Sympathy (2007)

This is a tender, generous movie that likes its characters and presents them as real people, full of flaws and strengths.

Not sure how, but this is easily one of the best movies all summer. Multiple levels of funny, never takes itself seriously, super colorful, and creative.

Like the great film, it's made with a great deal of visible affection both in front of and behind the camera.

It is an exhilarating, distressing, funny and profound film, with one of the more memorable film scores in years,

This is a special one to review. it only has 3 actors in it and is played in one set. Not that that is a problem but by doing so you really have to have a good story. It's the director's first attempt to make a flick and by doing so he even made it longer than a normal flick. It clocks in at 105 minutes. I found this one at a convention just after seeing the other flick with the same story, The Disappearance Of Alice Greed. Alice had his plot changes that made it a great flick. Here we doesn't have that, no surprises but we go deeper into the characters than Alice did. By doing that you really have to take a lot of talking. It's only in the last reel that things go wrong and the flick becomes bloody and messy. It wasn't that bad but if Andrew Moorman could made it a bit shorter it would have been really great. Still it's one to see if you are in the mood for a lot of talking. If you watch it you want to know what's going to happen next. I admit, i had sympathy

Note to all you first time filmmakers that embark on the journey of making a low budget horror or thriller film – 'Keep it Simple'.If only more directors without much funding would take this to heed we would get more films like Long Pigs and Sympathy and less like The Landlord and Dead Noon.This was not lost on director Andrew Moorman who took a smart thriller by writer Arik Martin and turned it into a very competent and highly entertaining film called Sympathy.The beauty of the film is in its simplicity. The story has but three characters and all takes place in a motel room. That is where a suggested bank robber named Tripp (Steven Pritchard) brings his hostage Sara (Marina Shtelen) and handcuffs her to the bed. While trying to formulate an escape plan, Tripp's getaway is interrupted by Dennis (Aaron Boucher), an escaped convict who coincidentally end up in the same room with multiple agendas.In a film style that clearly pays homage to Alfred Hitchcock and Brain DePalma, the three characters will spend an evening revealing depths of their personalities while setting in motion an intense cat-and-mouse game convoluted with bulging egos and personal motivations.To further obstruct a clean getaway, characters will be shot, stabbed and emotionally tormented as the story unfolds revealing characters that are not whom they appear to be. The final chapters will include a blood soaked ending that will remind you of an early Tarantino work and a satisfying end to an evening's odyssey.Kudos to director Andrew Moorman for not trying to squeeze more out of the intelligent script than what was pressed onto the straight to DVD release. His directing was able to hide from this seasoned reviewer a reveal that I didn't see coming (granted it wasn't M. Night-ish, but it still generated a 'wow' response).When producing a movie with one setting and limited characters, it is important to have strong acting to accompany the script pages or all is lost. Pritchard, Shtelen and Boucher put on believable performances even if the acting is at times uneven. Shtelen in particular starts off weak, but by the end of the film, she plays the role of Sara with a seasoned confidence.Revealing any specifics would be an injustice to anyone who follows this review with a screening, but as low budget, independent films go, this one ranks in the top tier.www.killerreviews.com

I can't believe the gushing reviews for this film - it has to be relatives or friends of the filmmaker and/or cast and if so - I get it. I understand how you want to support an effort by friends and there is some talent behind the film but NOT Hitchcock for crissakes. Get a hold of yourself. Now if it is true that a bunch of locals made this in a barn structure in Indiana - that is impressive to pull this all together and get it made. But the script and the two male leads reek of bad college experimental theatre - lots of screaming and then threatening whispers - guns and knives being pointed - just lame Tarantino posing. The girl - who is handcuffed to a bed most of the picture gives a solid performance - she's believable - you look in her eyes and see wheels turning but the two male actors just seem like amateurs - not believable at all - you can yell all you want but I don't believe for a second that you are dangerous. And look - the film got released on DVD - that's big - that will get it seen by a lot of people but people who have nothing to do with the production - just film fans who paid money to rent it or buy it and they are entitled to say what they think - and I think it is a good effort but overall - it drags and sputters and doesn't really work overall.

I discovered this movie while building the schedule for my new film festival. Now called Maelstrom Festival of Horror and the Fantastic. It was so well received at the screening that I am bringing it back for Crypticon Seattle. It will play at 11:00pm Friday night the 23rd of May.This is a film worth checking out. If you spend any time looking at small indie films you will appreciate "Sympathy". Powerful and compelling find it and watch it.People stuck in a room after a heist. What are they doing in the hotel room and who is really calling the shots?