Stuck Between Stations (2011)

A Disappointing Continuation

Pretty good movie overall. First half was nothing special but it got better as it went along.

Clever, believable, and super fun to watch. It totally has replay value.

This movie feels like it was made purely to piss off people who want good shows

Becky Fine (Zoe Lister Jones) is struggling when her affair with her college professor is discovered by his wife. Casper Phillips (Sam Rosen) is back in town after his father's death. After a bar fight, Becky finds out that Casper is actually an old school mate.This is one night in Minneapolis. It doesn't have the same energy as one night in New York or Paris or any of the big world city. The movie seems to be trying to manufacture a lot of wacky setups. It feels a bit fake especially with Josh Hartnett showing up as a slacker biker.Then there is writer Sam Rosen who takes the lead role. He's not the most compelling actor. He stands out when compared to some pretty big actors in this movie. Zoe Lister Jones is more reserved in this role trying to project a troubled person. Michael Imperioli plays the cheating professor. I don't necessarily buy him as a professor.Then there is a big surprise reveal of Becky's rape in South America in the last 15 minute. It comes out of nowhere and doesn't have any setup. It comes off as over written. That's what most of this movie feels like. His experiences in Afganistan is at least better foreshadowed. Compare it to another movie like 'Before Sunrise', this one lacks the poetry and the chemistry.

I thought this would be a decent movie after reading the plot summary, but I was really wrong. Casper is home from Iraq/Afganistan because his father has passed away. He runs into Becky at a local bar and they spend the night talking and doing some random things together as well. They both have traumatic pasts and seem to bond over their horror stories. The movie ends very flat with no real ending. They just leave at the night with a promise to call in a year when he gets done with his tour. Not even a kiss between the two. I can see why though the main character played by Sam Rosten does not have much acting ability and this is his first writing credit as well. I see potential in him he is just not there yet. The veteran actors are bit players and have hardly any screen time. I'm not even sure why they were top billing characters for this movie. I wouldn't bother with this movie.

It's not too often that small, indie, unknown films come along and engage you with dialogue. Only dialogue. And that's what makes "Stuck Between Stations" such a good movie. There isn't really a story as it just meanders along with two semi-directionless people on one night with parties and conversations. The trailer suggested there was a mysterious element, but none of that was to be found. But Rebecca and Casper connect and reconnect and we connect with them on a very meaningful and personal level.Rebecca (Zoe Lister Jones) is smart, extremely beautiful, but most likely rotten at making decisions. She's a comparative literature doctoral student, having an affair with her married professor, and hanging out at bars with her low-life friends. Casper (Sam Rosen) is a soldier on leave from Afghanistan and dealing with the fact that he doesn't care that his father just died. They are obviously both lonely and at this crossroads in their life even though there is no physical or even metaphorical crossroads. They both have a life to go back to.They realize that they went to elementary school and high school together, and she was his dream girl. Once that is revealed there is a romantic chemistry that helps pull the film along. It's also the smart, funny dialogue that keeps the film moving. I was completely captivated with what they were saying and couldn't wait to hear what they would say next. Each line would either be funny, silly, or dramatic, revealing or insightful. Or all of the above.It's the type of movie where the characters were likely crafted first, then put into a story, which is then spelled out with dialogue. Except in this case, there really isn't much of a story. The discerning dialogue reveals the entire background of both main characters throughout the film. It's only funny in the sense that they say things that make you laugh; it's dramatic in how real, touching, and serious or depressing their situations could be. It is romantic but whether or not they kiss is completely irrelevant to their relationship and what we get out of their relationship.

I'm not one for romantic movies, and i've only written a couple of IMDb reviews, but I have seen a ton of low budget movies over the last few years, and frankly this is one of the best - certainly of the US variety. In fact I'd say it's as good as Before Sunrise, Before Sunset, I can't quite remember those movies names.This is a very cool movie. It just flows. The main protagonist starts off as a complete dooch. He's in his early 30s and rides a BMX. I almost quit the movie then, but somehow the movie trickles on and before you know it he's striking up a relationship with his high school dream girl.I won't spoil the movie, but it's a very nice trip, that despite it's obvious basicness doesn't seem like a low budget movie at all. I personally think that this movie was completely engrossing, engaging, thought provoking, interesting, if not inspiring, engaging, no I said that already, and enchanting right from the almost beginning to the end.Well played to all participants.