Last night at the Orange County cultural center of film, The Regency South Coast Plaza Theater, a small but enthusiastic group of film lovers watched the movie "Uncertainty" and then were treated to a Q&A with the writers/producers/directors.
Scott McGehee and David Siegel have created an interesting, "experimental" film about the choices we make and the consequences of those decisions.
The film stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Lynn Collins as a couple who flip a coin, head off in different directions and meet different versions of each other's significant other at opposite ends of the Brooklyn Bridge.
One set of couples go on a mundane trip to a family barbecue and the other end up finding a cell phone in a cab that begins a serious set of turns of thriller events in Chinatown. Both sets of couples though have life and death decisions to make and trying to decide which of those sets of decisions is more important or dramtic is part of the underlying
depth of this film.
Much about this film is under the surface, at times a bit off-kilter - the plot elements, the sometimes odd decisions as to the characters and their backgrounds, the fact that a lot of the film was improvised during a month of rehersals in NYC - and that's all good. I am truly in awe of the filmmakers who insisted (cue music) on doing this movie their way.
"Uncertainty" is in the vein of "Sliding Doors" and "Run Lola Run" with elements of neither. But rather than go into detail as to where the film goes and how it resolves, I will say that some could be disappointed if expecting some of the traditional genre elements that go with a thriller or a couple's drama. The stories are parallel - they don't converge (except in a few certain moments.) They don't resolve in an expected way. This is perhaps a bit unsatisfying because you wonder about the point of the film. But look beyond that and you're entertained with two wonderful stories that could have stood alone.
I analogize "Uncertainty" this way: It's like you're sitting down for a multi-course meal in an epicurean area in which you've never been - say Korean or Armenian (which I've both done recently.) There are certain dishes that will be familiar and you'll like; some you will like even though they taste a bit odd, some you'll just nod at without a strong reaction, and some you'll dislike and push away. That's this movie.
The Q&A with McGehee and Siegel, two Orange County boys (now living and working in NYC,) was lively and vasty entertaining. Both are whip-smart, smart-assed, and have a depth of experience when it comes to their process and the off-Hollywood experience. I only say off-Hollywood in that they've made their mark primarily in the "Independent" world. But they are also working on a film for The Weinstein company that will no doubt change that perception quite a bit - if their highly successful "The Deep End" staring Tilda Swinton didn't already.
"Uncertainty" is playing in select theaters and is available through IFC on Demand. It will soon be on the normal IFC channel (which I love) and then in the stores and online as a rental.
I was happy to see this film and thrilled to sit down with these amazing filmmakers. Thank the Powers that there are still filmmakers and venues for these movies that don't follow formulas, that take risks and go in unexpected directions. A vibrant movie industry desperately needs to nurture and maintain these surprising jewels.
On a side note, afterward, I was graciously invited by Seth Siegel to an intimate nosh that featured some of the most amazing chocolate I've ever eaten called Myra Kyoto Chocolate (www.myrakyotochocolate.com) - yes, this is a shameless plug in the hopes they'll send me more - just kidding - but honestly, the chocolate is that good.
Also, kudos to the Regency Theater group for making these types of movies and Q&A's available - please continue to support this venue or wonderful events like this might disappear entirely.
