JohnnyLee1 Rare character-based two-hander. A cinematic Waiting For Godot. Performances were a pleasure to watch especially Emile Hirsch's. Can't say I understood the Lady character but the truck driver (to whose memory the film is dedicated) is a joy.

avik-basu1889 Prince Avalanche is a smallish independent film directed by David Gordon Green, a renowned filmmaker in the indie film circuits. Acting wise, this film is majorly a two-hander starring Paul Rudd and Emile Hirsch. There isn't much happening in this film plot-wise which makes it a study of these two characters and an exploration of their sensitivities. Alvin played by Rudd and Lance played by Hirsch are two road-crew workers. They are also related in some way as Alvin is in a relationship with Lance's sister. They are two very different characters. Alvin is the mature, organised, reserved man, while Lance is the younger, wild, immature and naive individual. The film mainly is about the gradual development of a bond between them after initial hiccups. The film makes us witness two characters undergoing subtle changes and each of these characters get glimpses of self realisations on account of their interactions with each other through the course of the film. The fact that these two fellows are making the roadways ready for usage with the rugged, abrasive and bleak looking remains of forests ravaged by wildfire at the backdrop tells everything that you need to know about the message of the film. The director wants to say that unforeseen and unfortunate events will keep happening as we move forward on this road called life, but what has to be ensured is that we don't allow ourselves to get irreparably affected by them and we should keep moving forward and enjoy ourselves without neglecting our responsibilities. I loved how the two characters went through a whole range of emotions throughout the film which range from trying to brutally beat each other up to having very heartfelt and intimate conversations about their lives and their decisions. They are very different characters, but both manage to change the other in the best way without changing their basic identities. The cinematography is brilliant with the film being completely shot outdoors. The dark, desolate forests and the barren tree branches growing out and almost giving the film stills a 3d effect, reminded me of the cinematography in Tarkovsky's 'Ivan's Childhood'. The direction by Green has to be admired too, as a film of this structure and such themes generally involve female characters, so to make a film like this with male leads and then to make it an endearing film as a whole is an achievement. However 'Prince Avalanche' isn't without flaws. I think the dialogue writing is a bit questionable at times. There are a few scenes where the dialogue becomes a bit too blunt and unsubtle. The characters become a bit too verbally explicit in these scenes. Another flaw is Emile Hirsch's acting in a few scenes. Overall, he is good in the film, but there are a few scenes where his acting comes across as forced and it loses its believability. Paul Rudd is fantastic in pretty much every scene. There is also a montage towards the end of the film after the characters decided to throw caution to the wind, and this montage looked extremely generic, something that is overused in a lot of similar films.So 'Prince Avalanche' is not a perfect film, but it is certainly very well made and it has noble ideas and a likable message. It might not linger in your mind for too long, but the characters in the film certainly will be good company during the film.

TheMarwood Some sort of return to form for David Gordon Green after the not even close to successful venture into studio comedy hackery with Your Highness and The Sitter. Two men are painting yellow traffic lines after a forrest fire in 1988 and dealing with their inner demons and immaturity. I apologize for such a simplistic and tedious sounding description of the premise, but the film is funny, grounded and very entertaining. Rudd and Hirsch are in top form here, but it's Green who makes this simple, small story worth a watch. Quickly shot in 16 days, it's well photographed and Green never lets this lapse into an indulgent, shapeless mess. It's a shame a film like this can barely find distribution and be dumped with little fanfare in a couple of theaters and VOD day and date.

callanvass Two friends (Lance & Alvin) that are used to the big city life, move to an isolated town to seclude themselves as highway road workers, thinking it will sort their lives out, but there are a few issues at hand. Alvin is still in love with Lance's sister, even sends her money she doesn't deserve. The bond between the two friends becomes tested when Alvin gets dumped by Lance's sister. I liked this movie. I don't believe i'll ever watch it again, but I enjoyed the quirky style. I'm not picky when it comes to movies. I tend to enjoy every genre, but I do get tired of the blockbusters and all the predictability that can come with movies. It becomes very refreshing when you see a unique film like this one. This movie is deliberately paced and better for it. I'm not sure how much casual film goers will get out of this, but for the movie buffs, there is plenty to enjoy. The cinematography is splendid and the character development is top notch. The two leads are more than up to this task. Paul Rudd is regarded as a comedic actor, but he is capable of being an excellent actor. I thought Paul Rudd did a great job at conveying his emotions in this film. I felt he stole the show completely with his self absorbed, albeit likable character. I like Paul Rudd a lot in general, but it is always nice to see him expand his range. Some of my favorite scenes with him come in the second half. Emile Hirsch is pretty good as well. He wasn't as dynamic as Rudd was, but he didn't have to be. His chemistry with Rudd was very good. Even though the second half gets quite dramatic, I thought they did a good job of balancing it with well timed humor. The scene where Alvin & Lance get really drunk in the second half was poetic with how beautiful it was. Final Thoughts: This won't be for everybody. I think it appeals to certain viewers to be honest with you. If you're up for a film that is thought provoking and unique, this one is for you. I dug it7.2/10