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Visitors Review

winmead 007 2012-05-20 11:47:52

excellent acting

not sure if nick nolte was acting or simply playing himself. either way the performance is excellent. he creates a compelling character whose flaws could be considered attributes in others. i wish they had explored more the role played by timothy hutton, who also gives an excellent eprfomrance as father broken after his wife leaves him. i am surprised this movie didn't get better support from the studio.

jfantastik 2012-05-19 18:44:25

Nolte fantastic! Promising future for Morgan

I recently rented Off the Black and was pleasantly surprised how goodit was considering it had not gotten much recognition in media coverageor advertisements. I find it to be another quality independent filmthat unfortunately seemed to slip under the radar or fall throughcracks. Not only is it a finely directed tale from first time directorJames Ponsoldt, but the acting performances by Nolte, Morgan, andHutton are stellar. One might expect such performances by the veteransNolte and Hutton, but the way Morgan held his own scene for scene withthese icons shows his versatility and promise as a coming of age actorsoon to be recognized by all as a talented force. I thought he lookedfamiliar so after investigating I realized he was in Mean Creek andalso had a fairly long list of credits, including starring oppositeVanessa Redgrave in Rumor of Angels (another great film and anotherfine performance for Morgan). I am looking forward to seeingPondsoldt's next film and the what the future holds for Morgan!

bison3113 2012-05-16 19:11:10

My Take on the Film

Here's my disclaimer: I am related to someone involved in the film, soI'm not completely unbiased. Having said that, I saw the preview atSundance and I thought it was a great movie. The beginning reallyconveys a sense of how painfully disconnected and lacking directionDave Tibble (Trevor Morgan) is. As the film progresses Ray Cook (NickNolte), in contrast to Dave's father (Timothy Hutton), shows Dave thatwhether or not you are completely successful the only way to reallylive life is to engage with its issues, without self-pity. The cast wasall excellent, especially Nick Nolte; he was awesome in in this role.The conclusion of the film is bittersweet yet hopeful.

2012-05-16 14:40:42

Vintage Nolte, Warm Story

This altogether engaging slice-of-life story features NN as a hermit, small town, baseball umpire who lives with his bulldog and Bud Lites. As the story unfolds, a young man enters his world and an unusual and engaging friendship ensues. A high school class reunion provides a dramatic insight into his character and this wonderful look into the lives of two people ends with a sense of real humanity. Nolte has once again shown why he retains his place as a national treasure. And Trevor Morgan as the youngster is quite good as well. Add this one to your Netflix list!

2012-05-16 14:03:51

It's a Triple

Not quite a home-run but a very good indie debut by first time director James Ponsoldt. There are no 'bells and whistles' to be found, just a well told story and some very fine performances. Nolte, in particular, totally embodies his characters ailments and addictions. The viewer can almost hear his bones creak with each movement. His voice is like a rake over gravel with the volume turned down. A very brave and fine performance.Also worthy of mention are a very natural performance by Trevor Morgan, an understated Timothy Hutton and a surprise (to me) appearance by Sally Kirkland. A very nice movie for fans of indie films or character studies.

2012-05-15 21:59:19

3.5 stars. The film's mood is memorable.

This under-stated film reminds me of such indie-offerings as 'Swimming' and 'June Bug' in the sense that it moves rather slowly, features a minimalistic plotline, and prioritizes mood over action. While critics might contend that such works come across as sketches rather than full-fledged films, I personally like them, especially when they are as sensitive as this one. The movie's best attribute is its take on clinical depression. The loss of connection and sense of disengagement that exists in a household when a family member suffers from such a condition is difficult to illustrate, but this film's treatment was on the mark. I was rather touched by the hopefulness of the two siblings even in the face of the relentless sadness that pervaded their home, and Hutton's performance was surprisingly on target as the emotionally-crippled father. This film might be difficult for some viewers to appreciate, but for anyone who's dealt with similar situations, it's one of those works that gives you comfort in realizing that someone else really does understand how it feels. The young actor who played the lead role gave a particularly memorable performance. All in all, it's a quiet piece, but a well-done one.

