Indie Film Promoted By Commercialists

When watching the trailer for The Life Before Her Eyes, I originally didn't think the movie looked that great. It didn't get good reviews and Evan Rachel Wood was being her typical typecast character. However, I changed my tune when I watched it online. And I was blown away. I couldn't believe that this film, which I thought was going to be a commercialist melodrama, was going to be such an emotional ride. I don't know why I have such a emotional connection to the film, I've never, thankfully, experienced a school shooting. But there was some connection somewhere.

The film is definitely an Indie movie. It revolves more around the characters and their emotions and how it relates to the story, instead of the story overpowering the characters. This film was not made for the masses, because I don't think everyone will get or understand this. From my research, women generally like this film more than men. Which is understandable, because it takes place from a woman's pov.

The only problem I have with its promotion is that.... there is none! It was made into a generic trailer full of commercialism. Other than that, no TV commercials, no magazine or newspaper ads, nothing. The studio must have realized that they could not promote an Indie film in this way. Really at first glance it seems like there is nothing special about this film, but it shows more of a real reality than a Hollywood reality.

Imaginative, impetuous and wild Diana (Evan Rachel Wood) can't wait for her adult life to begin. Whiling away the final days of high school in the lush springtime, Diana tests her limits with sex and drugs as her more conservative friend Maureen (Eva Amurri) watches with concern. But Diana's aura of invincibility is shattered when a senseless act of violence erupts at school, forever changing the lives of the two best friends.

Fifteen years later, a grown Diana (Uma Thurman) is still trying to come to terms with the traumatic events of that fateful day.

On the surface, the adult Diana has made a picture perfect life for herself. She’s still living in the sleepy Connecticut suburb she grew up in with her husband Paul, a professor at the local college. Her beautiful young daughter, Emma, is smart and creative, and possesses a fiercely independent streak reminiscent of her mother. But all is not well—as the anniversary of her adolescent trauma approaches, the darkness that Diana has tried to escape closes in. Meanwhile, her husband has become increasingly absent, her daughter has taken to hiding from teachers, and worst of all, Diana's own grip on reality is starting to falter.

Moving seamlessly through both stages of Diana's evolution, THE LIFE BEFORE HER EYES delves deep into the crossroads that we all face -- where a simple decision can change the course of everything to come, and where a lifetime can be encapsulated in a single moment.

The film is developing a following over the internet, and receiving a good general buzz and praise from these people. It was rated on an average of a 7.2/10 on IMDb by "normal people" instead of critics.

There are so few movies that quench my emotional needs or leave such an impact. Wood who is playing the bad girl, yet again, gave a stellar performance. She is showing more emotion in her facial expressions and not letting them overpower her performance. Uma Thurman was also excellent. (I'm talking about her a lot lately). Her acting was all emotion. She has proved once again that she can act and she can blend into any role thrown at her.

Take my advice and when you get the chance watch The Life Before Her Eyes. It is definitely a film worth experiencing. The ending will leave you speechless.

An Inevitable Cult Movie Icon: Uma Thurman

With the impending Dark Knight movie release looming close, I thought I would reacquaint myself with the Batman movies from my youth.

I was watching Batman Forever on TV, and realized that it came out when I was 5 years old. As I watched, I thought how much better Tim Burton's movies were compared to this. I mean the movie's fun, but the first two were much better.

Then I remembered Batman & Robin, the worst of the Batman franchise. I loved it when I was young. And I thought, who was the most memorable character from that movie? Poison Ivy, of course.

Really, when I think back she was the most fun to watch. She was campy which is something little kids will always love in a movie character. She also spoke in a funny way; a Valley Girl meets the Queen of England.

All of this led to more thinking. Uma Thurman has starred in several movies that have huge cult followings (i.e. Pulp Fiction, Kill Bill, Henry & June).

She first got attention in Dangerous Liaisons, playing the naive virgin Cecile. She was 17 during filming and did a topless scene with John Malkovich. That had tongues wagging... maybe for two reasons. Thurman disappeared for a while and returned two years later with Henry & June, playing June Miller, an object of Anais Nin's affection. Henry & June had the MPAA in a bind on how to rate it, and, ultimately, had the distinction of being the first film to be rated NC-17.

Then Pulp Fiction came along and Thurman was nominated for an Oscar. She was officially golden in Hollywood. Then she co-starred in Batman & Robin which, shockingly, did not ruin her career. And she followed up with The Avengers based on the 1960s TV show. That should have ruined her career, but it didn't. She keeps surviving.

Thurman's films after that showed off her acting skills, proving to everyone that she did, in fact, have them. But the Kill Bill movies put her back on the map.

She survives everything. Gotta give her credit for that. Most people I know don't know of Thurman by seeing some of her movies. Most have them only know her from one. But they know her name and associate with a character. The makings of a true Cult Icon. Also what helps in establishing yourself as a Cult Icon, is if your have an unique look. She has one and the exotic name doesn't hurt either.

Recently, Thurman had a movie released that several critics hated, but the film has developed a following on the internet. And they love it, including myself. The Life Before Her Eyes will most likely become a cult classic in the future.

I don't think you can typecast Uma Thurman. Looking at her filmography, you'll see the different roles she has played, and her continual trials to prove she isn't some specific stereotype. But she'll always be Poison Ivy.