Hollywood automatically?? It doesn't matter that we see all the incongruence about mentioningthings that didn't appeared until ten years or more later?? Are peoplethat ignorant about the recent past?? They don't care if the historicalperiod is reported inaccurately?? Every situation is so trivial, wehave seen them a trillion times before. What was funny about thedialog?? Uff..., I have so many question that I better stop herebecause I don't give two hoots about this movie.

Vincent Cadena 2012-05-06 01:11:58

Excellent debut film and the first great film of this year.

Going into this film I knew a little about it, so give you a good ideaon what it's about, though I'll just say this is a coming of age filmset in the late 70's in Long Island. Kieran Culkin stars in thisimpressive debut film from filmmakers Derek and Steve Martini, he playsJimmy Bartlett a normal high schooler that fantasizes about the girlnext door, gets beat up and has to deal with his parents and all theirdrama. I really liked this movie I found it to be heartwarming andfunny at times but when I say heartwarming I don't mean in a corny way,you really grow to care about these people. The film has really nicedirection, that isn't too flashy, think The Ice Storm meets Scorsese.The music is really good and they use an number of great songs from theperiod, from Boston to Bob Dylan to Elton John and even some oldScorsese-esquire Motown. The reason to see this film isn't for thedirection or cinematography both are nice though. The reason to seethis film is for the excellent script and perfect acting. Alec Baldwinand Timothy Hutton are great but the real standout performances comefrom Jill Hennessey who I want to see more of after this, KieranCulkin, Rory Culkin channeling a young Deniro and Emma Roberts. EmmaRoberts is known for doing family movies and TV shows but after this Ifeel like she's destined to be one best American actresses of hergeneration if she can just do more movies like this, shes really lovelyan charming and I need to see her in more movies like this. This isn'tthe best film of the year and it might not even make my top ten but Ireally enjoyed this film, being a huge fan of Scorsese I loved all thelittle homages to him and being a big fan of The Ice Storm a far moreserious film, this film really worked for me and I can definitely seemyself buying this on DVD and showing it to friends. I really hope thismovie does well enough so that it gets a wider release because I thinkif people just gave this film a chance they would love it too, don'ttake my word for it go out and see it. Also I felt an affinity to themain character, a lot of what he went through I went through too atthat point in my life. Lymelife isn't your typical coming of age indiedramedy,if you liked The Ice Storm or Scorsese I think you'll likethis. Highly recommended.

ChristianDiorScientist 2012-05-05 16:51:18

Somebody has to stand up for those of us that thought this movie was crap...

And I guess it will be me... This is a plodding film of dysfunctionalcharacters that bored me with their dull, pathetic lives. Every part ofthis film is at fault here, from the endless anachronisms for 1979(houses with vinyl siding not available until the 1990s, references tothe Falkland war in 1982, Princess Diana style puffed sleeved partydresses from 1981...) to the Alec Baldwin Long Islander bad dadcharacter he has pulled out of his hat on several B movie occasions.This film does not have the depth or pathos of American Beauty nor theintelligence or humour of Juno - two films it is commonly held up to. Ihave no idea why there seems to be a small but enthusiastic followingfor this film as I only felt relief when it was finally over. I gave it2, only because there weren't more Caulkins in it.

sashabirnbaum 2012-05-04 05:06:50

5 Stars!

Had the pleasure of seeing this at Toronto and Sundance. I'm a festivalrat and do not usually comment on movies. But this film struck me indifferent ways on both viewings. The first time I was consumed in allof the performances, which are spectacular. The second time I waswrapped up in all of the symbolism. The reflection shots, the littlefake houses, the spiritual references, the overall tone of the moviethat was set by the director and his brother. Is this a perfect movie?It's as perfect a movie as you will find on the premiere festivalcircuit. And when I found out it was filmed on a tiny budget, I waseven more impressed. It turns out to be a funny and moving story thatmakes you laugh a lot. The director is funny, the actors are all funnyand the music is amazing. Every scene that had a song in it wascompletely amazing. Martin Scorsese is the producer of the film and thedirector is clearly a big fan. There's violence, emotion and a lot ofhumor. It's not about the mafia but it has a Sopranos feel to it. Ican't put my finger on it, but it's there. To sum it up, it has somevery heavy scenes but those scenes are peppered with hilarious moments.So it's never too dark or too heavy. It plays like a film from the1960's or 70's. Heck of a job. I want to see more from this filmmaker.

