Uncertainty

Plot: A couple facing a life altering decision go through two different scenarios after the flip of a coin determines their fate. One side takes them to the girlfriend's family's house. The other takes them on a spur of the moment getaway. Two very different stories, one decision looming.

Starring: Lynn Collins (X-Men Origins: Wolverine), Independent Spirit Award nominee Joseph Gordon-Levitt ((500) Days of Summer), Assumpta Serna (Trash & The Craft), Olivia Thirlby (New York, I Love You & Juno)

Review: A very interesting premise is ruined by "art". I've seen a similar premise to this in a different genre film called Sliding Doors, about a British woman making or not making it through the sliding doors of a subway one day, leading her to live two different journeys. Rent that movie.This movie appeared to be about two seemingly different stories that would in their own different ways lead the characters' to making a difficult decision. The decision was never made. Therein lies the problem of the movie. Each "story" was like watching two separate films of completely different genres play out with the same underlying looming decision punctuating both plots. The acting was brilliant. (Side note: The dialogue for this movie was complete improv, with just the action and story lines being scripted. I couldn't tell it was improv. What a feat!) The movie managed to be both sweet and suspenseful at the same time. However, the couple never make a decision. The movie just ends. It goes from being ingenious to pretentious in the final scene. Listen up Indie film makers- Your movies can have endings. They can have actual plot, not just character development. Not having an ending because you want to be arty or different just makes you look like a lousy writer who couldn't think of an ending to your movie. It's like the film equivalent to a musical fade out. It's the indie version of a cliffhanger ending. Make a decision. This film needed resolution because the decision in the film was the entire catalyst of the story. This movie pissed me off. Endings like this are why my hubby cringes if I say the words "Independent film" because this is the cliche he expects: either no ending or a depressing ending. This movie had the possibility of merging an Independent film's high quality acting and character-development with the plot of a bigger blockbuster film. What a squandered opportunity.

Rating:

Writing-F-epic fail-That's what you get for your artsy endings

Acting-A

Directing-A

Music-B

Cinematography-C

Editing-A

Costumes-A-Each scenario involved a color to keep confusion minimal-very clever

Art Direction-A

Hair-A

Makeup-B

Visual Effects-A

*1/2- Stars- for the brilliant premise and wonderful acting; sometimes a bad ending just ruins a movie.