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The Before Time
USA 2014
produced by Shahrook Oomer, Peter Paul Basler, Alex Lopes (executive) for Supernova Films, Media Distribution Partners
directed by Miguel Müller
starring Ted Jonas, Jules Hartley, Danielle Baker, Sean Patrick McGowan, Aidan Marus, Julianne Dowler, Phillip Andre Botello, Danny Arroyo, Don Ytzimleich, Shamil Erfanian, Stefania Vasconcellos, Luke Hong, Eva Kee, Jason Woods, Darren O'Lemmets, Megan Hui, Glen Talley
story by Rodrigo Goulart, Miguel Müller, screenplay by Scott Bunt
review by Mike Haberfelner
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Available on DVD! To buy, click on link(s) below and help keep this site afloat (commissions earned) |
Always make sure of DVD-compatibility!!!
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The finding of 8 beheaded corpses in the Sonora desertis a tragedy to
most ... but to TV producer Dan Casablanca (Ted Jonas) it seems to be the
chance of a lifetime: How about doing a documentary series, where two
rivaling news anchors, Kim (Jules Hartley) and Cate (Danielle Baker) try
to get the most out of the story, that also has to do with a hidden Navajo
treasure of Spanish doubloons. So off it's to the desert for Dan, the
two ladies, Dan's intern Pete (Sean Patrick McGowan), who's actually of
Navajo descent and thus their (rather clueless guide), and a whole film
crew. It soon becomes clear though that this is hardly an actual
documentary but more of reality TV about the two battling TV anchors, who
really can't stand one another, especially since Kim's Dan's ex he dropped
for Cate - but here Dan's totally impartial, he sees to it that both are
shown at their worst. Plus, he has also hired actors to pose as Navajos to
spice things up a bit ... so once our cast's out in the wild, and they
take some peyote which gives them (consistent) hallucinations and somehow
deprives them of their field producer (Julianne Dowler), things get weird
but nobody knows whether all of this is for real or just another trick Dan
plays on them. Oh, they find the doubloons alright, but then Cate's sucked
into the treasure hole - and even though nobody's convinced that Dan isn't
just shitting on them, they decide to run ... but more and more of the
group hit the bucket in the process, and the survivors are left with only
guesses at what it is that's actually hitting them ... The
Before Time is one of the rare found footage films that actually gets
it right, that does not think shakey cameras are enough to replace
narrative structure, build up of tension and suspense, and interesting
characters. And especially the first act is filled with lots of laughs and
straight satire, too, often making one forget that this is supposed to be
found footage even. And the beauty of it is that the movie makes its shift
from comedy to drama only very gradually, and thus allows us to identify
with a cast of rather unlikeable characters, just because they are lots of
fun. And add to that great locations and a really competent cast, and
you've got a good one on your hands!
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