Black Road (2015)

Pretty Good

Best movie ever!

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

There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.

I read all the reviews, and, sure, the acting is amateurish, but fine. The beautiful scenery could have been better exploited. And to take a theme like the breakdown of the US with potential to dig into the potential libertarian ideology of a future Jefferson state and exploit it so casually in an attempt at a noir thriller was a disappointment. And I did get the feeling like they were almost making up the story as they went along. But there was some genuine creativity and originality poured into the film. It captured a mood. Left just enough to the imagination - not laying everything out for you. Nice self-deprecating digs at the rural Ecotopean counter-culture. Clever dialogue, particularly between the protagonist and his computer companion. Credit for what it is - just a mellow piece of art with some nice ideas.

If you like the dark side of SciFi, this film is for you! Set in 4029, replicant cyborg, Lloyd "Teriyaki" Pondue, is on the trial of a gang of intergalactic drug runners that are selling wasbah to the aliens and terrestrials of the Milky Way. One of the actors, in real life, is a close friend of Katherine Zeta Johnson. When Teriyaki finds Laudner, the gang leader, he will go to any lengths to bring them to justice. The special effects were spendacular and the sex scenes were hot and smelly! When the first spaceship lands, the fight for the planet is one of the best space stories that I have ever seen in 3D or 4D. It was virtual rality on steroids!Amid the laser blasts and nuclear explosions lies a movie of warm feeling and emotion superdity. Just strap yourself in and "Let the Force Be with YOU"!

The people of Oregon seem to have overwhelmingly positive things to say about this budget flick, which was made in their backyard. However I, knowing none of the crew or cast personally, am afraid to say I found it a little wooden. I kept waiting for the action to ramp up, for the cyborg part of our protagonist's character to come into it's own and do something more than a monotone voice-over. But, sadly, for much of the time this 'supercomputer' implant was removed from his skull and left our hero confused and unable to solve a rather tedious "He did it!", "No, She did it!" argument. There was no clever 'Aha!' moment where the truth was deduced from minute details, no caught in the act reveal, just a slow decline into a humdrum ending.

Don't miss this brilliant film which left me wanting more. Love the way it embellishes some emerging social themes in subtle but powerful ways. Main character Dylan is adrift with his 'right ear man'Clyde, his cyborg implant played superbly by Andrew Wilson. The endearing twosome get caught in a perilous web of treachery. The dark mix of intoxicating elements makes for a fascinating 'film noir' experience, with a strong script, editing, sound mixing, pacing and excellent acting provided in part by a trove of local Shakespeare festival actors. Clever and captivating with steady build-up and a very thought provoking finale. For those who enjoy thrillers, contemplation and striking new characters and ideas, this is sure to become a favorite!