Eric Berger – Cut To The Chase

Directed by: Tyler Taormina

Written By: Tyler Taormina and Eric Berger

Story Editor/Editor: Kevin Anton

Cinematography: Carson Lund

Cast: Matilda Fleming, Maria Dizzia, Ben Shenkman, Francesca Scorsese, Elsie Fisher, Michael Cera, Gregg Turkington, Tony Savino, Steven Alleva, Grege Morris, Sawyer Spielberg

On Christmas Eve, a family gathers for what could be the last holiday in their ancestral home. As the night wears on and generational tensions arise, one of the teenagers sneaks out with her friends to claim the wintry suburb for her own.

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this film is the epitome of an ensemble film as there are no real stars. Every character plays their role essentially in each other stories, and there is no real complete story as everything is told more and snippets and scenes, but never quite from beginning to end in a complete way.

As the film is largely plotless, but plays out over a families holiday traditions, and party as they all get together where many individual things happen some smaller some greater but nothing really happens except for this celebration.

it seems like the filmmaker wanted some more evoke, the emotions of the holiday or any holiday gathering with your family where the story is told purely at this celebration where you get updates about their lives away from one another, always wanting to showcase the best and you get a sense of the family history and their relationships with one another, but nothing is ever clearly defined

The drama that happens as well as the comedy is more lived in and isn’t as random as everyone knows each other and because they know each other and their habits nothing is quite shocking to one another.

The film works and its own artistry that might be frustrating to some members of the audience as it takes its time telling the story it wants to, but again the story is never told in a complete way it’s more told segments that seem like they go nowhere endless that more evoke moods as there is an inherent sadness throughout as they adults are realizing they’re getting older and how much they have in the past but also the ones who raise them are slowly deteriorating and they want to take care of them. It might be too much for them to take on

And that would also celebrates the happiness of seeing long lost family members who you grew up with who now other than these types of get together rarely ever see as those family members you never really want to see, but are forced to and have to play nice with

The tons of cuisine and food that you can board yourself on and share with family

As well as issues that certain family members have with one another that everyone seems to know about, but either or not acknowledged or not talked about, but clearly seen and felt

there is a section of the film where it more focuses on the younger characters the teenagers and their wild night out though even though there’s more adventure and the film seems to have a little more energy and spirit to match the characters. It also is more told in segments whereas anytime the film comes close to anything happening, especially any kind of action or excitement it seems like it cuts to something else or another character and then we see the aftermath of the action.

As even the biggest names in the cast, who is also a producer, Michael cera barely has any lines and isn’t in much of the movie nor anal part of it, but is appearance does add a certain prestige into the film

this is a film that might be challenging for some and truly you’re either going to get into its wavelength or not.

Though as an audience member one cannot say they were totally down with everything about the film. I applaud it for its artistic choices and the mood and can identify with the material as the film presents highs and Lows joys and defeats, but isn’t meant to leave the audience depressed, but also isn’t the typical holiday movie where it’s all smiles and happiness for the audience, though the film does end with a lot of smiles for the characters.

Grade: B-

Directed By: Tyler Taormina
Written By: Tyler Taormina & Eric Berger
Cinematography: Carson Lund
Editor: Kevin Anton

Cast: Haley Bodell, Audrey Boos, Sam Hernandez, Gabriella Herrera, Adam Torres, Lori Beth Denberg, Danny Tamberelli, Aaron Schwartz, Dan Jablons

A bizarre rite of passage at the local deli determines the fate of a generation of teenagers, leading some to escape their suburban town and dooming others to remain.

This is a strange little movie that is a gem. As with anything strange and at times spare. Not to mention otherworldly seeming this can be seen as inspired by David Lynch

As it starts off like a young teen dazed and confused with an ensemble. Though as the film goes Along it gets stranger. Like a continuous dream filled with moments that bleed into one another in a perfect symphony

As at first, it seems like a hang-out movie before it becomes more of a mystery. That has plenty of little moments and detail that make it feel both awkward, yet believable and offers up some kind of fantasy. Even though there is no magic seen. The film feels magical in its own way. Even if there is no real trick to it.

As these kids seem to be going to a party that is a kind of party with a full lunch and dancing. Where a party game that seems like an almost spin the bottle where the kids pair off and go off

Until it reaches a peak halfway through and after that the film pretty much deals with the aftermath. As it showcases how it affects the adults and other kids.

A third of the film feels familiar before slowly going off the rails into the weird where you wonder if it is going to just be an unorthodox view of the world through teenage eyes on the verge of adulthood that is hilarious and alienating

As the film Goes from Light to dark at the midway point. That feels like a deep look I to suburbia and rites of passage before the second half where the film seems to explore loneliness of characters who seem trapped and disappointed as they come off as rejected and stuck there in the humdrum.

The film comes across as timeless as its style and fashions are of the past but shows some modern technology and inventions of over the years

By the end, nothing is fully explained but it is open to interpretation. You could look at it as those who weren’t part of that passage of growing up

Sort of being left behind and feeling a certain alienation as the others around them their friends have gone forth without them. Coupled up in a way and now they are alone. Like they are stuck in their youth. While others have gone off wherever but to something new and far away

It seems like the adults might also be either in Arrested development as they knew they were going and now don’t know what to do with themselves or that maybe they themselves are among those who never moved on and are stuck. Which would explain why they seem so much down in despair.

Even the other kid who is left behind. His mother took him to eat looks embarrassed as others look at her and him. Then she kind of abandons him. It can be seen as when parents realize that their child might not be popular or who they want them To be are embarrassed and here it is more physically abandoning rather than emotionally and spiritually.

As at the end the girl left behind is looking. At the next generation of kids enjoying themselves. Not knowing what is coming in the future so enjoy themselves while they can.

One of the joys of the film is a scene of the adults sitting around sad and then seeing cameos from Nickelodeon kid actors of the past cameo. As the film already feels like a demented fairy tale taking place in the THE ADVENTURES OF PETE AND PETE episode universe.

Though through it all it seems like there is mroe going on beneath the surface, it keeps you captivated.

Grade: B+

Tag: Eric Berger

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