First Love, Last Rites

This simple little flic allows us to share the new worldly experiences of a traveller's love affair in Louisiana. He stumbles into a passionate woman and her peculiar family along with an eel and a creature scratching within the cavity of the wall. What more can a person ask for? Wonderfully paced with some awkward mannerisms from the performers who make it a treat to watch.

The filming of this movie is beautiful and well planned, however it doesn't make up for what, in my mind, the story lacks. At times the peculiarity of the events (and of Robert John Burke's failed attempt at a Creole accent) made me cringe. "How could anyone be so stupid?" I asked myself as Joey tagged alongside Sissel's creepy father. Other events that made me borderline-nauseous: the moontanning incident, the rat in the wall, the sex-on-the-pier fiasco. "The sex-on-the-pier fiasco" seemed to be Peretz's attempt to finally connect the dream sequences to something physically occurring in the movie, though in my mind, it failed miserably and I got a good hearty laugh out it. Besides the picturesque setting and great camera work, the only other redeeming qualities were Giovanni Ribisi (Joey) and Jeanetta Arnette (Sissle's mom). Natasha Gregson Wagner's Sissel seemed to a bit too psychotic for my tastes. Ribisi seems to have much talent, and Arnette's small role helped add moments of humor and excitement. See this movie for the acting/cinematography, not to be blown away.

The most realistic portrait of a first intense relationship I have ever seen on film. Certainly slow at times, but life is not always the pace of an action film. The characters are so smoothly drawn and achingly acted, that the mere sight of them on screen makes the heart cry out for their plight.

Natasha Gregson's portrayal of the confused Sissel is nothing short of brilliant. Any man who was ever profoundly confused by a woman in his life will not find the answers in her character - only more frustration with her realistic nuances on screen with Giovanni Ribisi. And any man who has ever been hopelessly in love will sympathize with Ribisi's lovestruck character and his honest stumblings trying to understand the woman he loves. The setting is perfect for this film, and is beautifully shot. There are subtle suggestions that Sissel may have been the victim of a drowning, but I have yet to pull out enough information to prove this interpretation.

Not for everyone, but if you are looking for an honest, real picture of first intense love without an ending that smacks you in the chops or filled with stupid Hollywood cliches about love, this is the film for you....

I rented the movie because I already had the soundtrack and loved it. I was thinking "How bad can this movie be with a soundtrack like this?" Well.....it wasn't great. It moved pretty slow for me. It was just....there. It felt like I was just killing time watching the movie. The two main actors are much better than the roles they played. I wouldn't mind seeing the two of them together in a different, better movie. Guess you can never judge a movie by its soundtrack.

FIRST LOVE, LAST RITES is a movie that I know people will be bored with. It is slow for some tastes. Life is slow. This movie is so true to life and it's pacing seems all too real. It's amazing it's a story not of plot but of documenting time. The story inspired a screenplay that I just finished Belmar. It has such a slow core to it and is so atmospheric. Bottom line THIS IS AN ART FILM. ("A movie simple enough for a child to understand with images strong enought for an adult"-Roger Ebert. Different people will react differently to this movie. It's for the art crowd and for film students. It's not for the average multiplex movie goer unless they get darring and wana try something new. I hope Jesse Perez makes another movie, the actors were great, well I am a huge fan of Natsha Gerson Wagner. It's a very steamy masterpeace that moves with the charactors and the atmosphere. I have no idea why this film didn't make it big. It sure is a discovery on video!