The Other Side of Paradise (2009) - By Josh Samford

Film Reviews: The Other Side of Paradise (2009) - By Josh Samford
Posted on Friday, May 01, 2009 @ 17:27:35 Mountain Daylight Time by Duane

Director Justin D. Hilliard is an interesting voice amongst the shouts of the independent film community. I was sent his feature "Wednesday" last year and was really blown away with, an epic tale from a limited budget that took place on two continents. It was really an impressive experience. Hilliard contacted me not too long ago about his most recent feature, The Other Side of Paradise. I'm here to tell you that not only does it reach the standards held by the previous Striped-Socks production - but triumphantly rises above it. Everything that made Wednesday a memorable and fun experience is completely and utterly amplified times ten in this much more natural feeling road-trip drama comedy. A true adventure on film if ever there was one, I can't begin to describe how much fun this film is when it's "on". It's a romantic and entertaining ride through the south, mostly Texas and delivers a touching and beautiful rollercoaster of emotions. Although a sizable two hours in length, Hilliard's opus is such an interesting and emotionally impactful piece that it makes it all certainly seem worthwhile. Although surely not everyone will agree with me, those who do will find an amazing and engaging experience.

Rose is a bit of a free spirit, the kind of girl who says what comes to her mind and doesn't hold back. Alex, her good male friend is just back from Europe and is going to be bunking down with Rose while she goes off to visit her dad and then open her art gallery in Austin Texas. Both Alex and Rose have been friends for years, but have built up a lot of sexual tension over time with each other having been in committed relationships for the past three years. However, the two have both left those relationships and are now free to do what they want - with neither trying to push their relationship to any extreme in too quick of a hurry, they set off on their road trip picking up Jamie the very next day after Alex is in town. Jamie is Rose's brother and just been released from prison. A quiet and rebellious young man who is generally very nice to most - but when pushed or confronted, carries a to-the-point violent streak. Working as the bodyguard for Rose and Alex in many ways, he doesn't shy away from their wild shenanigans. When they arrive at their father's house though, Rose and Jamie have a surprise waiting for them. Their new step-mother, a girl only a few years older than Rose herself, accidentally lets it slip that their real mother actually lives in Texas herself - not in Portugal as their father has always told them. After pushing for the information, they are given an address and are off to see just what their future, and past, has in store for them.

Sometimes when you love a little indie flick, you have to cover your bases and preface all your praise with "as long as you look over this or that, you're bound to have a good time", because sometimes it takes a forgiving audience member to truly see the really great things about a film that might have a couple of bad actors running about in it. With Other Side of Paradise, I don't feel the need for any of that. This excels past the "Indie" film stigma, to something that is so unabashedly cinematic and fun that there are only a handful of films that really stick out in my mind that have affected me in a similar way. Sure, if you're Johnnie Blockbuster Rental, a film about human emotion or simplistic fun might not appeal to you. However, if you're carousing Rogue Cinema or my own site - then you're already a pretty open viewer. The Other Side is everything that the romantic comedy genre ultimately should be, but unfortunately is not. It is a romantic film not to be mistaken, contains a lot of fun comedic elements as well - but it's never sugarcoated, never dumbs it down for the audience and is never without something to say. Don't get me wrong, this isn't some kind of preachy arthouse flick about a couple of lovebirds, it is genuinely funny and such a lighthearted flick - especially during the first hour or so, when we fall in love with these characters as much as those falling in love onscreen.

The growth shown by director Justin D. Hilliard as well as all involved is simply amazing. If you read my glowing review for Wednesday, you know that I was a fan of that film without a doubt. However, with this feature Hilliard makes due on all of the great promise he showed in his first film. The use of music! By god, the use of music in this film. Using a few artist, but peppering the soundtrack with multiple songs from each band all throughout - it's as if the music never stops flowing, but it's all so very well done and beautifully orchestrated along with the visuals. The bands, I really don't know what 'genre' you would define them as. I think whatever one might consider Death Cab For Cutie, the music here would fall in line with along with a little bluegrass tinged country soul at times. Hilliard showed an ear for music that I enjoyed with Wednesday, and even had me searching through websites finding music from the artists who provided music for that soundtrack - and I have a feeling I'll be doing the same thing once again for this film. The quality of the music simply matches up with the great quality of the film, which simply looks like it was shot on a much larger budget than I'm sure it likely had.

Wednesday showed a lot of great visual potency, but in a much more linear film such as this one with so many different sets and locations that vary from bars to cramped cars, he shows a lot of style and imagination in the camera set-ups and shots. Not to mention the beautiful slow motion shots, ahh, I do so ever love them. There are two moments that come to mind in the film that really blow my mind and illustrate the whimsical fun of it all, I'll just go over one of them to conserve some time. As the three members of the cast play Truth or Dare in the car (which becomes a character in itself, as we spend so much time in it), the first one to accept a dare is Jamie - who at this point you wouldn't even expect to play along in such a joke. His dare turns out to be walking up to a random girl and kissing her. When told to do so, his response is simply: "that's all?". He steps out of the car while the music blares, walks right up to this random and beautiful woman who stands smoking a cigarette. He says to her "first I'm going to take a drag off of that cigarette, and then I'm going to kiss you". Then, in slow motion and the music swelling over the soundtrack he does just that and I tell you this: there is NO way to solidify the coolness of a character any more than that. At that point in the film, I cashed in my chips, turned over my cards and just said "that's it, I am SOLD."

At this point, I review sometimes six to seven independent films a month for the magazine - and in my personal time I'm writing about some pretty cheaply made older exploitation films for my own website. Truthfully, I wonder if at this point I've become so used to bad acting that I'd have trouble spotting what other people consider "good" acting. However, if I see anyone talking down on the performances in Other Side, I'll just flip out on them. I'm sorry, everyone is just SO good in this! The characters are so well crafted and the actors are all so perfect for their roles. Frank Mosley, who plays Jamie may be the more quiet member of the main trio, but he sells the character in every single scene. He doesn't have to say much, because he's the epitome of cool. The guy doesn't look like a hardened criminal, but his charisma and the way he carries himself in the film makes you believe it - and the spectacular way that he's written just makes you love this guy from beginning to end. John Elliott who plays Alex brings a professional class to his role and has such great chemistry with Arianne Martin that the two really seem to rift off of one another. His mannerisms and his comfortable style comes off as 100% natural and helps establish this great Alex character. Blown away with his performance. Arianne Martin, who plays Rose, already had a great performance under her belt in a Hilliard film as Lucy in Wednesday. However, this time around with a writing and casting director credit - she really is able to shine. Sultry and sexy, funny and naive - this is a character who is all over the board in the presentation of herself, but doesn't lie about it. Always honest and with a ton of really great lines, she steals the show but she's in really great company the entire way through.

Guys, I was blown away, no lie. I just loved The Other Side of Paradise from start to finish. I'm all about giving independent films a fair shake, but indie or not I know Other Side will remain in my favorite films of this year period. Hilliard makes due on all the promise of his previous film and continues his rise. I just can't wait to see more from this filmmaker and I'm going to do my best to let other people know about this spectacular little flick. You just have to see it to get all of my praise and hype. You can read more about the filmmakers and the movie over at the official Striped Socks website: www.striped-socks.com. Do it now!