By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 2.5 cats
Director: Kieran Mulcare | Matthew Fifer
Starring: Colbie Smulders | Jazmin Grace Grimaldi | Matthew Fifer | Michael Potts | Sandra Bauleo | Scott Adsit | Sheldon D. Brown
Country: united_states
Year: 2021
Running time: 96
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8998768/reference
Michael says: “I was excited. It looked like there was going to be one of those rare American-made, gay-themed films that I might actually like in CICADA. It had a 93% Tomatometer, critics approval rating, and it just looked kind-of grown up. I didn’t read too much about it, because I don’t like to have too much information before going into a film. Had I noticed two things about the film before I saw it, I might have been wary: 1 – the film was based on actual events; 2 – the lead actor was also the writer, director, and editor, and it was clearly somewhat autobiographical. First films are often deeply personal, and it’s often a challenge for a writer, who also directs, worse, edits, let alone stars, to find the necessary distance to tell a story that has a more universal resonance. CICADA had the elements that could have made an outstanding film. Disguised as a gay love story, it’s actually a story about trauma, and the lasting and powerful effects traumatic events can have on a person’s life for years. It also touches on race, the closet, sexual addiction, religion, and family. Rather a tall order for a 97-minute film. I’m sure all those elements were part of Fifer’s life… but a director or editor who wasn’t him, might have realized it was all a bit too much.
“But it’s not all bad, either. The screenplay has some strong moments, as does the direction. Writer/director/editor/actor Matt Fifer has the potential to make some really great movies. As an actor, there are definitely roles for him where he would be convincingly entertaining, and he handles the emotional stuff pretty well, but, perhaps because he’s playing himself, his character Ben’s schtick doesn’t really come across that well. His co-star, Sheldon D. Brown, fares slightly better in the acting department, but is also credited as a co-writer (additional story by…) to give his character, Sam, some credibility, and to introduce, in a strongly acted monologue from Brown, his own trauma. Instead it all comes across a little flat? Calculated? I’m not sure. The chemistry between the two of them was also a bit wonky. Physically they showed us their affection for one another, but I just didn’t believe it, despite Fifer’s efforts to show the pair failing in love, it wasn’t convincing.
“Keep in mind, I didn’t know any of this backstory before watching the film. I just put it on, and tried to enjoy it. It felt much longer than its 97 minutes, with choppy pacing, and lots of shifts. Colbie Smulders pops up as an awkwardly jokey, yet forthright, therapist for a couple of scenes, that should absolutely not work, but Smulders pulls it off amazingly well. Kudos also to Sandra Bauleo as Ben’s Mom, who adds some nice character moments and adds some depth to an otherwise flat canvas. I must say I found the most effective moment of the film to be the final scene, and while some may feel the film ends just as things get started, it’s an unflinching, honest moment in a film that wears its self-indulgence on its sleeve to both good and bad effect. Fifier is no Xavier Dolan, audaciously tossing his first love up against the relationship with his mother in I KILLED MY MOTHER, but he certainly tries. And for many of the critics listed on Rotten Tomatoes, succeeds. Sadly, not for me. 2 1/2 cats”