Customer Reviews

Out of Season

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

This often overlooked film is a must-see for anyone interested in a realistic love story between women. The film has a lazy, sleepy feel to it that matches the lead character's personna as well as the town it was filmed in (Cape May, NJ, USA).

No one sleeps with men, a welcome relief from the gaggle of other films on the market that seem to refuse to acknowledge the idea that many people are Kinsey 6's.

An excellent story, loveable, honest characters, beautiful scenery. An all-around great indie film!

There are several reviews listed below that speak to each end of the review spectrum regarding this film (ie - they loved it or they hated it ).

They were mostly written for the VHS version of this film.

Please see my comment # 8 as to why this is important.

My personal appraisal : Not very good.

1. Characters who "act" with their clothing are usually very uninteresting ( ie. she's got a leather jacket on, she must be a "rebel" )

2. I was bored silly.

3. Taken with a grain of salt, this could have been a great comedy along the lines of "Showgirls" ( ie. So Bad, It's Good ).

4. The script was lacking...big time.

5. The production values looked right on - it's an independent film but they didn't spare the film...however, the extraneous shots of absolutely nothing wear on the pacing.

6. Oh, I'm sorry, there was no pacing. The plot clunks !

7. There's a whole lot of NOTHING going on here.

8. MOST IMPORTANTLY - This is a play it or don't play it DVD. There are no CHAPTERS ! You cannot skip around without "fast forwarding" or "rewinding". A major flaw in this very exciting age of DVD special features. So...if you do buy this DVD, don't be dropping that remote, if you accidently hit stop, you're done!

I definitely cannot recommend this DVD. There are a whole lot of better films out there - more worthy of your time and money.

If this is the genre you're looking for ( Lesbian Themed Independent Films ) then check out "Better Than Chocolate", "It's In The Water", "Show Me Love", "All Over Me" or "Bound."

Best Regards, turtlex

True, the main characters are pretty women. True, they do have an intimate scene (very late into the film) but the story to that takes awhile to get itself going, much akin to pulling teeth.

The plot is centered around Mickey, a former photographer whose life has been without much direction. The movie starts off with a phone call that ultimately sends Mickey on a mission to take care of her dying uncle who lives in a picturesque little beach town called Cape May.

Our constantly smoking, leather clad heroine is introduced to a few of the town's inhabitants along the way :

Shelly--the mousy hetero owner of the diner who views Mickey as an "interloper"

Roberta--Mickey's eventual love interest, an out lesbian cook who works at Shelly's diner, and is determined not to be seduced by Mickey's charms.

The Uncle--who is dying from some un-named disease, who serves as the important link between Roberta and Mickey.

The movie slows down to a crawl several times, mostly when the uncle's condition worsens and he is caught in violent coughing fits that Mickey helplessly witnesses.

There are some redeeming sequences in the film however; when Mickey's 4 friends come to visit, the picture taking sequence with the uncle and Roberta, and the uncle's subtle attempts to matchmake his niece with Roberta, so some fuzzy points can be awarded here.

Overall--this is a film that could have been much better if the other characters in the plot had more time to develop themselves instead of becoming incidental. Rent this film if you must but if you want a better In-Search-of-Self-and-Love film, try "It's in the Water" (also available by Amazon) and you'll see the difference.

This is an amazing cinematic accomplishment for first time feature Director Jeanette L. Buck. Out of Season is both poignant and compelling with an honesty rarely seen in film performances. Especially in the lesbian genre.

Micki is a bit of a wanderer. She never stays in one place too long. Never with a woman much longer. Now family and maybe fate brings her to East Coast Cape May, NJ to nurse her ailing Uncle Charlie. She doesn't know if "she's searching for something or running from it."

Quickly this lack of direction is challenged by a local lesbian recluse/short order cook Roberta. As much as you want them together, you can't help but surrender--savor every moment they clash. Sexual tension times a hundred--sweet connection to the moon and back.

What makes this film such a reviving feature is that it exudes the primitive nature of falling in love, being vulnerable, and realizing who you are. No fancy tricks with editing or explosive "Run Lola Run" cinematography. Just a statement from the heart, from the soul.

In the moment.

I've seen Out of Season and put it at the top of my list of nearly any lesbian film prior. Get misplaced!

This was an okay movie. Just okay, not horrible not, just okay. I liked the camera work and Roberta and Mickey are easy on the eye.

The straight diner owner Shelly was annoying sometimes and I saw too much of her. Roberta's best friend was interesting for the too few moments she was in the movie. That's a character that should have been given more air time. Not often do I see a black lesbian with straight black friends.

Mickey bordered on being a stereotype leather wearing dyke. Heavy smoking, heavy coffee drinker ... come on, give it a break. Knew a lot about her, and her friends. Her friends were fun.

Midway the movie takes a long nap coming to terms with Uncle Charlie's illness. It doesn't become sad it goes to deep sleep. It falsely moves the Mickey-Roberta relationship forward.

Bedroom scene was nice, safe and sweatless. It did not make me want to hit the rewind button. The movie picked up a little after that.

This film lacked storyline and acting talent...and something occured in the transfer from either film or video to DVD which added insult to injury. The story represents it self as sexy, there was no chemistry between the actors. The script was so unrealistic, I cringed during the dialogue....I didn't mind the efforts of the director of photography but the work was harmed in either editing or transfer..The movie does not flow,,,Is it hard to make a quality lesbian film? "A Family Affair" and "Aimee and Jaguar" are two of the best films to come out in the last 5 years in this genre...why don't these "hobby" filmakers view these better films for instant film school in how to write a screen play and direct a film...just cause one has money to make a film there are better investments than putting it behind poor filmakers...The talent is out there...This is not a fair representation of lesbian filmaking...nor a good film

This is a gentle, mature and beautiful lesbian love story, that feels real, not contrived. It's moving and sexy, with great acting and shot beautifully -- very pretty landscape, and very pretty women. What more can anyone ask for. I strongly recommend it! Well Done director Jeanette Buck.

I bought this because the back cover stated that the end love scene was too die for or something to that effect. Now you can read the other viewers' comments to find out what the story is about. But this movie only kept my attention because it was a lesbian flick. And i watch it whenever i get tired of all the straight people on television. the story line was poor and the action was bad. for once i want to see a lesbian film with substance. just another low budget bad acting lesbian film you can add to the list.

Not good, boring, poor acting and writing, well advertised sex scene was less than a soap opera in the afternoon...(ok 2 women that was the big difference?)
No more time to waste on this one...rent it first do not buy it until you see it once...This film will never be in season

Go by the other reviews, but be warned - whoever put this on DVD was especially lazy. There is just 2 chapters, one of about 1 minute, the rest the entire film!

I found this out only when I was about forty minutes into the film wanted to fast forward a chapter and ended back at the title page! I was majorly annoyed!