Netflix Member Reviews of Racing Daylight - (click for Showtime Schedule)
THE GOOD, THE BAD, THE UGLY
I figured that this would be a healthy way to purge any residual sting I get from some of these.
These are the Netflix choices I'm given for a response to the reviews:
You found this review:
HELPFUL
NOT HELPFUL
INAPPROPRIATE
These are the options I propose:
DID SOMEONE HOLD A GUN TO YOUR HEAD?
YOU SHOULD ACTUALLY FINISH A MOVIE BEFORE FEELING COMPELLED TO REVIEW IT
and
MAY I KISS YOUR FEET
51 members of the over 25k who have pressed play reviewed Racing Daylight. I'm not a big art critic. I mean I think it's pretty subjective. I know what I like, so with Racing Daylight, I set out to craft a story with little money and great artists, that I could still watch fifteen years down the pike, and be delighted by it. When I write a story, I don't ever set out to please everyone. Who can wear such a suit of clothes well? I try very hard to please myself.
Since this new electronic platform enables it, why not share what others have said about the film, THE GOOD, THE BAD, THE UGLY? Unedited and without further rebuttal.
Reviews voted most helpful:
(*I know this first one is by Nina Shengold, who reviews books for CHRONOGRAM it's the writing style. Thanks, Nina)
This truly original low-budget gem is an intriguing, romantic puzzle box of a film that will stay in your heart and mind long after watching. I saw it at a festival screening, but the DVD format is ideal for the intimacy of Quinn's storytelling and the nuanced performances by the always-excellent Melissa Leo and David Strathairn, and a strong supporting cast. All the actors play twin roles in two different eras (contemporary and Civil War), which are linked by the complex layers of vertical history in a small rural town, and perhaps something far more mysterious. If you enjoy brainy, multi-level period romances like "Shakespeare in Love" and "Possession" (especially if you liked A.S. Byatt's book more than the movie!), give "Racing Daylight" a try. 54 out of 54 members found this review helpful
********************************************************************
Wow. Not a masterpiece but its going stay with me. If you like period drama and twisty-turny-time-travely mystery, watch this one! Great cast, great acting, VERY interesting story. 34 out of 34 members found this review helpful ******************************************************************** I really like both David Strathairn and Melissa Leo and had read an on-line article about this low budget film. I was not disappointed. It's one of the most original films I've seen in a long time and while the story is a little "quirky" at times, both actors are in great form. Sabrina Lloyd, who plays two women from different eras (all the leads play double parts) is a real stand out as is Laclanche Durand. If you're looking for something out of the ordinary and a real triumph in indy filmmaking, check this film out. 34 out of 34 members found this review helpful ******************************************************************************
Recent Reviews
If you love poetry (as I do)... you will love this movie, because... this movie, is, pure poetry.
******************************************************************************
This is an impressive representation of an American-continent literary genre, that started in Argentina in the 1970's, and has evolved as the decades have passed, and it has moved north, first throughout South and Central America, then, in a most terrifying turn in Canada, and finally, as a warm, homey version in the U.S. in the last fifteen years. What began as a heart & spirit-broken "American political magical reality" has become both frightening and psychological, and, in the 2010's a combination of historical and spiritual "magical reality," that explains our medical, spiritual and relational emergence into a quickly-changing political and social era. What will these wonders explain to subsequent generations of our curiosity about each other? This is a most fascinating, lovely, strange movie. Again, it's one of the best of its genre. Do not miss the future of story-telling, even as it is presently four decades old.
********************************************************************************* Another one I could only make it half-way through. The main character was just weird. Which sucks because I think this could have been a good movie.
