and Anna Calabrese (narrator)
Entertainingly done, Terry Kendall and Orange Green, the names of the two main characters in this film, me thinks that's just coincidence, most definitely earns a place in the film category of "didn't see that coming".
Terry Kendall is a young, single black woman, wakes every day to shout to the world her enthusiasm and head to work at the grocery store where she is a stocker. You could say she's a positive person... and positive she is being stalked by a strange man who has a habit of showing up everyday at the same time, to the second.The narration of the story is done in a hep urban female voice which, along with the bizarre plot of the film, is reminiscent, for me, of underground comix of the 70s and 80s. No, not Freak Brothers, Leather Nun or any of a number of others that basically retooled Tijuana Bibles, but there were many stories in those comix with an urban undertone and bizarre if not tragic sense of humor. This is actually the second review in a row where a film has made me think of underground comix... me suspects a conspiracy.
A critical character in this story, of only three characters, is the Orange Green character played by Timothy J. Cox. It is certainly a different type of role for him compared to what I've seen him play. On the surface it seems like it would be an easy role to play, but that's deceptive as he makes it look effortless, though I'm certain it's no easy task to play a character without giving away his intent in a look or expression. He maintains an uneasy and cold calm throughout making one wonder just what he's up to, and when you do find out, he certainly never gave it away.
Brit-Charde' Sellers is spot on in being annoyed by Timothy J. Cox's character. Initially she plays to exuberance as a pretty young woman ready to not tackle but embrace the world looking forward to every day. Her character's awareness of someone's presence is well played as her body language communicates to the viewer as well as any spoken dialog would.
As the primary, Brit Charde' Sellers has more to work with, but both roles require subtleties to pull them off, and Sellers and Cox have both accomplished this.I'm not a fan of ambiguity, but it does actually work in this. The ambiguity is not in the story as the story is complete, but in the rationale; there simply is no rationale. The ambiguity works to a degree like a story you would read in a newspaper or see on the TV news and wonder... well, just "why". It's not a cheap out, but it is a head-scratcher and I don't think it was in any way intended to be rationalized, just experienced.
Interesting storytelling method Meg Skaff puts on the screen. Certainly there's nothing unique about a narrated story, but the personality of the narrator is its charm.
I would give a film just for having a complete story and done in an entertaining way a minimum of 3 Fingers. Up to a point I enjoyed this, then it threw me for a loop and surely got my WTF certification. Though I'm pretty positive I didn't like that part, I'm giving Meg Skaff extra credit for throwing me like he did.
My Rating: 3 Fingers Plus; that's 7 out of 10 for IMDbers.