niamh-94 2012-05-03 19:55:58

Something Special

I can honestly say, that this is a fantastic film, with some excellentperformances by the main cast, in particular the Culkins,Baldwin,Hutton and Nixon. The story is a simple but beautifully writtentale of love, divorce, war and hope in America at time of political andeconomic change. Admittedly, this was never going to be a box officehit, or the top of the list for nominations, but it is an honest, heartfelt film and I think it is very under-rated, probably because isn'tvery well known. I saw it late one night I couldn't sleep and I wasglad, for the first time in my life, that I hadn't been able to driftoff, otherwise, I would have missed this gem.If you ever get theopportunity to watch the film do so. You won't regret it.

lizzlebet 2012-04-28 11:39:42

a film about life on Long Island in the 70's but really about much more

This is an extremely high caliber movie whose only flaw is improperlydated and unhistorical references to the Falkland War. The performancesare superb by each and every cast member and by the ensemble as awhole. It is astonishing that such a film could be made in less than amonth and for $ 1 1/2 million dollars. That being said, the quickproduction time and low budget should not keep anyone from seeing thisvery important film. It is not just about the 70's but about basichuman relationships and characters and truths. The director and castshould all be proud of this fine accomplishment. I urge everyone wholoves movies to see this one.

tieman64 2012-04-27 18:01:16

Blue Velvet

"The one thing that the public dislikes, is afraid of, is novelty. Anyattempt to extend the subject-matter of art is extremely distasteful tothe public; and yet the vitality and progress of art depend in a largemeasure on the continual extension of subject-matter." - Oscar Wilde"Lymelife" tells the tale of a teenager's "coming of age" in upscalesuburbia. His name is Scott Bartlett (Rory Culkin), and he findshimself having to cope with a brother being sent off to war, beingbullied at school, a crush on a local girl (Emma Roberts), the vacuityof his Long Island landscape, his neighbour's Lyme disease, the rot atthe heart of the American Dream, adulterous adults, his own growingdisaffection, and his materialistic parents, who are going through abitter separation. In other words, the film traces Scott's journey intoadulthood and disillusionment.Independent cinema has long been as formulaic as mainstream Hollywood,but for most of its running time "Lymelife" is nevertheless an engagingfilm, thanks largely to some fine acting by Alec Baldwin and JillHennessy. Gradually, however, "Lymelife" becomes like every"disaffected white suburbanites" movie ("American Beauty", "The IceStorm", "The Sweet Hereafter", "Life as a House", "Snow Angels","Little Children", "Revolutionary Road", "Imaginary Heroes", "House ofSand and Fog", "The Squid and the Whale" etc), complete with atraumatic last act murder, an indie cliché that has been done to death,virtually every other independent film dwelling on dejected middleclass whites before climaxing with a corpse. It's not enough to make afilm about the suburbs, you've got to murder someone in them to hookaudience. These are tragedies, you see.7.9/10 – Worth watching for Baldwin and Hennessy.

James Hitchcock 2012-04-22 07:00:24

For connoisseurs of suburban misery

I can only presume that the title "Lymelife" is a contrived pun on theword "limelight" and on the fact that an outbreak of Lyme disease playsa part in the plot. The film is a "coming-of-age" drama set on the LongIsland of 1979. (It is sometimes described as a "comedy", althoughthere was little about it which struck me as comic). The main characteris fifteen-year-old Scott Bartlett, and the film charts the tangled webof relationships between the Bartletts and their neighbours the Braggs.Essentially, Scott's mother Brenda is having an affair withnext-door-neighbour Charlie Bragg, while his father Mickey is having anaffair with Charlie's wife Melissa. Meanwhile, Scott is dating theBraggs' daughter Adrianna. There should really be something inLeviticus to cover this situation. ("Thou shalt not uncover thenakedness of the woman whose father has uncovered thy mother'snakedness and whose mother has uncovered thy father's nakedness……").Youth can be a time of joy, excitement and enthusiasm, but thefilm-makers, the brothers Derick and Steven Martini, like many makersof similar dramas, seem less interested in these aspects of life thanin hormonally-driven teenage angst. The film is said to beautobiographical, but as the Martinis would only have been four and oneyears old in 1979 they presumably projected their own teenageexperiences backward in time from the early nineties to the lateseventies. Part of the problem lies with Rory Culkin, younger brotherof Macaulay, as Scott, who seems to be perpetually shrouded in gloomand misery. (Another Culkin brother, Kieran, also appears as Scott'solder brother Jimmy). It doesn't help that Culkin was actually twentywhen the film was made, five years older than the character heportrays. The best of the adults is probably Alec Baldwin as Mickey,but even he cannot arouse much interest.Independently produced "coming-of-age" dramas are not all bad- indeed,there have been some excellent examples. For every "Ordinary People" or"Gregory's Girl", however, there are several dreary sagas, and it isinto this latter category that "Lymelife" falls. (Timothy Hutton, thestar of "Ordinary People", appears here as Charlie). The film seems tohave been made primarily for connoisseurs of suburban misery. 4/10

