Don't Come Back from the Moon

I thought it very cool for James Franco to make an appearance in this, and a nice appearance it was; this is very indie, very imaginative and spell binding, I felt quite bad for everyone living without a father figure , it really resonates with single families and the ending really impaled the exclamation mark to what it takes to become a very strong and wonderful parent. Very interesting.. based on a book I wonder if it was as good as this movie, the kid thespian were very impressive, lets see what they will do in the near future...

Constantly moving cameras. hopefully they made enough cash from this film to buy a tripod or a dolly. if you get seasick easily, don't watch this one. Smalley (James Franco) walks out on his family in a small, dying desert town after "the plant" closes down and there's no work. and he's not the only one. more dads are giving up and leaving town. so the kids turn into juvenile delinquents. lots of pretty sunsets. and pictures of the sun and moon. should have been more story and less pictures of the moon. it's a story about leaving. do people who leave ever come back? directed by Bruce Cheung, who seems to have worked with Franco on SO many projects. novel by Dean Bakopoulos. looks like it was filmed around the edges of the salton sea. abandoned houses. ruins. mud. dead fish. it's pretty dark. it's okay.

The previous reviewer was right - this film deserves an audience and should be showing at more than one out of the way theater in a major metropolitan area. It's beautifully shot with interesting camera angles and extreme close-ups of its fresh young stars. It's set in a poor area that has been further ravaged by some natural or man-made disaster. While what has happened isn't spelled out, what is clear and poignantly portrayed is the effect poverty and hopelessness have on families and the young people left behind. Even though the landscape is bleak and the future uncertain, the movie still leaves you with a sense of hope.

As per usual, an art film that's all fluff and pretentious pseudo storytelling than actual substance. The problem from the beginning is the extremely lazy, unfocused script and the "beating the dead horse" directing by Bruce Cheung. The drama itself is just not intriguing enough and the piecemeal and patchy editing doesn't help it's central storyline of fathers abandoning their families. The main lead Mickey, is just way too tiresome and one note to be made into a feature length picture. Franco and Jones (the only power players) themselves seem super bored with their roles. Nothing worthwhile happens. Even the bits of good engagement of the kids are ruined by the film's own trappings and inability to sell it to the audience. This could have been a 20 minute short film.

This is a dull movie, but is honest about it. Follows the life of some youngsters abandoned by their father. They live in the American desert towns where there is little to do and little life except that which you can make.

It's low budget and shakey cam, but the real crux is some fine acting by the mostly young crew. Beyond that there's nothing there. So much more can have been said and done. There is hope in everyone and you can take if that happens or not.

It's a snapshot on certain lives. I just think there was more and better to say.