Customer Reviews

Humboldt County

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Honestly - I bought this movie without really reading the reviews - I just made sure it had plenty of good scenes showing northern california and I bought it. I spent a couple of years attending Humboldt State University - I ran on the track team - rode my mountain bike in the forest, and made some friends. I didn't smoke or wear flowery girlie shirts. I didn't run away to Moonstone beach to "find myself." I debated the NORML people on campus and got into plenty of arguments with the hippies from Los Angeles.

I gotta say - I loved this movie. This movie did not go "where I thought it was going to go." This movie was not a pro-marijuana advertisement, nor was it an anti-drug propaganda. This movie really showed both sides of the debate for the legalization of marijuana - but, moreover, this movie showed how "other people" live in our country. How escaping accepted society can open your eyes - how staying true to who you are is really the best drug.

This film falls into my category of "thank god a rich hollywood producer didn't make this film" category. You know, like the movies coming out of mexico and spain - and now of-course slumdog. These are the types of movies that have high paid actors and hollywood producers scared. They gotta be getting scared because these movies are, in my humble(d) opinion, far better than the sewage coming out of hollywood.

Get the movie - you'll like it.

Being a stoner my self, I did not know what this movie was about. This movie takes a different look at those people who smoke pot. Its shows they're really just normal people like every one else. Not sure what else to say really but, its got a good message i guess and it touches the heart. Deff. a good flick. Check it out fo sho

On the surface, Humboldt County is about a nerdish young medical student brushing up against marijuana farmers; but it's really a coming of age story in many ways. It's also a rather moving story. The acting is superlative and the cinematography couldn't have been better. The choreography for chase scenes is very well done; and the plot moves along at a good pace although perhaps just a few minutes could have been cut from the first hour or so of the movie.

When the action starts, we meet a young medical student, Peter Hadley, who is taking a final exam to pass medical school and get into a top notch medical residency program. Unfortunately Peter's professor--who is also his father--fails him because Peter prescribes the wrong medicine and treatment for the make-believe patient. Just before she leaves, the make-believe patient hands Peter a flyer about her jazz performance that night. Peter spends the night in the jazz club trying to feel better and he also has some romantic time alone with Bogart.

The next morning, Peter decides to go to Bogart's home with her even though he's way too sleepy to even ask where "home" is. As it turns out, her home is in Humboldt County in Northern California where many people grow and even farm marijuana. Peter is at first shocked and almost mortified by the whole thing--and things only get worse for Peter when he learns that Bogart has left the house where several people live and nobody knows when she'll return.

At first Peter is desperate to return to Los Angeles, but over time Peter learns to have increasing respect and compassion for these marijuana farmers who live off the land, respect each other and, in their own ways, love each other as one big extended family. A loving family is something Peter never had at all when he grew up; and slowly he enjoys being with them more and more. However, as the movie progresses there are some not so happy events as well.

What happens when Peter's father finally tracks him down and wants him to return to Los Angeles with him? What about the people Peter meets--Max, the young girl Charity, Jack and Rosie who "escaped" from UCLA where Peter attended medical school and Jack once taught physics, Bob and Steve? Will the marijuana farmers ever be caught by the feds? Will the local police catch them instead? Watch and find out!

There are a couple of bonus featurettes about making the movie but they're done in a way that pokes fun somewhat at this type of bonus feature. We do get some deleted scenes as well.

Humboldt County has a compelling message about accepting life the way it actually is, the true meaning of growing up and discovering what you really want to do with your life. It also delivers a strong message about the unconventional meaning of "family" as well. I highly recommend this film.

HUMBOLDT COUNTY is a taste f the 60s and 70s drug culture when many disillusioned people, young and old, picked up and moved to the scenic wonder - and pot farms - of Humboldt County, California. Darren Grodsky and Danny Jacobs co-wrote and co-directed this little throw back in history and the result is a bit of nostalgia and some fine characterizations by a solid cast.

Jerry Hadley (Jeremy Strong) is a medical student trumped by his medical school professor father (Peter Bogdanovich) into failing medical school, and the only apparent way for the fairly clueless and disillusioned Jerry is to try the world outside. He begins with a strange relationship with Bogart (Fairuza Balk) and ends up headed to Humboldt County where he encounters folks living off the profits (both mentally and economically) of growing marijuana. He becomes friends with the free spirits Max (Chris Messina), Rosie (Frances Conroy), Jack (Brad Dourif) and in the midst of the atmosphere, Jerry 'inhales' and begins to figure out where his life should actually be headed.

The movie seems to be a bit of fluff, but written into the lines is a lot of wise philosophy - if you choose to take it that way. Good performances and a clever script make the movie a nice diversion. Grady Harp, December 11

This movie is similar to Homegrown, but has a lot more depth. The storyline is way more believable. The acting is superb. I would highly recommend this movie to all potheads.

We love the real Humboldt County (have a college student at Humboldt State!) and hoped this film would go beyond the usual Cheech-and-Chong image of the Great Wet North as just a bunch of spaced out potheads. Yes, it does center on the culture of California's #1 unofficial cash crop, but it's a wonderful, quirky journey of self-discovery for the alienated urban Stranger in a Strange Land who finds himself suddenly stranded there, and for the local denizens as well, told with humor, affection, tragedy and style. Some major established talents appear in this movie, obviously because they loved the story & the characters they got to play (not a Big Bucks production but very professionally crafted). Love the film and DON't miss the hilarious "Making of" extra -- it's worth the price of the DVD alone!

Being a long-time Humboldt County resident, I have been to every identifiable scene in this movie. I was expecting a bad movie, but they really pulled this off nicely. Great cinematography, excellent acting, and a great sound track that blended right in with the rest of the movie. (But Fairuza Balk's jazz act really stood out for me.)

My only complaint was that I could not hear some of the lines toward the beginning. Whisper-level lines are a no no. But it seemed that the sound crew did a better job as the movie progressed.

Highly recommended, and a must-see for locals or those with an interest in the back-to-the-land lifestyle.

It's so refreshing to see a small, character driven movie that has great performances, great pacing and is well-written. These guys pulled it off, can't believe it's their first time directing. Worth seeing for so many reasons not the least of which is a great soundtrack.

I've seen this film several times and I have to say it gets better each time. I missed a lot the first time and wasn't too sure about it. I then saw it on the big screen and couldn't believe the difference. The scenery alone makes it. The acting is superb as is the directing. It's not a stoner movie or a movie about pot. It's a (dark) story about people in that environment. It has guilt, as well as lot's of love for their fellow man and the acceptance of an outsider without having met him before. It's truly a beautifully directed piece of art from top to bottom. Way to go Darren and Danny. Can't wait to see what you come up with next!!

This is an excellent film. It has some absolutely beautiful scenes. The characters are well-developed and the story is a great one. This is a fantastic film that I would recommend to others. Can't wait to see what these filmmakers come out with next!