stansmith-1 2012-05-12 10:56:02

Great story

Great story, very well written by James Ponsoldt. Whoever assembled thecast did a great job.It must have cost plenty as there are some well known names here.The interaction between everyone seems to flow perfectly. I can relateto some of the scenes in the movie from my earlier daysat High School ( the toilette paper in the trees etc.) Nick Nolteshould get recognition internationally from "Off the Black" as shouldPonsoldt.Off the Black will do well at the box office if promoted. It hassomething of interest for everyone and is a GREAT story. I hope it doesnot get lost due to its lack of murder, overt sex, blood and gore. Whatthis movie promises AND delivers is something teenagers and adults ofall ages can relate to. Go see "Off the Black" and "Apocalypto" on thesame weekend and I am certain you will feel better after the PonsoldtMovie.

johnnyboyz 2012-05-12 01:36:43

No, it's got nothing to do with the sport of Snooker; but maker of the piece Ponsoldt has fun shifting his characters around as if they were marble balls on an open table.

2006 film Off the Black pre-dates Clint Eastwood's Gran Torino by aboutthree or so years. The tale of a lonely, elderly man living in anAmerican neighbourhood whom forms a bond with young-'un that recentlywronged him, or attempted to, works, with hindsight, close to all butjust as well here. The film is dominated by a wonderful performancefrom Nick Nolte, a character we observe suffering from isolation in asparsely populated neighbourhood complimenting his sparsely populatedlife. His character's mental health and mental well-being is placedright on the spot from the off, one instance seeing him talk directlyinto a tripod mounted video camera as he reminisces about the day justgone by, a sort of video diary that enables him to talk; to interact;to just get his feelings out and known even if there's nobody any wherenear the general vicinity of his plot of land.Off the Black tells the story of two rather different individuals atvery different points in their life. For Nolte's Ray Cook, that abilityto make a cut-and-thrust decision in the heat of the moment when thestakes are rather high is demonstrated in the film's first scene when,as a line judge in a baseball match, he calls foul on a home pitcherand they consequently loose the match. Very quickly we're given thesense that this guy is not afraid of making a call. As the filmprogresses, his efficiency to function as someone as honest andclear-cut dawn on us that these things may have contributed to hiscurrent situation. The pitcher, a certain Dave Tibbel (Morgan) who'sstill a high school student in comparison, takes it on with a fewbuddies to wreck a revenge on Cook's house – ultimately something thathas more of an impact on Tibbel's life than he first presumed. Off theBlack sees writer/director James Ponsoldt apply a very gradual, verynatural arc to proceedings in using his ability to determine just howfar Tibbel's inner-feelings are manifesting by providing a stranddocumenting the downfall in his friendship with his high-school pals asa friendship with Cook develops.The beauty of Ponsoldt's script allows both characters to undergorespective changes without ever overbearing us with one or the other,with both characters and their progressions vying for power as theaudience latch onto either one of the younger or the elder. Aftercatching Tibbel in his yard immediately post-prank, six-shooter inhand, as graffiti covers the side of Ray's car and toilet roll coversboth the roof of the house and a tree in the garden, forcing it to lookmore like a spaghetti junction from a distance, an agreement betweenthe two sees Tibbel return to the scene of the crime and cleareverything up rather than involve the police. Ray's decision to usepolice involvement as a threat more-so an idea of plan of action worksjust so as to get some regular company over at his place, and I have afeeling it was always going to be the way. As Ray himself observes:Dave may very well be a regular, average kid; but he's not yet at apoint where he can make his own decisions, something that rings truenearer the very end when David is faced, in what is quite a jarringscene, with a pretty powerful decision that involves whether or not toplay a video cassette.In cutting away, briefly, to document the decline in relations with hisfriends; there is poignant sequence in which David and his own fathershare a scene with Ray close in-tow, a kitchen window acting as aphysical barrier between David and his father played effectively in thefew scenes he has by Timothy Hutton. This visual clue as to which maleadult David is able to better connect with, and on a more consistentlybasis, tells us feature film débutant Ponsoldt has an astute eye forinjecting life and meaning into dialogue sequences in which the mostbasic of human emotions are explored by way of the usual dialogue. Like most of what Cook goes through in Off the Black, the film carriesa wavy and distant feel; a tone of emptiness in a film which is full ofrich character studies. While I think it's the better film, the pulpyand somewhat action orientated tone of 2009's Gran Torino combined suchelements with it being a generally intimate film shot with a persistentuse of the close up, applied to specific scenes when the elderly maleand the younger male share experiences. Rather than maneuver down thisroute in which youth orientated antagonism was persistently hangingover the younger character of the piece, Off the Black insteadincorporates longer shots of lonely houses backing onto train lines;calm, spitting sprinklers going about their business on lawns and onone occasion, Nolte's character perched on a jet ski amidst a wide openand lonely lake of gently lapping water. Where Gran Torino isaggressive and confrontational in an increasingly aggressive andtransitional world, Off the Black takes a step backwards and justenjoys more the observing of these people in-between developing them.There is a moment about half way through when Cook has a crazy ideathat Tibbel reacts to, only to later find out that in playing out thesuggested role, he fills two gaps at once in not only his, but Cook'slife as well. Off the Black is a rich and rather rewarding, burningdrama which effectively looks at maintaining families and friendshipsto the best of some rather unintegrated person's ability.

