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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

...at least, of the 9 films i've seen so far. this one packs quite an emotional wallop. this had me cracking up at times and on the edge of my seat at others. a gentleman remarked during the excellent q+a after the film: "screw blair witch and paranormal activity - this is real terror," and i would have to agree. what's so terrifying about this movie? you'll have to see it to find out, because to spoil the secrets of this film would rob it of its power. it's a journey to embark on with the filmmakers/friends, ariel schulman, his brother nev, and their friend henry joost. where it takes you is both shocking and strangely moving. this is the reason i keep coming back to sundance - to see films like this, that are genuinely surprising.

oh, and the title is explained in the final 10 minutes of the film and lends it a new and powerful meaning. thought-provoking stuff, indeed.

this film, i've heard, is going to get picked up. avoid the reviews and just go see it when it plays in your town.

when this film is looked back on and regarded with the level of admiration it deserves. how, in the year of 'there will be blood' and 'no country for old men,' this film did not garner the same recognition is beyond me.

'jesse james' is filled with amazing, heartbreaking performances, transcendent cinematography and music, and an unparalleled directorial vision. the level of detail in this film is so great that one can't help but feel transported into the world of the dying west that dominick and his collaborators have created. and that's not to even discuss the plot itself, which moves toward inevitability with the pace and tangents of real life, and yet somehow feels tautly constructed just the same. a truly overlooked masterpiece.