Bluebird (2013) Reviews

• The subdued aura presents an Oscar-caliber turn by Amy Morton...

  ClaytonDavis2013-04-22

  Debut writer/director Lance Edmands puts an admirable touch on his film Bluebird starring John Slattery and Amy Morton. The story and overall aura of the film feels more in line with films like Winter's Bone (2010) and The Sweet Hereafter (1997) but lacking the emotional punch needed to grab the audience fully. Ultimately the film explores many of its central characters in an interesting manner but leaves many questions unanswered and not in the indie-flair way that can still feel satisfying. It's the powerful performance of Amy Morton and the efforts of the rest of the cast that gives the film any lasting impression. The film takes place in the frozen woods of a small Maine town. After Lesley (Morton) makes a tragic mistake that shatters the balance of the community, not even her husband Richard (Slattery) or her daughter Paula (Emily Meade), can rid her of the overbearing guilt that has taken over. As multiple stories take place including that of Marla (Louisa Krause), Crystal (Margo Martindale), and young Owen (Quinn Bard), all of their lives become connected in a way none of them could have imagined, perhaps forever. Where Edmands succeeds brilliantly is in capturing the essence of a small, American town full of authentic and genuine characters that feel profoundly real. Working as an editor on Tiny Furniture (2010), the film that helped Hollywood discover HBO's "Girls" writer and star Lena Dunham, Edmands keeps a consistent tone that feels cold and convincing. However, the film never fully takes off for the emotional connection to fully take place with the central characters. The cinematography by Jody Lee Lipes creates a sensational atmosphere that falls in line with Debra Granik's Winter's Bone. As aforementioned, Amy Morton is a true revelation, delivering her finest acting performance of her career. Morton, a wonderful character actress, is probably best remembered as Thomas Ian Nicholas' mother in the 90s hit Rookie of the Year (1993) and George Clooney's disgruntled sister in Up in the Air (2009). She manages to step into her own fierce abilities as an actress that feels much like Melissa Leo's Oscar- nominated turn in Frozen River (2008). Morton is aware of her surroundings but she gets completely lost in Lesley and becomes the epicenter of sentiment. She's best-in-show and the main take away for the film's slow roast to a finale that feels unsettled and unfocused. Slattery takes a full swing at the ball but ultimately comes up short due to being overshadowed by his co-star and having a character to portray that the audience never fully understands. Great actors like Margo Martindale and Adam Driver are fine but completely wasted and don't have enough to contribute. As Marla, Louisa Krause has the most controversial player to represent but doesn't manage to get to the next level of ferocity. Played somewhat like Naomi Watts in 21 Grams (2003), the character begins to build but fails to emote a trait that feels believable. Granted, the character is meant to be hated and completely unsympathetic but the screenplay lacks insight into the motivation behind her point of view. If anyone enjoys a leisured look into an American town where emotions are not expressed except in tears and faces, Bluebird might work for many. Losing steam in the middle, the film never fully recovers and leaves you ultimately unsatisfied. Oscar CHANCES: Amy Morton for Lead Actress Read More at The Awards Circuit (http://www.awardscircuit.com)

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• Surprising well made Indie film

  linuxford2015-05-07

  This movie has your typical well-made Indie feel as far as the plot and the film quality. The characters and the acting choices made were realistic and good all-around solid acting from all the characters. Many of the actors did a superb job, and expect to see them in some upcoming films that involve bigger budgets and production. It has an slow-moving story line that gives plenty of time to develop many of the characters. This Indie delivers, as many do, a slice of life. There is nothing too risky or pushing the envelope, just a solid piece of work that all involved delivered and unashamedly can add to their resume.

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• Wonderfully bleak and grim

  cekadah2015-03-22

  If you want to watch this film (and I hope you do) prepare yourself for a very depressing story, in a very bleak town, at a hostile time of year. Everything that happens in this story is cold, dour, sullen. A child is near death due to the unintentional negligence of a very conscientious woman. She suffers emotionally, her family suffers, and the mother of the dying child is forced to reevaluate her own life. We are given by director/writer Lance Edmands a story you cannot stop watching because you become involved with each character and you care. You will just want to know whats going to happen. Some may find the ending empty. But I think it's a perfect place to conclude this film because there is no finality to daily living.

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• Life in a small village

  salgo602013-11-09

  SPOILER As the trailer tells us something is happening in the small village that will change the life for the main character. The movie has a nice footage and are approaching the story in a nice slow pace so that we get a good understanding of the day to day life. In the movie everything is presented in an linear way and we will never get to know what is happening when the camera is turned off. The ending is open ended and as an answer on the face to face session the director explained he had a lot of different endings but selected this one as the story will continue and we don't know what is happening. The most important part is not the ending it is that people has started to communicate with each other. I feel that this communication part is very important and is also essential to get a working society. A society where you involve lawyers(not usually in Sweden) is a crazy society where you miss that we all are humans. So when I got this message of the movie explained I really liked the story and the movie BUT without listening Lance Edmands I feel I should have missed this message... That I firsted missed this essential message makes that the movie doesn't get a higher rating. It is well played and the actors are excellent but I miss that the importance of communicating is more obvious.

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• Really, really, really nothing remotely like resolution

  BibChr2015-04-28

  I only give it five because of the acting. All those who love this movie praise the acting, the real-snatch-of- life feel, the unhurriedness... It has all that. And indeed, the lead actress (Amy Morton) is a study in naturalness and subtlety. You hold out, through all the slow, deliberate pacing, expecting some sort of resolution. But there is none. Zero of the several threads started is resolved. The daughter, the shiftless mother, the comatose boy, the distant husband; the causes, the effects. Nothing comes to a repose. If you prefer movies that come to SOME kind of a resolution, a final punctuation-mark, then don't hold out through this one, as I did. On the other hand, if you love irresolution, then

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