2012-05-09 10:35:13

not a stretch for nolte

This review is from: Off the Black (DVD) I started watching this move on the cable and i could not change it. I found it to be an exceptional drama with Nolte giving a remarkably beliveable performance. If your a Nolte fan see it. It also has a better than average supporting cast with some little known actors.

2012-05-09 04:44:34

Awesome

NicK Nolte won the Academy Award for best actor in my dreams.No better performance in 2006. Nolte held me tranfixed.Ray asks the kid if he thought he was happy. No I am miserable.When you reach the bottom than you know what your missing in your life.Ray has cancer, no family and still Ray will reach out till he hasbeen been beaten down so far and missing so much that its time to go.It's the backroads American story the one the ads on TV will never tell you.The rest of the cast is excellent. Everyone does a great job. The picturecenters around Nolte. Like most of us his life is a little Off The Black.

lastliberal 2012-05-02 11:04:47

Things don't always go the way you want

The third time is the charm for James Ponsoldt, writer, director andactor in a really touching indie film that everyone can relate to.Maybe that is why it died at the box office after a few weeks withoutreally making it big. It's a story that we can all find a piece ofourselves in.Ray's life is in the crapper. he runs a junkyard by day and comes hometo a house where he lives with an ugly dog and they both drown theirsorrows in beer. He umps the local games and know that is just askingfor trouble.After the local team loses their chance at the State playoff, hecatches one teen who papers his house. This teen's mom has run off andhis day is pretty much dead to the world. The two- Ray and Dave - hitit off and Ray becomes a surrogate dad, while Dave becomes a surrogateson.It's funny, tender, and sad. It will make you think about your own lifeand count your friends - or make some if you don't have enough.

2012-05-01 22:04:27

"...A Little Indy Film With A Big Heart & Huge Performances..."

A couple of shades short of a masterpiece, "Off The Black" is still a superlative and very assured debut from a new director - James Ponsoldt. Nick Nolte plays an old-school Baseball Umpire called Ray Cook - a 57-year old drunk by night barely holding it together on the field by day. At the very beginning of the movie, Ray makes what most of the town considers is a 'bad call' on the pitch of a minor Leagues game. The recipient of this gaff is a young baseball hopeful called Dave Tibbel (played by Trevor Morgan - he looks like the son of Sean Penn and Elizabeth Hurley) and it changes both of their lives forever.In revenge for the sending off, Morgan and two of his mouthy team-mates shower Nolte's home that night with toilet rolls, spray paint his driveway with a dick drawing, break his car window and generally vandalize his property. But the young and inexperienced Morgan gets caught in the act by a boozed-up Nolte who vows that Morgan will have to pay for his actions - in short - clean up the mess. Morgan's character David - being essentially a nice kid - agrees - and over the next few days, they enter into an unexpected and unlikely bond - David slowly becoming the son that loser Nolte never had. While this is going on, David's real father, Timothy Hutton, offers little help to either him or his lost little sister at home. David's sister is played by Sally Kirkland - who looks like a young Natalie Portman - just as beautiful and an actress that's definitely one to watch. Hutton's character is a man who's lost his wife two years back for inexplicable reasons (possibly mental illness, maybe drink) and seems to have mentally checked-out ever since. He offers his kids mumbles at the breakfast table, distant platitudes that have no teeth. He seems more lost in his own way than Nolte's character is - and gives the two kids worry instead of real guidance when they need it the most. Both the young Morgan and Kirkland are fantastic in these scenes - displaying a confidence and calm in the presence of such big hitters as Nolte and Hutton. Nolte gets a diagnosis from his doctor that is unsurprising given that he has a cold tin in his hand for most of the movie. There isn't much time left. Nolte then gets his annual high-school reunion of '66 invitation in the post, which he would normally bin, but not this year. He persuades young David to accompany him to the reunion - pretending to be his son - the boy agrees. And on the story goes."Off The Black" is a Baseball term - it's the Umpire's call - and his call sends the Pitcher who threw the ball either into the ecstasy of winning or the misery of losing for his whole team. It's a film that has little real story but says a lot - and contains scene-stealing performances from the whole cast (most of whom are young) but especially from the gruff and growly Nolte - who could just stand there and you'd still love him...I liked it a lot - "Off The Black" has heart and is well worth checking out. Destined I suspect to become a cult classic.

