One Too Many Mornings

one too many mornings presents a look at two young men in their late 20s grappling with an impending, and somewhat delayed, adulthood. the story is slight but character and incident are rich. i kind of felt like this was a realistic 'slice of life' dramedy about dudes, the likes of which you only get nowadays in mainstream apatow comedies. this is the indie version of that - think of the 'hangout' movies of linklater or early jarmusch (in fact, the beautiful b&w cinematography and extended takes at times recall jarmusch explicitly).

i've heard the term 'mumblecore' bandied about in reference to this new NEXT section at sundance. i'm not really sure i'd say the label applies to OTMM - it's a really controlled work that, while feeling loose, doesn't really meander, and the aesthetic shows the hand of a real filmmaker. pretty assured stuff for a first time feature filmmaker - count me impressed.

if anything, i'd say the film slightly overstays it's welcome at times, particularly in the final stretch, but the laughs are huge and it seems to play well for a packed house. i first heard about the film in a NYT article about YouTube getting into the digital rentals game - kind of a pity most people will probably see this online (the filmmakers are self-distributing and have a website equipped with downloads and dvds) as it seems like a pretty satisfying theatrical experience. the cinematography really elevates this above most indie films of comparable budget and its nice to see someone still shooting b&w. overall, i'd recommend checking it out if you get the chance.

8/10

I hope everyone goes to their website and checks out the film. These guys are what independent film-making is about. They did SO much within their means AND the film is funny and melancholy, LOOKS BEAUTIFUL.

Strong performances throughout from smallest roles to the leads. Can't say enough about the cinematography and the direction is solid. The editing also VERY strong.

Funny dialogue in this slacker indie bromantic comedy.

I think the film is also significant because of the time and thought they put into their web content and site and their self distribution. It truly is worth it to see the film.

OTMM offers a rare brand of comedy these days: the kind that feels lived-in and genuine. I caught the film almost on a whim as a way of experimenting with YouTube's new Sundance pay-to-play features section. I'm glad I did. For me, OTMM embodies the most endearing qualities of independent film-making--the comedy is always natural and often surprising, but it never gets in the way of the movie's core, those relationships at stake between the laughs. Kudos are in order for the male leads...the easy rapport between them makes this movie possible.

It's refreshing to see people still making films like this, where the hijinks make you laugh but the characters make you smile. Great flick! I hope more people get to see it...