Fall

Rating:
Summary: "to the celebration of all slain hope..."
Review: "There's nothing scarier in the world than knowing exactly where you wanna go but having absolutely no idea how to get there. Except maybe, knowing where you wanna go, knowing how to get there, and then having no idea of who you are when you arrive."
Love stories always have their own special space in the movie business. It's easy to impress people with a love-flick as long as you have some kind of tragedy in it, and of course; Brad Pitt and Julia Roberts are always a nice screen-couple.
Shot back in 1997 "Fall" didn't achieve that much of a box-office success. So it's not a blockbuster but there's just 'something' about it, you have to see for yourself.
Director and the writer Eric Shaeffer prefers to have himself and not-so-famous Amanda De Cadenet as the leading roles for the movie. The theme is not even close to being original. Cab driver Micheal Shiver(Shaeffer) falls for the supermodel Sarah Houston(De Cadenet) whom he happens to pick up one lucky day.
"Be careful what you pray for!"
Micheal thinks he stands no chance against this beautiful, famous, and also married woman, but this is Hollywood and he is to be surprised, so are we. The story takes off but what makes it special is, Shaeffer catches those specific moments when pain sparkles in a person's eyes. He embroides the movie with some nasty sexuality and strong poetry that grabs you sometime in between the first 15 minutes of it and doesn't let go until the very end; the kind of ending that you find yourself looking blankly into the screen as the credits roll, with a significant lump in your throat, wiping silent tears off your cheeks.
"But the sacrifice of love Michael, the sacrifice of that kind of love... and life... when does God teach us how to do that?"

Rating:
Summary: Awesome
Review: As far as hot love stories go, this rocks. Combine that with the AMAZING original poetry throughout the film (one of the most amazing love poems ever!)and you have something powerful.

I can't believe this thing is so hard to get. Fortunately I found a VHS on eBay.

Rating:
Summary: I fell...
Review: Fall was one of those rare and hidden treats that I rented one night because I got bored with everything else.

What I saw was one of the most beautifully-shot, well-written and perhaps most-misunderstood films of the year. Eric Schaffer is PERFECT as the not-quite-James-Woods cabbie who picks up a supermodel and practically BEGS her for a date. When she FINALLY lets her guard down and they have some of most tense erotic moments, you think it's a pure skin-fest. It's not. Somehow, the two go past being sex-crazy to friends...and then friends to lovers.

Schaffer falls in love with her but you KNOW it's not going to work because of her boyfriend in Europe. That's the beauty of it all. You KNOW it's doomed from the start and the film REFUSES to take the easy way out. He foreshadows it all in the beginning, telling Sara, "I don't fall alone". Of course, we ALL smile at this warning, thinking that she's immune to his charms and that she can make it through a brief affair with this man in one piece. Truly, not the case.

It shows us that love is not something to be trifled with and when you fall inside of love's arms, it's almost impossible to break loose without hurting someone in the end. You shouldn't fall unless you are absolutely CERTAIN that the person you've fallen for is on the same page.

It's beautifully shot(with some truly beautiful cinematography and editing) and the writing is absolutely passionate, giving Schaffer a chance to show his feminine side and give us and idea of what his prose is like. Many critics and reviewers(off AND on the net) dismissed this as another Schaffer guy-fest and the chance to live out his "masturbatory fantasies"(as one critic put it) but that's all a bunch of hooey. So what if Schaffer gets to make out with leading ladies(such as Sarah Jessica Parker in IF LUCY FELL) and supermodels(like Amanda in FALL and Elle McPherson in LUCY)! That sounds like a jealousy-issue to me! Exploiting women? I hardly think so. You don't see Elle, Sarah or Amanda complaining, do you?

That's why I say, IGNORE the critics. Most will see what they want from the wrong angle. If you look at this small winner in the right way as a true love-story and just watch these two star-crossed lovers live out their lives until that fateful ending, decide for yourself if you've just watched a cold, exploitive film or a film with true characters and explosive FEELING.

I bought this the VERY next day as a previously-viewed tape and unless Orion(are they STILL alive?) decides to release this movie again, everyone will miss out on one of the truly great romances of the last decade.

--Matt

Rating:
Summary: A Seduction of Words
Review: I actually watched this movie with my mother and we were both too entranced to be embarrassed by the steamy sexuality. It was extremely erotic without graphic nudity (except for Eric's refrigerator scene). It was truly an escape to a poetic romanticism that never tends to last in real life. This movie is for those who have been in love for a long time and need a gentle reminder of that initial, undeniable magnetism that brought you together. It is also for those who have never been in love and want to believe something so intense is possible. Eric Schaeffer speaks to the voyeur in all of us while playing to the exhibitionist in himself. Incredibly riveting, irresistable and leaves you longing for more. For those who are looking for a copy, it can occasionally be found on e-bay but be forewarned, the bidding gets high.

Rating:
Summary: One of the most underrated films of all time
Review: I caught this film last night late when I should have been going to bed and was ready to bail early from what seemed at first glance a ridiculous romance. But this morning I couldn't wait to search for the VHS version (evidently there is no DVD version) on Amazon. I wish I could get the printed script. And the soundtrack. The film made this married 54 year old father of three rememember poignant, desperate, all encompassing love. I will be looking now for whatever else Mr. Schaeffer has done.

Rating:
Summary: Great Classic From Eric Schaeffer
Review: I saw this movie a few years ago when it was out on VHS. The story line is simple but not implausible. Eric Schaeffer shows his poetic side and Amanda Decadenet even though not perfect is also great.

Rating:
Summary: FALL FANS UNITE !!!
Review: IF ANYONE WANTS TO DISCUSS FALL IN A YAHOO OR AOL GROUP JUST EMAIL ME [e-mail] I LOVE THIS MOVIE!! I LOVE THE SOUNDTRACK!!! IT'S CINEMATIC PERFECTION. A MODERN DAY ROMANTIC CLASSIC WITH RELATABLE ISSUES. ~~~CHEY~~~

Rating:
Summary: top 5 of all-time movies
Review: It's finally coming out on DVD!! When I saw this movie for the first time a few years ago, it just defined certain aspects of life. I've probably watched it about 20 times by now.

Rating:
Summary: A phenomenal film that virtually noone has seen
Review: Not out on DVD, hard to find on VHS, and no soundtrack available, "Fall" would seem to be one of those movies that just disappears into oblivion.... until you talk to anyone who has watched it. A love story that is both all too fictitious and all too real, you will find yourself enslaved between the hearts of a taxi cab driver, and a supermodel. Eric Schaffer's beautifully languid poetry will stun your senses and settle in your heart for an eternity. Fresh, witty and sexy, "Fall" is an experience all to itself. This film was passed on to me, and I in turn have passed it on to many.... All who felt its magnificance equally.... now I'm passing it on to you... Buy it, watch it, and keep the circle going....

Rating:
Summary: A phenomenal film that virtually noone has seen
Review: Not out on DVD, hard to find on VHS, and no soundtrack available, "Fall" would seem to be one of those movies that just disappears into oblivion.... until you talk to anyone who has watched it. A love story that is both all too fictitious and all too real, you will find yourself enslaved between the hearts of a taxi cab driver, and a supermodel. Eric Schaffer's beautifully languid poetry will stun your senses and settle in your heart for an eternity. Fresh, witty and sexy, "Fall" is an experience all to itself. This film was passed on to me, and I in turn have passed it on to many.... All who felt its magnificance equally.... now I'm passing it on to you... Buy it, watch it, and keep the circle going....