reeves2002 2012-04-28 12:27:59

Good movie but it feels like there's a lot missing

I loved the trailer for this movie because it looked interesting andfunny.I really liked the 2 leads Nick Nolte and Trevor Morgan.They workreally well together and I could easily see them working together inother movies.I liked the relationship they built.Ray was estranged fromhis own son for reasons we don't know and David looked to Ray as afather figure since his own dad couldn't be there for him because of adisability.It isn't uncommon for males to bond this way whether it beplatonic or not.Throughout history older men have often had youngermale companions.Unfortunately society nowadays has to put their uglyspin on it and make assumptions.Even in the movie David's youngerfriends ridiculed him about spending time with the older ump eventhough there was nothing happening except they were developing afriendship and Dave was like a son to Ray, and I think Dave looked upto Ray and respected him and later obviously really cared about him.Theonly problem with this movie I had was their relationship was over asquick as it began, and it seemed there was way too much more that hadto be done and said.I agree with what another person said about whyeven mention Dave's mother since she wasn't even in the movieperiod.None of her absence made sense and wasn't explained well orexplored at all.Also the 2 kids turned out remarkably well for having adisabled dad and being abandoned by their mother.I didn't find thatbelievable.And then there was this whole back story about Ray's pastthat got thrown in and also not explored.If these missing characterswere in the movie it would be easier to understand the charactersbetter and understand how they ended up being so broken.I mean forChris'sakes! something made them reach out to each other to have theirneeds met.It was ironic and comical how they ended up meeting.Therewere so many comical moments in this movie and played so genuinelyfunny I laughed hard.The reunion and the bullshitting was a riot andthe look on Dave's face was priceless the more he learned about his newbuddy.It also had it's serious side and was very realistic and thistype of thing does happen.I know people who are living this. But like Isaid, it's a good movie but had potential to tell more and to go waydeeper.

2012-04-27 22:51:57

It's All Nolte And Little Else

Family is family, and sometimes that is unfortunate. Especially if one has to deal with an absent parent or a psychologically dysfunctional one ...or both. And such is the case for Dave Tibbel (Trevor Morgan) who's mother left him and his kid sister with their severely depressed father played by a surprisingly effective Timothy Hutton. But much of this is slowly unveiled and OFF THE BLACK begins with an umpire making a pivotal call at a baseball game which ends up costing Dave Tibbel and his team their high school championship. The umpire is a gruff man named Ray Cook played by Nick Nolte (Over the Hedge (Widescreen Edition)). It is Nolte who carries the entire film, really. And it probably wasn't that much of a stretch for him to play the drunken Cook character considering Nolte's past notices on the local news. Which, of course, made him the perfect casting choice. His gravelly voice and fading good looks matched Ray Cook's persona to a tee. When Ray finds a bunch of team members toilet-papering his home, he's able to catch one of them and, of course, it's Dave Tibbel. They strike up an interesting relationship. Dave needs something more of a father figure (which he's not getting at home), while Ray needs to connect with someone from the outside world in a meaningful way. ***SPOILERS AHEAD***The two bond in father/son fashion one night after Ray takes Dave to his 40 year class reunion posing as Ray's son. It is here that Dave learns much about this enigmatic patriarchal man. Ray has a real son that he sends video recordings of himself to, only to have most of them returned unopened. Ray leans on Dave as a crutch and Dave does likewise to Ray, each needing and receiving something from the other. And it isn't always a "good" something. But it is a needful something that leads both of them to an understanding of what lay ahead. For Ray, it's not a good thing, as he recently received some bad news from his doctor. For Dave, we just aren't sure because his home-life seems totally dysfunctional. Nolte's performance is outstanding, but it is his performance (and only his performance) that pulls the story along in any satisfying way. Trevor Morgan tries his damnedest to match Nolte but can't quite muster enough of himself to make his Dave character very sympathetic. Timothy Hutton did a fine job as the depressed father but has so little screen time that you never get a good sense of him. Dave's sister Ashley played by Sonia Feigelson is another example of a character that could've pulled in some emotional weight but was never given enough time on-screen.So the entire production felt a bit stilted, hedging all of its bets on Nolte's shoulder ...which was probably for the best considering the overall story/script.

