By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 1.5 cats
Director: Ronald Bronstein
Starring: Carmine Marino | David Sandholm | Dore Mann | Paul Grimstad
Country: united_states
Year: 2008
Running time: 106
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0970935/
Toni says: “At 106 minutes, Ronnie Bronstein’s semi-autobiographical FROWNLAND is a real crowd splitter. He has admitted
that he wants his audience to fee much pain during the screening. Therefore, he certainly has accomplished twhat we set out to do while making this film. If you were to take an experimental film like ERASERHEAD and make it look more poorly shot, less of a plot, with nothing interesting to look at you have FROWNLAND. Several people walked out at this screening because the director fails to make you care about the characters or the film, at times feeling like a bad public show gone haywire.
“So what is this film about you ask…
“It was described as ‘About a door-to-door coupon salesman who eats popcorn & eggs off the folded-out-door of his kitchen oven.’ Sounds like a funny black comedy. The lead character stutters and there are very long scenes of him doing this, one time even at a party where he finally break down and there is a 10 minute crying full of tears, snot, and bad loud music. His girlfriend in the film is his real life plays his girlfriend in the film as well. She is another lifeless character is annoying and has a 10 minute crying and whining scene in the beginning of the film.
“There were a few snippets that would be good for a separate short film in the mess including a scene about his roommate taking an absurd test L-Sat trainer test and an argument with main character’s roommate about not paying an electric bill when having to light candles in the apartment. Also, the film was supposed to take place in 1990 and they actually did a great job in making the environment look like 1990 with subtle clothes differences, VCR tapes, cars, etc. None of the little that is good in FROWNLAND goes together which makes me and a good part of the audience thinking…’what was the point in making this film?.’
“Again, this is the type of film, I except to see from a self-indulgent first time filmmaker on Public Access TV, not a film that one an award at South by Southwest. Some people apparently love this film. I just wished it can with an advisory that I really might hated this film…I also had to wait in a very long line even with tickets paid for to see this film as well so again I had expectations…
“Therefore, I have the pleasure to give this film 1.5 cats!”