***************************************************************************** Obviously, people have dramatically different responses to this movie. Personally, I tend not to like heavily narrated movies. If the drama doesn't stand without someone narrating the story, then something's missing for me. The other thing that bothered me is that what the person narrating called insanity, seemed to be spirit possession and not insanity. There is a difference and mixing the two seemed incongruous and confusing. I thought the story to be confusing, told from two different realities, the same characters playing parts in both realities. I like spiritual -- metaphysical themes, but this film did not hold my interest. I didn't really like the characters or think them very interesting and the story being told seemed very dull. 2 out of 2 members found this review helpful ******************************************************************
Don't expect too much from this movie. Watch it, write down what you liked and didn't like, then take some friends and cameras out into the woods and try to make a better movie. This means you. (you know who you are) 1 out of 1 members found this review helpful ***********************************************************************
A beautiful, quirky, creative and thoughtful movie. Excellent all the way around! 2 out of 2 members found this review helpful *************************************************************************
I waffled between giving this film 3 and 4 stars. I settled on three because the film's beginning has an exceptionally shaky and slow start. Having said that, I think the beginning would benefit from a second viewing, which I will give it. In the end, I enjoyed it, particularly the middle portion of its triple pov format. It's certainly worth watching if the premise intrigues you at all. 1 out of 1 members found this review helpful *********************************************************************************
What a surprising film. Starts out slow and then takes many sudden turns and twists. Greatly enjoyed it and found myself laughing outloud many times. Fresh and refreshing. 2 out of 2 members found this review helpful
*********************************************************************************
Nicole Quinn has written a hauntingly beautiful love story that transcends time and space. Racing Daylight has an unusual opening with frenzied music playing over the quiet photographs of homes and places in Cedarsville going back four or five generations. Cedarsville is a quiet observer gently protecting the resident's history and their secrets. Sadie Stokes returns to Cedarsville to take care of her aging gramma; they are the last two surviving Stokes in Cedarsville. The refrain is: There have always been Stokes in Cedarsville. Very early we learn that Sadie has always believed she would go insane. She has been experiencing hallucinations, but she tells no one preferring to just let it happen. Sadie discovers that it is freeing to not fight insanity. Sadie is shy and lonely and would like to reach out to a childhood friend, Henry, who always seems to be around when she needs him. One day Henry tells her of a very old letter he found tucked into the wall of a shed on her property. When she reads it Sadie discovers it was written to Anna a Stokes ancestor. Things begin to change for Sadie upon reading the letter. Her hallucinations are becoming interactive which makes you wonder are they hallucinations or is she being possessed and pulled out of time by the spirit of Anna? Except for the chaotic music in the opening you'll find the music is beautiful floats along with the babbling brook, buzzing insects and summer songbirds you can almost feel cool afternoon breezes as you walk along with Sadie in her travels. The characters are wonderful and funny, especially Henry, and they help to tell Sadie's story. Just when you think you have Sadie's story figured out... There are many twists and turns in this 300 year old ghost story. I will be adding this to my personal collection. Have fun! ToniHunterOne 10-28-11 4 out of 4 members found this review helpful
********************************************************************************
Four stars for originality. I see that some viewers did not like the format, and while I suppose this story could have been told on a much more grandiose scale, it was still good entertainment. The story looks at the the concept of reincarnation and that it may be the people in our lives now are people with whom we have unfinished business from past lives. I like that the movie didn't veer to an occult type feeling despite the subject. It's not a ghost story in any sense, but does allow an interesting explanation for seemingly "paranormal" type experiences. I wish there were more movies like this. 10 out of 10 members found this review helpful
*********************************************************************************
sorry, but this seems kind of ridiculous from the beginning. I didnt make it through the first half. 5 out of 9 members found this review helpful
*********************************************************************************
wOW, THIS WAS THE STUPIDEST MOVIE I HAVE EVER SEEN! Totally wasted and hour and a half! 8 out of 10 members found this review helpful
******************************************************************************** I was expecting Somewhere in Time on a low budget; if you read all the glowing reviews that came before me. What I got was a low budget that was so far different, that it must have come from drunken mind of the on-set janitors, they wrapped Somewhere in Time.. He had to wait til he had completly pickled his brain and was close to 80 or so then he regurgitated this story. 4 out of 6 members found this review helpful
***************************************************************************** A
refreshing change from the norm. The characters are flawed with foibels that make them intresting and intriguing. This movie is for the open minded person that thinks outside the box. 3 out of 3 members found this review helpful
