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Go Fish

Go Fish

List Price: $19.98
Your Price: $17.98
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Rating: 4 stars
Summary: One of my favorites
Review: This movie is endearing. The characters are fresh and real and I found myself drawn to all of them. In fact, some of my favorites were secondary characters. The interweaving of the fantasy and reality sequences made the film so honest.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: I'm not the target demographic ...
Review: This movie wasn't made for me. The director didn't cater to my tastes, fantasies, or ideology. Hollywood didn't pour megabucks into this movie, and the acting frequently felt self-conscious, almost like small-town community theater, with roles being enacted and lines being recited. Normally, having said this about a movie, I'd give it only one star, and that grudgingly.

But this is a movie about people and about romance and about finding a partner. It's a universal theme, even if the particulars (Chicago lesbians) don't match mine (straight SoCal guy). Most refreshingly, it's a love story told without Hollywood cliche. Told well. Heartwarmingly so. It is a beautiful movie, but don't expect to be able to lean back in the easy chair and let your stereotypes watch it for you. This movie demands attention and pays a handsome reward of emotional gratification.

A solid four stars.

(If you'd like to discuss this movie or review with me, please click on the "about me" link above and drop me an email. Thanks!)

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Dissapointing
Review: This movie wasn't what I expected at all. Get "Better Than Chocolate" or "Bound" instead you'll be much happier.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: A better screenplay than film
Review: To my mind, independent lesbian films almost usually fall into one of two categories: the coming-out story (which is, of course, going to be relevant to almost all of the intended audience), and the somewhat harsher look at the social, political, and familial ramifications of being a gay woman (definitely relevant). "Go Fish" eschews both of these traditions, while still occasionally playing them tribute.

It looks like an independent film, and it feels like an independent film, but it's smarter than it first appears. The script is very quick, balancing what is really a romantic comedy with darker, more substantial undertones, including some of the "what does it mean to be a lesbian?" questions I alluded to above. It functions almost like a classic Greek play, with the very best moments being played as an aside to the action, through the conceit of the chorus (which I kept thinking of as the "lesbian brains trust"). This would probably be a great stage play, and credit must go to Rose Troche and Guinevere Turner for making something so fresh out of very traditional roots.

Unfortunately, the acting just about kills "Go Fish" before it even gets out of the gate. With the possible exception of Anastasia Sharp as Daria, only Guinevere Turner seems capable of moving and speaking her lines in a natural, comfortable fashion. Most of the actors seem so stilted, delivering very normal, day-in-the-life dialogue in clipped, nervous tones that are conscious of being watched by a camera. I understand the director probably wanted to save money - indeed, may even have wanted a real-life feel to her work - but I can't think of anything more detrimental to a film like this. While I would probably enjoy sitting and reading the screenplay, I don't think I could watch the whole film again. The performances are just too irritating. Even characters I enjoyed - like T. Wendy McMillan's Kia - began to wear on my nerves by the second half, and that's a bad sign for a film that, without the credits, is barely 80 minutes long.

So, do I recommend you see "Go Fish"? If you're interested in this type of film, then - yes. You should rent and see it once, for sure. It's still worthwhile viewing, but I wish I could give it a heartier recommendation; unfortunately, the only extra on the DVD is the original trailer, so the only reason you have to get the film is the film itself. Just try, if you can, to see the good ideas presented beneath the weak acting. They are about a hundred times more interesting than those in more watchable, slicker films of this sub-genre.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Not for fans of Hollywood films
Review: Troche eliminates the Hollywood glam, the color, and the neatly polished acceptable-to-all plot and produces a work of art depicting lesbian life as we know and live.

While performances by Turner and Brodie seemed rough around the edges at times, T. Wendy McMillan comfortably eases into her role as the endearing matchmaker, Kia, practically inviting the audience into her circle of friends. The film's theme song, "Someone," by Mila Drumke and Jennifer Sharpe more than deserves recognition and makes us yearn for a soundtrack.

The only disappointment is the film's jacket which tends to be misleading and makes a first time viewer wonder if Go Fish was produced for lesbians or men.

Go Fish must be viewed more than once with an open mind, and without "Hollywood" expectations in order to truly realize the magnitude of the film.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: New writers might have saved this movie
Review: Watching this movie, I could just feel at times that it was going to get better and expand beyond what I was seeing, but then nothing would happen. I felt I was in trouble early into this movie when the main character began her monologue about her she could have missed meeting the woman of her dreams in a contrived and rather senseless ramble. I didn't particularly find her observations very witty or rather well written for a character who considered herself something of a writer.

The secondary characters seem to be the most interesting ones in the movie. The little scenes where they laid around trying to think of ways to get Max, the writer, and Ely, who works for a vet, together, were some of the better scenes in the movie. The main purpose of the movie, which seemed to be to get these two women together just wasn't very interesting, or compelling enough to draw the rest of the movie together.

I realize this movie was probably made on a small budget so I'm trying not to critisize the acting too much, although there was definitely some rather poor acting in this movie, along with bad camera shots and audio recording. I found myself laughing during some scenes, but the problem is, I don't think those scenes were supposed to be funny, it was just my reaction to some of the rather lame scenes that I was watching.

I guess if you are into art house films, you might want to give this movie a try, but I don't think it's really worth your time. If you want to see a better film, I'd recommend "The Incredibly True Adventure Of 2 Girls In Love" instead. It was a much better picture.


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