20131002: Drama Review--Macho

Macho

1. Fundamentals
1. American live action feature length film, released in 2009, NR, 74 minutes, drama.
2. IMDB: 6.3/10.0 from 62 users;.
3. Rotten Tomatoes: no information whatsoever.
4. Netflix: 2.9/5.0 from 18,249 audience.
5. Written and directed by: Rafael Palacio Illingworth.
6. Starring: Rafael Palacio Illingworth as Paul Aladro, Jolene Andersen as Sofi Anderson, Michael Teh as 'Handsome Man'.


2. Setup and Plot
1. Paul is from Mexico; Sofi is from Vancouver.  They meet and fall in like (as opposed to love) in Los Angeles.  After their initial getting to know you period, they try to keep it together.


2. Love punch?  Jumped the shark, 11 minutes in.


3. It's sad when they are apart.  It's also sad when they are together and he's drunk (and insulting, loud, and not attentive).  He's afraid and needy, while she's willing to let it go.


4. This relationship cannot possibly work.  Thirty seven minutes in (half way): will this film never end?  Of course it does, just not soon enough.  The relationship devolves slowly but surely.


3. Conclusions
1. Boring.  Too many jump cuts, too little exposition, too much whining.  Eight minutes of content told over 74 minutes.
2. One line summary: Romance doomed from the start; worse yet, it's a vanity film.
3. Three stars of five.


4. Scores
1. Cinematography: 7/10 Adequate, but with a low budget look.


2. Sound: 7/10 OK, but not great.


3. Acting: 5/10 If only Illingworth were not in it.  Andersen was OK.


4. Screenplay: 4/10 Vanity work, and not very good.