This is my second review of this film, and in my previous one I called the film a masterpiece. After reviewing the film a good many times, here's a better conclusion I've come up with.
First, let me say this is not a bad film. It is very far from that - but it certainly has its flaws. A film based of the Columbine High School Massacre isn't exactly at the top of many people's lists of films to see, and I think we can all understand that. Many of us remember that day much like we remember 9/11. Where we first heard the news, who we were with, etc. And with the recent Ft. Hood shootings, we do remember these things. This is the main reason why this film has caused a bit of confusion as to why it would be made. Why would anyone want to capitalize off the deaths of teenagers? April Showers is not that.
The story is of Sean (Kelly Blatz), a senior at Jefferson High School in the last weeks of school. Within the first few minutes, we learn of romance troubles between him and April (Ellen Woglom). This is the first part where the film goes wrong. Not that we have a romantic subplot, but as we learn its a love triangle between Sean, April, and Vicki (Janel Parrish). But wait, who's Vicki? I had to go online just to find out who she was, then to discover most of her parts were cut from the final film. Why? Now we have a love triangle that is only one sided. This causes confusion throughout the entire film; now that Vicki isn't part of it, what is April so ticked about? Why is Sean confused? We don't find out. The only mention of it is with a conversation Sean has with Mr. Blackwell (Tom Arnold), giving us a glimpse.
Then we have our second mistake. Once we meet all our characters for a minutes, the worst possible thing happens - a shooter goes on a rampage throughout the school, killing many fellow students and others. During this shooting, I struggled to remember most of the characters names. Why? Because we only saw them once, and for some less than a minute. Alas, the mistake. Lack of character development, and this carries through the entire film. April Showers is a film where the characters a key, so we need to connect with them. The reason we can't is the film jumps into the action much to soon. When a central character dies, one who we've only seen, not even a line from, how do we feel sad? Sure, the scene is sad, but the impact isn't there. We don't feel like we've lost anyone, its just like watching a sad news story. Since we didn't know who was killed, we don't feel sad for them. This seems to be for most characters in the film. What happens to us, then? We're taken through an awful experience of a film. Not because the film is awful, but because the event is awful. We're taken through nearly two hours of confusion, depressing events, and people fighting with each other. But at least we don't... oh wait, we have. We through a religious message into the film. There isn't an issue with this, unless, like this film, your shoving the message down the throats of the audience. This doesn't exactly help us out any more.
We don't even have anything comedic in the film. Yes, I understand, this is based off a tragedy, but this is a movie. The audience needs a breather, a little laugh would be fine, if not, you end up with what this film came out to be - just plain depressing and even, at times, boring.
But here are some positive sides to this - the direction is solid here, and I'm impressed how well Andrew Robinson did, considering this is only his second film. The film has a very, very impressive score to go with that, one of the better I've heard from an Indie film, certainly in my top 10 scores. The cinematography is what really puts this film together, very impressive award-worthy work.
As for our acting skills. Being an Indie shot in the middle of Nebraska, its, at times, what you expect from certain actors. But our lead actors, let me say, are fantastic. If it wasn't for them, how this film remains watchable would be lost. They should have a bright, bright future here, as most of these people should.
It's a film with no real character development, a confusing plot(s), and no conclusion. That doesn't mean the film isn't watchable - I certainly recommend it, as it will give you a first hand account of a school shooting, and the credits, showing the names of all who died was genius to the film, where it really packs the emotional punch. Don't expect a masterpiece, expect a well done Indie with flaws.
First, let me say this is not a bad film. It is very far from that - but it certainly has its flaws. A film based of the Columbine High School Massacre isn't exactly at the top of many people's lists of films to see, and I think we can all understand that. Many of us remember that day much like we remember 9/11. Where we first heard the news, who we were with, etc. And with the recent Ft. Hood shootings, we do remember these things. This is the main reason why this film has caused a bit of confusion as to why it would be made. Why would anyone want to capitalize off the deaths of teenagers? April Showers is not that.
The story is of Sean (Kelly Blatz), a senior at Jefferson High School in the last weeks of school. Within the first few minutes, we learn of romance troubles between him and April (Ellen Woglom). This is the first part where the film goes wrong. Not that we have a romantic subplot, but as we learn its a love triangle between Sean, April, and Vicki (Janel Parrish). But wait, who's Vicki? I had to go online just to find out who she was, then to discover most of her parts were cut from the final film. Why? Now we have a love triangle that is only one sided. This causes confusion throughout the entire film; now that Vicki isn't part of it, what is April so ticked about? Why is Sean confused? We don't find out. The only mention of it is with a conversation Sean has with Mr. Blackwell (Tom Arnold), giving us a glimpse.
Then we have our second mistake. Once we meet all our characters for a minutes, the worst possible thing happens - a shooter goes on a rampage throughout the school, killing many fellow students and others. During this shooting, I struggled to remember most of the characters names. Why? Because we only saw them once, and for some less than a minute. Alas, the mistake. Lack of character development, and this carries through the entire film. April Showers is a film where the characters a key, so we need to connect with them. The reason we can't is the film jumps into the action much to soon. When a central character dies, one who we've only seen, not even a line from, how do we feel sad? Sure, the scene is sad, but the impact isn't there. We don't feel like we've lost anyone, its just like watching a sad news story. Since we didn't know who was killed, we don't feel sad for them. This seems to be for most characters in the film. What happens to us, then? We're taken through an awful experience of a film. Not because the film is awful, but because the event is awful. We're taken through nearly two hours of confusion, depressing events, and people fighting with each other. But at least we don't... oh wait, we have. We through a religious message into the film. There isn't an issue with this, unless, like this film, your shoving the message down the throats of the audience. This doesn't exactly help us out any more.
We don't even have anything comedic in the film. Yes, I understand, this is based off a tragedy, but this is a movie. The audience needs a breather, a little laugh would be fine, if not, you end up with what this film came out to be - just plain depressing and even, at times, boring.
But here are some positive sides to this - the direction is solid here, and I'm impressed how well Andrew Robinson did, considering this is only his second film. The film has a very, very impressive score to go with that, one of the better I've heard from an Indie film, certainly in my top 10 scores. The cinematography is what really puts this film together, very impressive award-worthy work.
As for our acting skills. Being an Indie shot in the middle of Nebraska, its, at times, what you expect from certain actors. But our lead actors, let me say, are fantastic. If it wasn't for them, how this film remains watchable would be lost. They should have a bright, bright future here, as most of these people should.
It's a film with no real character development, a confusing plot(s), and no conclusion. That doesn't mean the film isn't watchable - I certainly recommend it, as it will give you a first hand account of a school shooting, and the credits, showing the names of all who died was genius to the film, where it really packs the emotional punch. Don't expect a masterpiece, expect a well done Indie with flaws.