Customer Reviews

Love, Ludlow

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

 

 

The characters in Love Ludlow seem to be living in some kind of netherworld of paranoid angst, they're lovable, endearing, and good-natured, but they also border on the irritating and are often annoying. But this shouldn't let viewers from enjoying this sweet-natured little film that stands as a kind of gentle ode to finding one's true love. With all its faults there's no doubt that Love Ludlow's heart is in the right place and are some likable - if a bit overly eager - performances from its trio of lead characters.

Love Ludlow's missteps early on try one's patience, but there are rewards in sticking with this film, because it does say some interesting things about love and the need to actually depend on someone for emotional survival. Myra (Alicia Goranson) is a brash, alternative looking, and totally tough talking Queens girl who has had to care for her dysfunctional brother Ludlow (Brendan Sexton III) ever since their mother died five years ago.

Ludlow is one of those child-adults. He's about twenty, but has the behavioral habits and the emotional capacity of a six year old. Terrified of going out into the world, Ludlow bolts himself in their apartment all day and paints quotes from Shakespeare onto pieces of paper, whilst Myra works as an office temp. She doesn't have to worry while she's gone, because Ludlow would never leave the apartment alone.

The poor Myra seems to be living in an emotional vacuum, perhaps hardened by years of having to shoulder Ludlow's dependence on her. Shut off from her fellow workers, she spends her days grumpy and serious and absolutely refuses to be flattered by any man. Until the shy and kindly Reggie (David Eigenberg) come along and persistently entices her, eventually winning a date. Myra's feistiness and her independent spirit immediately capture Reggie. They hit it off, his meekness balancing out her crustiness, which gradually disappears. Of course, Ludlow, feels threatened by all this attention Myra is getting; he wants her all to himself.

Whilst Love, Ludlow is well written and has some moments of serious drama, the film is ultimately hampered by David Paterson's script that tends to rush through some of the character development: Myra transforms far too quickly from a gruff unhappy soul into a shining beacon of happiness when she starts dating Reggie, and Reggie ends up bonding with Ludlow a little too rapidly. Even Ludlow himself has moments of inconstancy, gravitating between an amicable acceptance of Reggie and a sort of truculent resignation at the whole situation.

The performances are all pretty good, especially Alicia Goranson as Myra; she is just so conflicted, wanting to care for her brother as much as she wants to live her own life and be free of him. Likewise, Eigenberg presents Reggie as a sympathetic loner whom the viewer wants to succeed. Love Ludlow is the sort of film you wouldn't want to pay to see in the theatre, rent it instead on the "two for one" days. Yet those viewers who like "quirky," "goofy" and "cute" characters, will probably find a lot to like in Love Ludlow, just don't look at the film too critically. Mike Leonard February 06.

First time screenwriter David Patterson adapted his own play 'Finger Painting in a Murphy Bed' for the film LOVE, LUDLOW making the onus of the success of the film rest heavily on his shoulders. Fortunately the producers found first-time director Adrienne J. Weiss who has capably transformed a delicate triangle into a solid little comedy. If polish is lacking in the final product it can easily be forgiven by the fact that this is a new venture.

A three character story, each of the three people we get to know is borderline functional in their approach to life and the world at large. Myra (Alicia Goranson) is a hard working office temp but is socially crippled by the fact that she is the caretaker for her bipolar brother Ludlow (Brendan Sexton III) who is confined to their tiny apartment and demands every ounce of Myra's attention. At work, love starved but socially anxious Myra meets Reggie (David Eigenberg), a gentle naive soul who has never been in any type of relationship. The two socially inept people find 'something that is missing' in their lives, but when Myra faces the fact that she is confined to quarters due to the obligation compulsive Ludlow's care and when Reggie meets Ludlow and realizes Myra is unable to move out of her life space due to Ludlow's childlike tantrums and demands, the strange trio's compatibility is challenged and the method in which the three cope with the big decisions in their lives is the resolution of the movie.

The dialogue is sharp but more in keeping with a stage drama than a film: there is a lack of flow, which is not the fault of the editors or the cinematographer or the director. The script is stage bound. But given that fact, this is a modern comedy, funny at times, aching at times, but always reflecting the innate humor in even the saddest of human lives. The trio of leads gives fine performances as do the supporting cast members. In a year where sibling dysfunction is one of the topics du jour, LOVE, LUDLOW holds up well in the competition. Grady Harp, February 06

I saw this film at the Sundance Film Festival. It is a quirky love story filled with laughter and tears. Alicia (Myra) did a great job. Her facial expressions are so funny. All of the actors are right on. The tension between Ludlow and the other characters is so real. The writing is brilliant. If you like independent films, this is a great one!

With "Love, Ludlow" David Lord Patterson (son of the woman who wrote "Bridge to Terabithia") crafts a short and sweet film that bubbles with quirky, snappy dialogue. But this movie isn't just a cute little romantic comedy. A strong dramatic undercurrent about loneliness, family, and growing up is the true core of this movie, sustained by the sheer normalness of the leading actors Alicia Goranson (Myra) and David Eigenberg (Reggie) and the total eccentricity played wonderfully by Brendan Sexton III (Ludlow). Equipped with Patterson's masterful writing, they bring us three funny and sympathetic characters that, I guarantee, you will end up caring about by the end of this ninety minute film.

