Fabulous Film Find at the Newport Beach Film Festival
1 ViewsOh, the joy of finding a gem and telling others about it!
I admit it. I'm a film fanatic. But it's getting harder and harder these days to enjoy my passion because finding a good film lately is as hard to find as a good luck penny in Jason Castro's hair. But I've always enjoyed the Newport Beach Film festival so on Saturday night I took a date to one of their films and got lucky — with the film that is. It's called "Frost."
The beginning may lack some pace. But the rest of this film is nothing less than a spectacular example of why we go to the movies. We go to be emotionally transported. And if you have a heart in any kind of working order this film WILL transport you. It WILL move you.
“Frost” is a modern playboy chronicle about a rich, handsome bachelor who can have any woman he wants. At first you’ll just feel like an interested observer of one man’s fascinating life. But this man who seems to have everything needs help. And soon you’ll be more than an observer. You’ll be drawn gradually and maybe even moist-eyed into caring about his troubled heart and soul, rooting for him to be whole again as he interacts with a supporting cast that could hold its own in any opening-weekend-driven movie.
Jack is played by Jason Behr from “Roswell” and other TV shows. He’s what the women in our lives call drop-dead gorgeous, as confirmed by the “oooh” sound my date made when he came onscreen. But she's also a serious film lover, and like me, she was no less impressed with his seemingly effortless acting skills. The man is either a natural or so good mechanically that he appears to be one. I fully expect him to emerge as a leading man in more expensive films. Wisely, neither he nor cinematographer Brian Burgoyne played on his looks. There wasn’t a single hint of it.
But it’s not just one man’s story. The script is so well crafted we found ourselves becoming immersed in the lives of ALL his friends and lovers. Director Steve Clark expertly had us caring for each of their outcomes. They didn’t feel created just to tell Jack’s story. One supporting actor we couldn’t stop talking about afterwards was India Ennenga, who plays the eleven-year-old neighbor girl. Her performance was so perfect and so un-cliché as the cute youngster who steals our hearts that all I can say is watch out Dakota Fanning, there’s a new girl in town.
Every now and then all the elements come together in the emotional transportation business of a good film. Even the music seems perfect if you can snap out of your own roller coaster ride long enough to notice it. You make a quick mental note and get back in your roller coaster seat if you want to fully enjoy what this movie is doing to you.
Co-producer Carlos Velazquez took questions after the Saturday night screening — which was nice because after seeing a great film you don't want to get out of your seat right away. You want more. And he supplied some tidbits that satiated us. One little shocker was that the film was shot in only 25 days! That speaks volumes about the whole team on both sides of the camera. May they all find success in their chosen specialties. This film will certainly help.
“Frost” will leave you lamenting and asking afterwards, “Why can’t mainstream Hollywood make movies like that? But a more enjoyable reaction will probably be similar to mine. You’ll have that special joy that comes with accidentally stumbling upon a gem. I’ll savor this one for a long time. Tom Sullivan, Newport Beach
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