Ingenious

I went into this movie with the idea that it would be pretty boring. Its not my typical type of movie genre... However, despite the lack of action (there was never any thrilling movie-climax moment that you get so much these days) it certainly was entertaining. I NEVER felt bored. Its a steady movie. Dallas Roberts and Jeremy Renner do a fantastic job. The characters feel so real, like they could be your neighbors, your friends, any common person. I was impressed by the amazing cinematography. It's scene after scene of beautiful camera angles. I was particularly struck by the spectacular lighting, using the dessert sun and scenery to their advantage. I didn't catch who directed the cameras, but I want to find them and hug them and make them turn my life into such a beautiful thing as they did this film. So, while it wasn't the best movie ever, I do love it and don't regret watching. I'd DEFINITELY recommend it to my friends.

This movie was filmed in Tucson AZ in different parts of the city. I was doing Security for the set and didn't really know what all it was about but did see Richard Kind and Jeremy Renner and didn't know who either were at the time but did recognize Richard Kind from TV but didn't know his name but know he was a well known actor. This movie was filmed in 2007 and I had been trying to find it for years because I guarded the camera, lighting and trailers and kept homeless people from wandering into the set up areas during filming but didn't know the name of the movie. Almost every part of town they filmed in was the ghetto to...lol No joke they left millions of dollars worth of camera and lighting equipment and trailers and the cars they used for the movie just sitting on the street or in parking lots with only one unarmed Security guy at a time watching the stuff. It was a miracle nothing got stolen. Now that I finally found it online I was able to watch it and remember the green car that was on the set and the different places we went where they set up for days at a time to film. Almost got in a fist fight with a homeless dude that wanted to eat with the crew working on the film when they were set up at the TCC downtown. Dude was refusing to leave...lol If I had known Jeremy Renner was going to become such a well known actor i would have asked for his autograph because I was everywhere the cast, extras and crews were working and guarded the trailers. One thing I learned in doing Security for a movie set is that the camera and lighting guys are the hardest working people in the movie industry, those guys had a hard job. Anyway, I honestly didn't like the movie but was glad to finally see it because it was filmed in my hometown of Tucson AZ and I was one of the Security guys working the set with a company called Tactical Elete Security.

Renner wasn't big when he made this movie. Which is exactly why this only came out after his Avengers and Bourne outputs. Which is a shame, because the movie, which is based on a true story, is actually pretty decent. The acting in it too. And not only Renner, who's just a side character in the whole thing.

We get a fairly normal movie with its ups and downs. And even without knowing the real story behind this, we know where our characters will land at the end of the movie. Well it would be a surprise, if it is a surprise for anyone watching. What I didn't know, was what exactly would be the reason for that to happen. Who'd knew it would be that? And if they did, could they have come up with something like that too? Can we still?

I saw this at a special showing at The Loft (one of the best independent theaters in the country) last month. While everyone in the theater had a special affinity with the film (it was shot entirely in Tucson and every street scene brought a gasp of familiarity from the audience), there was more to the buzz than just local pride. The story is believable and fun, and while some of the circumstances might have been exaggerated, the characters ring true and there is a wonderful spirit that flows through the entire production. It's the kind of film that doesn't seem to get made these days, and it sat in unedited limbo for quite a while waiting for financing to finish it up. I can see why, because the marketing will be tough since there is no obvious target audience. But when it shows up in wider spread distribution, go see it. It's an evening well spent.

If the woman was as alluring-captivating as her, I'd have in a heartbeat made her a full partner as well (totally slick the way she gets 'him' set up). Well cast.. all other actors do good work, but I watched this film specifically to see Ayelet Zurer. Her performance in my mind was the payoff, she is just something special (incredible at 44... bing her.. binged.it/1sHfTuB ..look at all her incredible pix). It is totally obvious why she is so damn popular in her country, too bad more of her better work is not available to stateside audiences. Back to this movie, it's a fairly typical storyline, with your oh-so foreseeable ending.. with a slight twist. Had it come up with more noteworthy mood-enhancing background score, it could possibly have achieved another star. It definitely benefits from another full viewing.