********************
I truely enjoyed this movie. Nicely paced and entertaining. So very original. It wasnt what I expected, and Im so glad. I recommend you give it a try. 3 out of 3 members found this review helpful
*************************
I totally loved this quiet little movie. Its unpretentious manner and twisting plot just delighted me. There was sadness, because of the condition of the people and their personal struggles, but there was humor for the very same reasons. This was a fun and crazy treat - a great little story and told in a great way! 6 out of 6 members found this review helpful
********************************
This is probably one of the strangest movies Ive ever seen -- but I like it that way. 3 out of 3 members found this review helpful
************************************
Somewhat original story concerning a woman named Sadie (played by Melissa Leo) who is caretaker for her infirm grandmother. Sadie begins having visions of a young man seemingly calling to her and calling her Anna. The story itself is told in three parts for three separate characters and there are many flashbacks to the Civil War era. Anna (also played by Leo) was in love with two men, one presumed dead and is, in turn, haunted by and haunts both men involved in a love triangle. The story was a little confusing at times, mainly because of the third part of the story where Strathairns character narrates the story directly to the camera. I think this should have been done from the beginning of the story and not focusing so much on Sadie/Annas narration. I did enjoy this as the acting was outstanding, especially by Leo. I cannot rate it higher because of the confusing out of place narration in the last part of the story. Good for a watch, especially on Instant. 6 out of 6 members found this review helpful
***********************************************
This film could have worked but it missed due to the casting on a very important issue, age. Either they should have found a much younger actress to play Sadie or a much older man to play Edmund. The acting was par on and the whole film was quirky from beginning to end. I also feel that the writing suffered from being too choppy. There was no flow and could have worked much better if Henry could have narrated from beginning to end. I felt that the movie had good actors but lacked good writing and good decisions by those in charge of the direction, to make the whole film work. Pieces like these can work with little money, this one just didnt. The good thing that comes from this though is learning about good actors that I will look forward to watching in future. 3 out of 3 members found this review helpful
*******************************************************
I didnt give this one star because it seemed mean-spirited. But this movie is weird, just plain weird. I dont mind weird, but confusing and senseless too, I do. This movie seemed to have a personality disorder. It wasnt sure whether it was a mystery, a ghost story or a romance. Then it tried to be a documentary at the end. I dont mind low budget films if the story is good. But this just didnt live up to its potential. 2 out of 2 members found this review helpful
*******************************************************
The first 3/4 of this movie is excellent. It is not big budget, but who cares! It is going along wonderfully and then it does a complete 360 and ruins everything. It stars out quirky, then it gets funny, and it has some small elements of suspense, a mixing of the past and the present, intermingling together. It is excellent! And then comes the last quarter of the film. When you see HENRY on the screen denoting the next section of the film, prepare yourself for that 360. It ruined it for me, I very sorry to say. I do recommend watching this low key movie, but I cant say it will leave you satisfied. 3 out of 3 members found this review helpful
***************************************
Melissa Leo is luminous as a woman whose hold on sanity may or may not be in question, and David Strathairn gives an excellent, nuanced performance, with a tinge of humor I have not seen in him.The movie has three parts, but manges this without being disjointed. Watch for a slam bang ending and enjoy every moment. There are not enough movies of this caliber around.Movie Mama 7 out of 7 members found this review helpful
***********************************
Loved the quirky twists and touches of humor in this little movie. I also loved the old fashioned ambience and the fact that the lead characters are grownups. Imagine, a romance featuring attractive characters older than twenty! This ghost story was not made for adolescent sleepovers but is great fun for grownups. I am now looking for other David Strathairn films to watch. 4 out of 4 members found this review helpful
******************************************
A fine idea that just did not fulfill the grand idea.. Plot had a lot of possibilities that never were developed.. Maybe David Strathaim,and Melissa Leo were a trifle long in the tooth for their roles !!! But still filled them quite well.. My Wife raved about the film,and maybe because it is a Woman,s movie.. Maybe I should look at it through a woman,s eyes... A film that you will love or hate.. The reviews shows the wide spread of opinions,and this is mine !!! 2 out of 2 members found this review helpful
*********************************
I found this to be a strange movie, but as it progressed it made me begin to think, of things not thought of........ I now feel its a movie to be watched many times over, with different things to be found each time. 3 out of 3 members found this review helpful
***************************************
I liked it. Very interesting not what I expected. If you are into the strange and unusual this is one to watch. 3 out of 3 members found this review helpful
****************************************************
What a great idea for a movie, that somehow went horribly wrong. More than once I felt so embarassed for Sadie. The characters were likable, but the plot was just so slow and I have to say, the ages of Sadie and Henry/Harry just kind of took the excitement out of the story for me. I didnt care for the quirk soundtrack either. 5 out of 5 members found this review helpful
