Easy Listening

Rating:
Summary: Give it a try.
Review: In the interests of full disclosure, I'll start by disclosing that I was once a personal friend of the writer/director of this film. I became aware of it some time ago via Google-ing. Having found myself nowhere in the vicinity of an appropriate film festival, I was excited to see it available on DVD, and bought it right away. Interestingly, what I was expecting to like about it didn't come off as well as I'd hoped, yet there was plenty there that surprised me.

****possible spoiler(s) alert****

I was interested in the "anti-cool" theme as one I have long struggled with myself. Our culture is so saturated with irony and derisiveness. I see a dynamic to fashion scenes of all types that seems very similar to the vacuous Victorianism lampooned in Jane Austen novels. There is something stuffy, uptight, and false about "cool" that I feel hasn't been properly exposed in popular culture. I have often been frustrated in trying to explain this idea/insight to people who just take it at face value.

I was excited to see how this theme would be explored in 'Easy Listening'. Unfortunately, I found myself hit over the head with it. I realize it is dangerous to overestimate the intelligence of your audience, but I thought the theme was made too obvious by the proselytizing of the heroine. I think it could have been more powerfully conveyed if it was somehow communicated more with more subtlety... if I felt as though I was led to this point of view by the unfolding of the events themselves, rather than merely having it delivered speech-style. Nonetheless, I give the film points for tackling the issue and having its heart in the right place.

I was very impressed with the costumes and sets, and just the general visual appeal and flow of the film. I was also surprised by how appealing the music was. I thought the lead actor was great, but the lead actress was a bit too campy... or maybe "wooden" is the right word. I'm not sure if this was an acting issue or a writing issue. I guess she seemed a bit more like a 'concept delivery vehicle' than a credible person.

The one element that I thought was truly fantastic was the portrayal of the horrible ex-wife. She was so grating, garish, and disgusting, and the way she was hinted at via fragments and left mostly to the imagination was great. I'm still trying to piece together a complete image of her.

****end spoilers****

In conclusion, I think Easy Listening is enjoyable and worth seeing. I'm favorably biased to the creator, but I still think it's a very good first feature. I figure the best compliment I can give it is an honest review. My only real criticism is that the writing was too overtly concept-driven. I prefer stories to be a little messier and more character-driven, leaving me with more room to maneuver. For the differently-biased or less obsessively analytical, this might not be an issue.