Monday, January 10, 2011

Little Fish, Strange Pond: Movie Review (AKA Frenemy)



Perfect mix of intrigue, danger, tragedy, love, sex, violence and plain old American fun.

I saw this titled as "Frenemy" but the original "Little Fish, Strange Pond" is a much better title. It's not just that Mr. Jack (Matthew Modine) and Sweet Stephan (Callum Blue) are small players in the grand schemes of the world, but that the world is a strange place.
2009

Directed by: Gregory Dark

Screenplay by: Robert Dean Klein

Starring: Matthew Modine and Callum Blue

Mr. Jack and Sweet Stephan walk around L.A. together. It's about the weird characters they meet, the crimes they observe, but ultimately, it's about them, their place in the world, their past and their fate. Paraphrasing from one of Modine's speeches, it was a great day, just a day, but it had the perfect mix of intrigue, danger, tragedy, love, sex, violence and plain old American fun.

There was more tragedy and violence, and less love and sex than most people would have in their perfect day, but it was brilliant. Forget "The Social Network", "Little Fish, Strange Pond" has the best dialogue of the year, and Matthew Modine and Callum Blue deliver the best performances of their careers. Be prepared for profanity and disturbing actions, but this is one great little film in a strange pond.
Best of 2011





Recommended:

Leaves of Grass (2009) - A character study played out with violence and crimes.

Suicide Kings (1997) - Committing crimes with comedy.

Stuck Between Stations (2011) - A relationship drama about the characters and what they have to say.

Rid of Me (2011) - A bleak character study encompassing the best and discomfort of a dark comedy.