D A 2012-04-22 19:06:01

Film works because of the withered poignancy found in America's most tired actor

This low-key character study, mixing humor and depression to a tendereffect, paints a picture of this odd coupling between an elderly bitterdrunk and the teenage pitcher responsible for vandalizing his propertywith a fairly charming success rate. Off the Black is a noteworthyminor work that completely thrives off of the gruff charisma lead NickNolte injects into an otherwise typically off-beat, indie-manneredscreenplay dabbling in peculiar friendship. The script, while appealingenough to attract the likes of a fine actor such as Nolte (a factrendered even more impressive given it is a first time feature effortfrom newcomer James Ponsoldt), really would not have been able to shineunless this perfect spot of casting had fallen into place.The movie works, and works best, only when Nolte's scenery chewingantics are present, and in retrospect, the entire piece, whilegracefully dealing in issues of family, isolationism, and connectivity,is really just a 90 minute excuse for one of America's bona fidetalents to flex his considerable sandpaper-throated heft around in arole that was clearly conceived with him in mind. It is not so muchNolte's outstanding talent as a diversified actor that has made himsurvive and stay relevant these few decades as it has been hiscontinuing effort to refine his natural instincts to help make hischaracter's all seem completely believable and unquestionably human.With his continued approach for taking lower profile but higherdeveloped material as of late, this performance continues therespectably eclectic, under-the-radar winning streak with a front andcenter take that puts the legend square in his element. Add thebelievable high school sensitivities from costar Trevor Morgan into themix and we have a pleasing relationship movie with some dynamics thatreally work.So where does Off the Black fail? Quite simply in all other scenes notshowcasing these two main characters together. Ponsoldt tries to detailthe reality behind the young man's life with little success, insteadfalling prey to the usual pratfalls of underdeveloped subplot andsupporting roles. Directed in a straightforward way though at timesimpressively framed, any immersion garnered throughout the modest filmwill remain Nick Nolte's chief responsibility.

kirkdavis 2012-04-22 09:23:49

Wonderful acting and script!

Really strong performances by all involved, especially Nick Nolte andTrevor Morgan. But it is James Ponsoldt's meaty script that is reallythrilling. The depth of feeling he gets from his actors is good too. Iwish he had more than 23 days to shoot, since some of the photographyis marginal, but some shots are just beautiful, especially theclose-ups of the actors' faces.Mild spoiler: This is a film of the human spirit, and human nature, andthe nature of families: especially ad hoc families. And it has one ofthe most subtle uses of a female character in recent memory (thecharacter Debra).

atomic_age57 2012-04-19 18:15:35

Total Waste of Time

I watched this movie with anticipation, because I've always enjoyedmost of what Nick Nolte has done in the past. But I just simplycouldn't grasp this plodding film, its ridiculous premise, its weakstoryline, the poor acting and bad direction. Virtually every person inthis film seemed catatonic, especially Tim Hutton. Why did he evenbother? His character was so one-dimensional and shallow it was like hewasn't even there. There was a total lack of chemistry between TrevorMorgan and Nick Nolte, which made the film drag and I found myself justwishing it would end after about 3/4 through it. I imagine this filmwill fade away quickly into the abyss of forgettable celluloid trash.NEXT!!!

