Leaving Barstow (2008)

Terrible acting, screenplay and direction.

Easily the biggest piece of Right wing non sense propaganda I ever saw.

It's a feast for the eyes. But what really makes this dramedy work is the acting.

This film is so real. It treats its characters with so much care and sensitivity.

I enjoyed this film on many levels. The story really resonates--a decent but unexceptional young man--one who might be described around town as a "good kid"--struggles to come to terms with his small town existence, his loneliness, and his fractured family. There's a lot of humanity in this film, and the characters' stories really resonate. The setting is gritty and realistic, the characters genuine and down to earth, and the tensions between them very authentic. While the ending is predictable,it's a good ending, one which is satisfying without being pat. The actors are well cast and the acting is well done. This is a fine film, highly recommended.

I really liked this film. It resonates something special and captures the bittersweet side of the soul as we come of age. The music is fitting and touching. I've been through places like Barstow many times and I can relate to the location. Towns like this reek of quiet despair and hollow resignation. A gray, dishwater existence in the midst of flying diesel fumes and choking dust. Most folks passing through fill up with regular, grab a fast food combo and disappear into the desolate sunset, glad to be leaving. This is a town stuck in endless dusk with little hope for daybreak and the director knew precisely how to capture these sentiments. One viewing on IFC and I had to own a copy. Well worth revisiting those shades of misty gray. Hollywood films gives us escapism. Indy films show us what we are escaping from. This is a movie made on a shoestring budget that has true meaning. It's void of Hollywood trappings. Real life told with a heart. A film for your quiet moments.

Leaving Barstow was an awesome film. The acting and story was great. The film is well-paced, never drags, and has its characters pegged pretty well. The cast is real and are believable. The film seems very real because 18 is a very difficult age. The main character in the film is faced with the hard choice of staying at home and carrying for his mother or leaving for college. This movie is filled with humor and drama. After what seems like forever, Leaving Barstow is now available to rent and to buy. Netflix, Hollywood Video, and some Blockbusters are carrying the film. I look forward to seeing more movies from Kevin Sheridan.

I came across this movie online so I gave it a shot. And I'm glad I did. I saw it and I was astounded! I couldn't tear myself away from the screen. I was greatly intrigued by the main character. The simpleness of how they present the scene was very enticing for me.What a brilliant, brilliant film. I love the tone of it. The flow of the story. The characters. And the cinematography! Brilliant people behind the the movie.The plot is very simple yet profound. It's very relatable. Once or twice in our lives, we were Andrew. No wonder it came out as a winner on film festivals. Loved the whole movie!