****************************************
Not your typical movie, this film is a slow-burn of a story that reveals itself gently, the layers peeling away then doubling back, hinting at how the two interweaving timelines twist together. Is it a ghost story, or something else? What happened all those years ago? Are the charactors reincarnated, or ancestors? Is the heroine really losing her mind? I enjoyed it immensely because of all the questions, and the fact that not all of them were answered fully. Keep an open mind, be patient with the story, and it will steal you away and into a tilted world where everyone has ghosts. David Straithairn is solid as usual, and Jason Downs interpretation of Edmond/Billy was charming and unaffected. 10 out of 10 members found this review helpful
**********************************************
Dont waste your time on this movie when there are so many other good ones out there. I absolutely disagree with the reviewer who compared it to Shakespeare in Love. They are on completely different levels. That review got me interested in the movie in the first place and I now wish I would have read on down to get the opinion of the more intelligent movie viewing audience. A real stinker. Oh, and I have to agree that trying to make the actors look young was almost embarrassing. 7 out of 8 members found this review helpful
****************************************
This film was CLEARLY done with a small budget but still remains interesting and entertaining. I will warn viewers though - this movie is weird,weird,WEIRD.... you have to have an open mind to appreciate it. Its a little slow and oddly paced in the beginning but the more you listen to the story, the more curious you become on how it will turn out, and then before you know it you are invested in a pretty intriguing mystery. This movie isnt necessarily cinema gold, but I would recommend at least giving it a chance. 2 out of 2 members found this review helpful
********************************************
Wonderful actors trapped in a poorly conceived, disastrously directed after school special. I cringed when the marvelous Melissa Leo and David Straitharn played young. Ick. 7 out of 7 members found this review helpful
*********************************************************
I really hate writing or posting a 1 Star review, but I guess credit, or the lack thereof, must be given where it is due. The lighting, sound and cinematography are more like an amateur home movie than a professional motion picture. Its obviously a low budget flick, but why any movie producer would skimp on the three things that make a film appeal to an audiences sense of sight and sound is beyond me. Also, the female lead, bless her heart, is really not attractive enough for the viewer to imagine as the lead in a romance movie. Sorry if this sounds cruel, but the lead romantic actress in this film should have been at least 20 years younger with some feminine curves that are at the least detectable to the naked eye. The actor who plays the civil war soldier in the mirror has a lot of potential, but his role suffers from lack of experienced direction and a poor script. The script and dialogue are not engaging and caused me quite a few yawns while trying to get all the way through this mess. Whoever did the casting did so without any clear concept of how certain groups of actors complement each other while other groups of actors are just square pegs in round holes. The woman playing the grandmother is also not a very convincing actress and I found myself wishing that her character would just please go ahead and succumb to her illness because she was such a burden to watch. My overall rating for this one is 1 Star and 4 Hooves down in a stall that hasnt been mucked out for two weeks... 10 out of 10 members found this review helpful
************************************************
I loved Possession and Shakespeare in Love, so I rented this movie because a reviewer suggested that the renter would like this one as well. BIG MISTAKE! Halfway throught the movie, I turned it off and wanted to gouge my eyes out like another reviewer stated, should have listened to that review instead. After trying to watch this movie, I firmly believe that anyone one of us on the face of Earth could have done a better job and cannot believe someone funded this disaster. Hate it when I have high hopes and end up disappointed. Considering there are only 19+ review for this movie should warn you not to waste you time. Got to call my mom and tell her to take this out of her Queue or she may end up disowning me. 7 out of 7 members found this review helpful
*******************************************
Not the same old thing!!, enjoyable naration and unusual story line. Good one to watch if your fighting insomnia. Not that it puts you to sleep , but it puts sort of a gental or maby a placid mood on you. thanks and good night La 4 out of 4 members found this review helpful
*************************************************
Hopefully, like me, you will not have the urge to gouge out your own eyes rather than watch this movie. I admit I only made it 3/4 of the way through this huge super burrito of a mess but I didnt want to scare the neighbors when I ran out of the house screaming. Seriously, its bad. Back to browsing!!!! 6 out of 7 members found this review helpful ****************************************** I thoroughly enjoyed this bizarre little story. It took awhile to get started, but it grew on me. Melissa Leo was great in her part, but David Strathairn was perfect. He had me chuckling during the last part of the film. The story is intelligent and uniquely delivered in this film. 4 out of 4 members found this review helpful
********************************
An interesting idea, but stunning in its awful execution. The whole thing was just a confusing mess. The lead character's recurring shy muteness made me think I'd missed something early on and that Grandma, despite her dementia, might be more capable caring for her feebleminded granddaughter. 4 out of 4 members found this review helpful
************************************
I would love to see this movie but it was broke when it arrived. I would like to see it. Please send me the movie (Racing Daylight).