There aren't many movies I can compare this to, as it's simply such a unique gem in an otherwise bland and overdone genre. To give you a sense of what this movie is like, I'm going to have to pick and choose from different mediums and genres. If you like the dialogue in Joss Whedon's "Buffy the Vampire Slayer", you'll find the witty exchanges in here priceless. If you like the outrageous and endearing characters in Christopher Moore's books, you'll make a place in your heart for Ludlow. If you like sweet, weird, and real romances of the late "Veronica Mars" television series, you'll be rooting for Myra and Reggie. If you're in the mood for a nicely done independent film that will surely make you laugh and just might make you cry, give this not-very-well-known film a chance.

9/10

Love, Ludlow is a great movie that is, at first glance, little more than a quirky, funny romantic comedy. There's nothing mindshakingly original about the premise of boy meets girl, but Reggie's awkward courtship of Myra is so over-the-top that it's quite fresh. Cinematic romance usually has a fairly predictable arc, but I never felt like I knew what was coming next with this movie.

Myra's character, I think, really anchored the film, and it was because of the strong performance by Alicia Goranson. Myra is an almost impossibly caustic office temp, and I think that a lesser actress might have me wondering how someone with such a firey disposition could work in a field that requires a modicum of working well with others. But Goranson plays Myra with such authority that it just seems natural,

Similarly, the shy, awkward Reggie (David Eigenberg) might have been played as a shallow caricature of a socially-inept dweeb, but Eigenberg creditably shows him to be an earnest, caring, somewhat confused guy trying his best to win what might be the girl of his dreams.

The movie starts with Reggie being smitten with Myra, and Myra's gradual opening to the possibility of dating him. Myra's brother Ludlow is the big complication. He seems to spend most of his time in he and Myra's tiny apartment writing elaborate fairwell notes and fingerpainting.

According to the movie's description, Ludlow is bipolar. I'm no diagonstician, but he seemed a bit more autistic to me-his moods seemed fairly even, but he had definite problems interfacing with the rest of the world and accepting a break in his routine. I thought that the uncertainty about Ludlow's precise problem strengthened the movie-it makes sense that, given the family's situation, they aren't going to be taking him for a battery of psychiatric exams, and they probably wouldn't have a real diagnosis. Myra would just know, as she knows in the movie, that there is something wrong with her brother, and that it is her job to take care of him.

And this is the heart of the movie. We see that Myra, with her abraisive exterior, is hiding a terrible secret-that she really is a loving, caring, and dedicated person. She hasn't dated much not because she can't stand other people, but because she knows that no one will accept both her and Ludlow.

I've done a lot of thinking about this movie since I've seen it, and I think it really is very profound. To me, Ludlow represents the baggage that people bring to any relationship. It could be, as it is in this movie, a sibling or parent that one has to care for. It could be a sheltered past, an abusive childhood, a bad set of friends, or just the legacy of unfortunate choices made years ago. It could be memories-it could be anxieties about the future. Whatever it is, it prevents us from letting other people into our lives. It's probably true that everyone has their Ludlow, and there's a moment in every relationship when we introduce the other person to our Ludlow and hope for the best.

So Love, Ludlow is really more than just a romantic comedy about an unlikely couple. On a deeper level, it's really about something that anyone can identify with-revealing part of yourself, and your life, to someone you want to care deeply about. Like the best art, it takes something small and local-in this case, a budding relationship between a New York temp and account executive-and makes it resonate in a way that is truly universal.

I recommend it highly for anyone-I can see that it would be a fun date movie (and a real ice-breaker for a first or second date) but also something that longtime couples can get something out of.

An excellent film all around, although the script is what really stands out. A very funny and poingant movie.

I really enjoyed this film, it's full of heart and the performances are great. Also, the cinematography is something special. I HIGHLY recommend this film as a Saturday night rental or a great gift for that filmy person that wants to stay ahead of the curve. - koleyr

I really liked this small romantic comedy. The dialogue & acting are superb. It feels real - not like some slick, forced Hollywood production. I rented this movie because Alicia Goranson stars in it and I think she is a good actress (excuse me, actOR) and I just like her. I didn't realize that Steve from Sex and the City (real name David Eigenberg) also stars in the movie and he was great, too.

This was my favorite film at the Sundance Film Festival this past year and the one film that proves to me that a small independent production can look and feel just like a quality big budgeted studio film. The actors are superb, the cinematography is phenomenal, and the writing is brilliant. Roger Ebert called this film, "A Sundance Treasure" and I totally agree. This is one of those water cooler films you'll be talking about at work for quite a long time. You just have to see this film!

A slightly screwy love affair, between a man, a woman and the woman's autistic brother (I don't mean in the incestuous, three-way way).

Man and woman meet. They are both such opposites... quiet/loud, educated/not educated, quick tempered/laid back and a few more extremes thrown in for fun. Then, we add in the brother who is very upset having to share his sister. Can boyfriend and brother ever get along or will brother ruin the made-in-heaven relationship in it's budding stages.

A delightful respite from all the heavy handed love affairs currently around for viewing.

One of the best Independant Films I've seen. Thank God it wasn't a Major Studio film... that would surely have ruined it!