By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Director: Thomas Mignone
Starring: Brittany Snow | Clayne Crawford | Josh Janowicz | Shanna Collins | Stephen Sowan
Country: united_states
Year: 2008
Running time: 102
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0493439/
Michael says: “Chlotrudis member and filmmaker Thomas Mignone tackles some pretty tough subject matter in his debut feature, ON THE DOLL. His multi-storylined film features young people working in the sex trade in L.A. and Mignone manages to develop the three storylines strongly before tightly weaving them together in the dramatic climax. In fact, it’s Mignone’s skill as a director and the by and large adequate to good performances he gets from his young cast that make ON THE DOLL as entertaining as it is. Shanna Collins, (Molly Parker’s daughter in ‘Swingtown’) is particularly strong as an artist who turns tricks to help support her rock star boyfriend. The film moves along quickly, the camera work is good, the structure is well formed and intriguing… but then there’s that stumbling block that so many first-time filmmakers hit… the screenplay.
“ON THE DOLL is fairly heavy-handed with its morality and symbolism, especially where I tend to like things a little more subtle. It would also have you believe that everyone under 21 in L.A. is involved even tangentially in the sex-trade, although despite the sometimes shocking situations two young high school girlfriends find themselves in, I tend to think theirs is unfortunately a storyline that is too close to reality than is desirable. Mignone’s framing devices are effective, his use of a police officer’s misfired bullet and a flashback to a young boy attempting to smother a hospital patient with his pillow, are both well placed and intriguing. Unfortunately I think Mignone should have gotten some help with his ambitious screenplay. Still there’s definitely talent here, and it will be interesting to see where this filmmaker will go next.”