***************************************
This was a strange and slow movie, but David Strathairn played his charactor with humor. 2 out of 2 members found this review helpful
*******************************************************************
I'm always looking for that rare jewel. This movie glitters with genealogy, acting ability, and one heck of storyline. Watch this movie when you have nothing but time to listen, watch, and absorb. Then be prepared to laugh & appreciate good work. 2 out of 2 members found this review helpful *****************************************************
"Racing Daylight" is one of the most intriguing films I've seen in a long time! Directing from her script, Nicole Quinn kept me on the edge of my seat trying to keep up with a very intelligent story. The cinematography was exquisite (less so the music) and the acting flawless. You may want to watch RD twice, once for the mystery, then again to see how it was done. Enjoy! 4 out of 4 members found this review helpful
*************************************************
This movie was AWFUL! I could have done a better job making this movie with my cell phone video recorder in hand, filming in my backyard!!! Don't waste your time. I wish I had not. 3 out of 3 members found this review helpful
*********************************************
Wow. I will put up with a lot in the name of a romantic movie, but holy cow, that was bad. Disjointed, toe-curlingly embarrassing, unlikable heroine, just plain terrible. 4 out of 4 members found this review helpful
****************************************************
I had watched this movie at dozen times it is great. It has what a movies should has, murder, romance, funny.It Is original, the movie the we see now at the movie theater are copy. I love the beauty, of the
actors . I wish to see this movie in the theater,to appreciate the sound ,the pictures are incredible. You have to see it to believe it. 1 out of 1 members found this review helpful
***********************************
There's an interesting idea at the core of the film - people from the present day and Civil War times haunting one another - but the amateurish execution makes the whole thing very tedious, and sometimes confusing. The style isn't even consistent among the three sections of the film - the first two use voiceover narration, while the last one - focusing on Strathairn's modern-day character - has him speaking directly to the camera (we find out why at the end - one of the film's more eye-rolling "surprises"). I did rather enjoy Strathairn's humorous line delivery, but Leo's performance is disappointing - her character's mute reactions to Strathairn at first seem very silly even given her shyness. This is perhaps a few steps above a student film. I don't know why Strathairn, Leo and Giancarlo Esposito (who is wasted) did this. 4 out of 4 members found this review helpful
****************************************************
Embarrassing and unwatchable. Considering the wonderful cast (Strathairn & Leo) it's a stunningly awful movie. I felt very sorry for the actors. 6 out of 6 members found this review helpful
***************************************
While waiting to see Melissa Leo in the soon-to-be-available (and critically heralded) Frozen River, I was hoping for a glimpse of good work from this very busy actress to tide me over. This was not her best work. She has been in a lot of films and tv over the years, but I just couldn't recall her. She does have an earnest quality about her, which is endearing, but the story in this film left something to be desired. The usually dependable Strathairn was also wasted here. Had a straight to video Hallmark-channel period piece quality to it. Watchable, but just not very good. D+ 2 out of 2 members found this review helpful
No comments:
Post a Comment