Actually got a chance to see this new independent film at the 28th installment of the Long Island Film Festival last month. Had a chance afterward to meet the director, Sam Borowski, and the head of the festival, Tom Santorelli. All in all it was a fun night of independent film! As I told the filmmaker that night, I would post my honest review of the film here after giving it some time to ruminate. Having done so, I would have to agree with another reviewer on this site that actually said this film has heart. It's filled with heart ... and passion, something said reviewer stated that a lot of today's films lack.
I wholeheartedly agree.
Borowski sets out to tell a tale that needs to be told: that of our generation of elders. For the record, I have family who have worked with the elderly and health care system, one of the reasons I chose to see this film. And I found it to be both enjoyable - in the commercial entertainment sense of the word - and with a bright message.
But, I also enjoy many independent films of today, and so I rather enjoyed Borowski's style which seemed to pay tribute to the films of the 1980s. In the interview that Joel Martin conducted on stage afterward, Borowski fully admitted his love of those 1980s films, most notably Ron Howard's 1982 movie, "Night Shift." Unbelievably, Borowski has recreated the opening title sequence of Howard's aforementioned film - something that made me want to go back and look at it again, and when I did, WOW what an amazing job he did in doing so. He even got actors such as Clint Howard (Ron's brother who had a supporting role in Night Shift) and Rance Howard, Ron's father. I rather enjoyed a moment between the two when Rance, a patient at the California Villa, yells at an orderly (played by the younger Howard, Clint), "You remind me of my son!" But there are enough moments like that to sustain your enjoyment of the film, and to help the message get across in an entertaining way. One thing Borowski spoke of in the on-stage interview that I completely agreed with was how there is plenty of fun moments in this movie, that are followed with heavier moments that make some of the fun ones feel inappropriate. However, when the fun moments return, we are right there laughing again.
Academy Award Nominee Sally Kellerman provides many of those heavier moments, and I wouldn't be shocked to see her get a nomination for this film should it qualify in its distribution. This year's SAG Lifetime Award Winner, Ernest Borgnine, who won an Oscar himself for 1955's Marty, also gives a wonderful performance as the lead Albert, another California Villa resident and former night club owner, who convinces the three younger leads to start the titular Night Club in question. He is the who sets the chain of events in place that will make this film special.
However, there is no discounting Borowski's direction or obvious love of film. Much like Quentin Tarantino, he weaves a tale that evokes memories of other films ... other performances. And guess what? It works for this film. Night Club stars the aforementioned Borgine, Kellerman, Rance Howard, Zachary Abel, Ahney Her, Bryan Williams, Natasha Lyonne, Paul Sorvino, Mickey Rooney and Daniel Roebuck, playing his most asinine role (and I mean that as a compliment) since Dr. Leslie Arszt himself! There are also various other cameos of TV stars and recognizable film actors.
Yes, with this film, Borowski does set out to get a message across, but he does so in a way that makes the medicine taste like candy.
I wholeheartedly agree.
Borowski sets out to tell a tale that needs to be told: that of our generation of elders. For the record, I have family who have worked with the elderly and health care system, one of the reasons I chose to see this film. And I found it to be both enjoyable - in the commercial entertainment sense of the word - and with a bright message.
But, I also enjoy many independent films of today, and so I rather enjoyed Borowski's style which seemed to pay tribute to the films of the 1980s. In the interview that Joel Martin conducted on stage afterward, Borowski fully admitted his love of those 1980s films, most notably Ron Howard's 1982 movie, "Night Shift." Unbelievably, Borowski has recreated the opening title sequence of Howard's aforementioned film - something that made me want to go back and look at it again, and when I did, WOW what an amazing job he did in doing so. He even got actors such as Clint Howard (Ron's brother who had a supporting role in Night Shift) and Rance Howard, Ron's father. I rather enjoyed a moment between the two when Rance, a patient at the California Villa, yells at an orderly (played by the younger Howard, Clint), "You remind me of my son!" But there are enough moments like that to sustain your enjoyment of the film, and to help the message get across in an entertaining way. One thing Borowski spoke of in the on-stage interview that I completely agreed with was how there is plenty of fun moments in this movie, that are followed with heavier moments that make some of the fun ones feel inappropriate. However, when the fun moments return, we are right there laughing again.
Academy Award Nominee Sally Kellerman provides many of those heavier moments, and I wouldn't be shocked to see her get a nomination for this film should it qualify in its distribution. This year's SAG Lifetime Award Winner, Ernest Borgnine, who won an Oscar himself for 1955's Marty, also gives a wonderful performance as the lead Albert, another California Villa resident and former night club owner, who convinces the three younger leads to start the titular Night Club in question. He is the who sets the chain of events in place that will make this film special.
However, there is no discounting Borowski's direction or obvious love of film. Much like Quentin Tarantino, he weaves a tale that evokes memories of other films ... other performances. And guess what? It works for this film. Night Club stars the aforementioned Borgine, Kellerman, Rance Howard, Zachary Abel, Ahney Her, Bryan Williams, Natasha Lyonne, Paul Sorvino, Mickey Rooney and Daniel Roebuck, playing his most asinine role (and I mean that as a compliment) since Dr. Leslie Arszt himself! There are also various other cameos of TV stars and recognizable film actors.
Yes, with this film, Borowski does set out to get a message across, but he does so in a way that makes the medicine taste like candy.