2012-04-21 18:39:27

BRILLIANT

From the awkward opening scenes before the title comes up, all the way through the insanely intense ending, I was completely caught off guard. The story is simple. Teen boy lusts after neighboring teen girl, meanwhile the boy's parents are becoming more and more estranged. His big brother comes home from service in the military and puts a whipping on the town bully. Relationships intensify in both ways. Some coming closer together while others fall apart. That's really kind of it, in a nutshell. The importance of this feature film lies in how the subject matter of family and relationships change. It's quite funny at times and also dramatic at others. None of it feels forced. It all feels like a heightened version of real life. The acting, from Baldwin to Emma Roberts, to both Rory and Kieran Culkin is nothing short of spectacular. I've seen versions of this story before but the way this particular story is told made me feel like I was seeing this sort of story for the very first time. If you want to laugh, cry and feel really uncomfortable at times, this movie is for you.

cjhagen44 2012-04-20 19:20:20

You didn't bother to ask.

Lymelife is the story of a family in Long Island's suburbia during the1970's. This movie shows us how half truths and the exclusion of detailare in fact lies and even though we don't mean them to hurt they stilldo. The father (Alec Baldwin) is so enraptured by the suburbialifestyle that he's completely forgotten that it's not money that makesyou happy, but family. The mother who only wants the best for herchildren doesn't want to raise them in this judgmental place where shecan't be herself. The brother, Jimmy, (Kieran Culkin) has a typicalrelationship with his father where he wants to be the exact opposite ofhim and does so by joining the army and running away. Rory Culkin doesan exquisite job starring as Scott, the main character, who is the onlyone who is trying to put things into perspective for everyone elsewhilst going through puberty and fighting his insatiable love for thegirl next door who sees him as a little brother. Although all of theirproblems seem trivial compared to their neighbor who has lyme diseasethat is like a constant acid trip and is ruining his life. All in all Iwould highly recommend seeing this movie because as depressing as I'vemade it sound it is in fact quite lifting and a great piece of cinema.

debitstay 2012-04-20 09:17:04

Divorce! Martini Style!!

My favorite part of this movie was a scene where Alec Baldwin and hiswife who is played by Jill Hennesy finally tear each other to shredswith their fifteen year old son, hiding in his little bathroom, hearingthe whole thing. Remarkably it is so realistic that I found myselfchoked up but also laughing. I've heard the same kind of parental blowouts in my childhood and they are so painful but Martini, a freakingnovice writer director, magically weaves agony and humor into thispainfully honest sequence. And there are other sequences as well thatwalk the same tight rope: a sex scene where two of the characters losetheir virginity, a scene where Timothy Hutton seeks revenge on AlecBaldwin in a bar, a scene where Emma Roberts confronts Rory Culkinabout a certain lie he's told about her, another scene where TimothyHutton shows his wife who is played by Cynthia Nixon exactly how hefeels about her - with no words mind you. I am a huge fan of PTAnderson and, if we're lucky, we'll see more commercial films fromAnderson and Martini. There's a similar style here that's difficult toput into words. Characters, situations, camera style, the bravest kindof acting you have seen since Martin Scorsese. Oh, wait, MartinScorsese produced this film and it is no shock. If anyone knows talentit is Scorsese. After Lymelife, the torch is officially passed toAnderson and Martini. Please, give us more.