2012-04-19 04:25:13

Excellent Film

This film is an excellent independant film and is very underrated. The story basically has Nick Nolte as Ray Cooke, a baseball umpire and Dave Tibbel as Morgan, a player on one of the teams. When Ray gives a call in a game the players don't agree with a group of kids get together and trash his house. Ray catches Morgan in the act and holds him responsible. They come to an agreement that he will work off the cost of the damage that was done to Ray's car during the trashing. They bond and Ray later asks Morgan to go with him to his High School reunion pretending to be his son so that he will make a good impression.There the plot is in a nutshell but the movie is about so much more than this. The film is a very intelligent, highly effective character study. The characters of Ray and Morgan are very complex and the process through which they bond is very realistic anvd very believable. As their relationship develops they find in each other things they didn't even know they were lacking. The high school reunion is merely a small part of the plot. The story is really told through the relationship of Ray and Morgan. Nick Nolte gives an excellent performance and shows he is still a force to be reckoned with. This was definitely an Oscar worthy performance. And Dave Tibbel gives a performance that is far beyond his years.The whole cast is exceptional but the movie rests on the shoulders of Nick Nolte and Dave Tibbel. The way they play off of each other is superb and to watch two lonely people form a real, honest, emotional bond that is based on trust and true affection is expertly told here. And to fully satisfy, the movie builds to a very realist conclusion and does not leave you hanging.This movie is emotional throughout and I highly recommend it.

plum237-2 2012-04-18 00:32:25

missing character

Can someone tell me if I missed something, or was it never explainedwho the single mother was, her relationship to the Nolte character, whothe father of her kid was, and what was the point of her being in themovie at all if none of the above is explained. Her scenes seem likepointless time or sex fillers. I was much impressed by the moviealthough the plot really left a whole lot unexplained: Nolte is at his40th high school reunion, which would make everyone at the reunionabout 58 and their graduation year one of the hottest in the VietnamWar, the protest movement, rock and roll and the sexual revolution. Yetnot one person has anything to say or recall about these things, andthe music seems generic, not at all in tune with the late "60s.

gradyharp 2012-04-17 10:30:01

Fugitive Souls Connecting

James Ponsoldt is an impressive new talent whose gifts are welldisplayed in this very excellent small film, OFF THE BLACK. Ponsoldt isthat rare combination of writer/director who has something unusual andsignificant to say and has the skills to tell his story with genuinesensitivity and with amazingly polished skill for one so new on thescene.In a small town anywhere in the US aging alcoholic Ray Cook (NickNolte) lives alone, spends his time making videotapes of himself inconversation with his son from whom he has been separated for years. Healso is the umpire for the local baseball team, the pitcher for whom isa teenage lad Dave Tibbel (Trevor Morgan), a boy whose mother desertedher family leaving Dave and his younger sister Ashley (Sonia Feigelson)in the care of functionless distant father (Timothy Hutton), a man whowould rather avoid any conversation or emotional support with hisconfused kids. Dave and two friends visit Ray Cook's house one night,empty trash on his lawn, scratch graffiti on his driveway and throwtoilet paper streaming from the tree and TV antennae. Ray is soberenough to catch one of them - Dave - and makes a pact with the boy thathe will not call the cops if Dave promises to clean up Ray's clutteredyard.Dave keeps his promise and gradually Ray and Dave warm to each other,each finding in the other the desperate needs to fill their empty lives- a 'son' and a 'father'. Ray convinces Dave to pose as his son at hishigh school reunion and the results of that experience coupled withnumerous other incidents bond the two in one of the more tender loverelationships ever captured on film. No, this film is not aboutphysical attraction: it is about the kind of love that is a basic needin each of us and one that sadly is lacking in so very many livestoday.Nick Nolte delivers a superb performance and it is refreshing to seehim once again prove that he is a fine character actor. Trevor Morgan(at age 20!) is a revelation, that kind of actor who apparently excelsin his craft intuitively. The supporting cast is likewise first classand the musical score by Claire Campbell, Alex Neville, and BrianPetway fits the film like a glove. Tim Orr's cinematography is soattuned to the story that it feels like the camera is anothercharacter. OFF THE BLACK is yet another little Indie film that came inunder the radar and deserves so much greater an audience than it hashad. Highly Recommended. Grady Harp