Heaven's Neighbors

I discovered this wonderful film a few weeks ago at indieflix.com. Being a film major I keep on the lookout for movies that are slightly out of the mainstream. Usually this means sitting through atrocious horror films that lack style, substance, or for that matter, a plot. It was extremely refreshing to finally unearth an indie that does quite well in all three of these areas. I decide to write a paper for class on the Human condition as expressed in Heaven's Neighbors. My professor was so intrigued with my paper (I got at 3.8!) that he wanted me to show the film to the whole class. He thought it might incite a good discussion. He was right! Overall, the response was extremely favorable. It was interesting to note that females overwhelmingly loved this movie. The male students where split between those who thought it was good, but not great, and one or two who didn't like it at all. This sparked a quite a debate! Especially when it was noted that those who didn't like it were all "jocks" whose taste in films runs more toward action films like Terminator and Armageddon. And those that loved the film said that it was precisely because it wasn't "action laden with over the top special effects, that they enjoyed it so much. They noted the emphasis on story and the insights on life were the best part about Heaven's Neighbors. Judging by the comments here I see that many others feel the same way. Those of us who love the film are going to expand out research. I, for one, have found deeper levels after repeated viewings. Maybe it's fodder for a term paper? If I could only figure out what Dr. Boreas is all about? What's the real motivation for suicide? What does his name mean?

A friend clued me in to indieflix.com. I was hooked immediately and single handedly probably kept them in business for a month or so. Quite a few of the shorts they offer are better than average, but without a doubt the crown jewel of them all is Heaven's Neighbors. Not only is it shot well, but it has what many indie flicks do not have, a story. The film makers have taken what is usually a handicap for small production companies (lack of funds), and turned it into an advantage. The problem with most indie movies is that they try to bite off more than they can chew. You end up with a movie of high aspirations, that fails to reach it's goals. Here you have a story that works within the framework of what they can actually do. Instead of half baked actions scenes that only illustrate their limitations, you have a wonderful character study that shows that you can accomplish great things if you only understand the medium. Everyone should surf on over to indieflix.com and buy Heaven's Neighbors right now. Keep the spirit of independent film alive and treat your self to one of the finest examples of "film making with limitations."

I was sitting in my comparative mythologies class about a week ago when the mention of a single name drew my attention. The professor was going over a few key points in classical Greek mythology when I heard him mention Boreas. Boreas? Where had I heard that name before? It took me a while and then I remembered this movie I had watched not too long ago called Heaven's Neighbors. I couldn't wait to get back to my apartment and check it out again. I liked the movie and I was curious if this were just a coincidence. A quick review of the movie confirmed that this was no coincidence. Every major character's name either comes from Greek mythology, Christian history, or derives it's source from western civilization. Naturally I had to delve deeper. I was soon aware of another level to this little movie. Another level that I had missed in the first viewings. Suffice it to say my second semester thesis is going to be entitled: Western mythological motifs in the movie Heaven's Neighbors. I would like to that the film makers for such fertile ground for my research project. I am sure that I will be moving over ground never crossed before! On a side note I must tell you that I got this movie as a bootleg from a friend. Other researches have turned yup the fact that it is available from indieflix.com and as yet it has no major distributor. This is a wrong that must be corrected. This movie deserves to be distributed through major channels. The depth of the characters and the story are worthy of so much better. Somebody pick this movie up and get it into the stores!

Forget about low budget, forget about small independent films, forget about everything you think of when you hear such terms. Heaven's Neighbors is a creative, sensitive, emotionally deep film regardless of it's origins. I was invited by a friend to watch a new movie she had just bought on line. I was reluctant to go having set through some real turkeys in the past. But she was so effusive in her praise that I decided to take a chance. However, not before checking out it's rating and comments on IMDb.com, (or if it even was listed here) I was not surprised by the negative comments. Working in film I find that most critics of these small indie flicks are "friends" of the film makers who either have a bone to pick with them, suffer from jealousy, or just love to bring down others for their own pleasure. For the record, it is always easier to criticize. This is a strong trait in the majority of humans. Most of them seem to get some kind of emotional build up and feeling of self importance by trashing other's work. IMDb.com attracts more than it's fair share of these type of self aggrandizing sharks. So I naturally take take their comments with a big grain of salt. What did surprise me was the positive comments concerning Heaven's Neighbors. One doesn't usually hear such glowing praise for a small movie like this. "The movie creates it's own beautiful world." "A thoughtful story well written and directed." I was intrigued. So Friday night I sat down at my girlfriends house unsure of what I was about to see. It was everything I could have hoped for. Don't get me wrong it's not perfect. But the movie succeeds on so many levels that it' on my top ten for the foreseeable future. I did feel like they created a world, similar, but not exactly our own. And yes, I wanted to go there. The acting was good without being too over the top. The actors made me feel for, and in consequence, care for them and their plight. I tell you right now this film needs better distribution than indieflix.com. I can understand (being in the business)why this has not happened. It's not a horror film, which means most indie distributors won't touch it. That is there bread and butter, it's what feeds the machine. Heaven's defies pigeon holing it into a specific genre. So I propose a whole new category: the good indie film.

I'm a huge independent film fan. You can always find me at the local art-house or the specialty video stores looking for those small films that snuck in under the radar. Believe me I've seen thousands of foreign films, shorts, and good old American made indies. Out of all of them I would rank Heaven's Neighbors in the top ten percent. It's not only a well crafted story, but it also has a wonderful "ambiance" that seeps into your soul. The acting is quite well done for such a small film, in particular the four main leads are impressive. Their characters appear to be four key aspects of either human or, more particular, male personalities. Jake, fun loving and outgoing; John, brooding and tormented; Peter, the square peg in the round hole; and Boreas, a very successful doctor who's personal life is empty and meaningless. I loved the interplay between these four actors as they attempted to find meaning in life. I'm not sure if this has any significance, but they all have unusual last names. I'm going to look into this a bit deeper. All in all a fine art-house film that deserves to be seen by any true fan of indie films.