jotix100 2012-04-14 04:12:25

The tick

Life in suburbia carries some risks. Not everything turns out to be asexpected, in spite of the ideal setting of the new area. Take theBartletts, of Long Island, for example. They have gone from Queens intoan undisclosed location of the "island", as it is known by itsinhabitants. We meet Mickey and Brenda, as well as Scott, theirteenager son. They have another son, Jim, who has joined the armedforces and has undergone basic training. It is the last year of the1970s decade. By all indications, the family should be enjoying theirgood fortune, but in reality they seem to be falling apart. The storyis seen through Scott's eyes.Mickey Bartlett, the father, is developing an area for new upscalehomes. His assistant happens to be Melissa Bragg, his next doorneighbor. Melissa's husband Charlie, has been suffering from Lymedisease, a debilitating condition that has made him unable to work. TheBraggs have a daughter, Adrianna, who is friendly with Scott, evenattending the same high school as him. Unknown to everyone is theaffair Mickey has been having with Melissa, something that Charlie haskept to himself and Adrianna and Scott learn, the hard way.When Jim, the eldest son, turns up for a Thanksgiving celebration,things take an unexpected turn. Scott, who is bullied at the school,reveals the confrontation with his tormentor. Jim goes to defend hisbrother, beating the other boy. Brenda ruins the turkey by burning itand the family ends up eating TV dinners. When Brenda goes to Charlie'shouse overhears the passionate encounter between her husband andMelissa, something that serves her to ask Mickey to get out of herlife.Adrianna, a popular girl in school, likes one of the jocks. Scott,secretly in love with her, can only look. As the break between theBartletts become real, Adrianna gets closer to Scott, in spite of histelling another boy he has been intimate with the girl. Adriannareveals she is a virgin, but she is willing to try to remedy thatcondition with Scott. Charlie, who has been seen throughout the storywalking the woods in search of the deer that have created the conditionhe finds himself in, decides to go after one deer by taking his rifle.Unfortunately, his action will have tragic consequences.A terrific film by Derick Martini, who together with his brother Stevenwrote the screenplay. There are aspects of the story that keptreminding this viewer of Ang Lee's "The Ice Storm", although there aretwo different situations completely. The beauty of the story is thatone can understand how each family got to the situation we are asked towitness. There must be a lot of happy families in suburbia, but formovie purposes, that happiness is only a myth, or so it appears to bethe case. Of course, fulfilled families do not make good movies.Rory Culkin makes an outstanding appearance as Scott, the sad teenagerwho sees the disintegration of his home life. There are never wrongmoments for this actor through the film. Alec Baldwin is also amazingwith his crude Mickey Bartlett, a self made man on the brink ofbecoming a millionaire with his real estate project. Timothy Hutton'scomplex take on Charlie is equally fine. The other principals, EmmaRoberts, Jill Hennessy, Cynthia Nixon and Kieran Culkin give goodperformances.Frank Godwin's cinematography gets us a feeling of being in a placethat on all appearances seem great, but it is somewhat hard tounderstand. Steve Martini is credited as the composer of the originalmusic heard in the film. It is ironic a film about Long Island wasactually shot in New Jersey!

madbandit20002000 2012-04-13 15:48:16

Sweet, Quirky Coming of Age Indie

I'm a sucker for coming-of-age films because they chronicle childrengoing through the awkward stages before becoming adults, responsible orotherwise, perfect or otherwise. An entry at the 2009 Sundance FilmFestival, "Lymelife" is one of those films, being somber, sweet andquirky. It's no surprise Martin Scorsese executive-produced it, sinceit slightly echoes his dramedy, "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore." The title refers to Lyme disease, which is the cause of rampantparanoia in a central Long Island town, where 15-year old ScottBartlett (Rory Culkin, "Signs", "Mean Creek" and kid sib of thespiansMac and Kiernan) lives, during the late 1970s. Though he's about toendure Confirmation at his local church, Scott's reluctant throughpuberty, being a tough guy in his mirror and having a love for "StarWars" (love the action figures in his bedroom).Reality sucks, though. His dad Mickey (Emmy winner Alec Baldwin of "30Rock") is a cad of a real estate broker who's banging his secretary,Melissa Bragg (Cynthia Nixon of the "Sex and the City" TV series andfilms); his mom Brenda (Jill Hennessey, "Law & Order", "CrossingJordan") is a nervous wreck, worried about said disease and homesickfor Queens; his brother (Kiernan Culkin) is an Army communicationofficer who might get killed in the Falkland conflict; his longtimefriend/crush/Melissa's kid Adrianna (Emma Roberts, "Nancy Drew","Valentine's Day", Julia's niece and Eric's kid) flirts with other boysand Adrianna's dad/Melissa's spouse Charlie (Oscar winner TimothyHutton of "Ordinary People" and "Leverage") has gone nuts overdeer-hunting since he suffers from said disease. Who said growing upwas easy? Based on his childhood experiences, director Derick Martini is simpleyet big with his story (which has a few historical flaws) which heco-wrote with his brother producer Steven. It's pretty much a familyaffair, on and off the screen (Alec and bro Billy produced the film).Though filmed in New Jersey, since the real Long Island locale's morepopulated, "Lymelife" perfectly gives off the sense of post-World WarII suburbia. The director Martini, with d.p. Frank Godwin, has a comicbook viewpoint, looking at detailed scenes like photographs. The actors are pitch perfect, especially the youngest Culkin, who has alook of a morose, thoughtful old soul, and Ms. Roberts, who complimentshim with her sexual boldness (the two have gawky but adorable sex)while making a name for herself, despite having famous relatives. Shereminds me of a girl who liked me and I…no I won't cry, damnit! I wishthere was a little more of Todd O' Leary (Adam Scarimbolo), a highschool thug who harasses Scott, but him enduring consequential beatingsare satisfactory."Lymelife", like a lot of coming-of-age films, expertly proves thatgrowing up isn't easy, but it can funny.