Customer Reviews

Standing Still

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

 

 

These "slice of life", realist drama-comedies are far from my favorite genre, but as a serious movie buff, I've seen tens of them over the years, and Standing Still is right up there with the best of them.

The only flaw I can find, really, is the title, which is a bit enigmatic (not that I mind enigmas, but it's a bit out of context here). A better title would have been "Secrets", or even "Shuffle" if something less obvious was desired, as the plot is focused on an event--a wedding--that brings a wide range of people together, some unexpected, almost all with some kind of secret, and reshuffles them in various ways--often through revelations of their secrets.

Realist movies can easily become unfocused or boring--after all, that's true of most folks' lives if we were to follow them around with a video camera and expect people who don't know them to be entertained watching the results. But Standing Still manages to create suspense, tension and a healthy dose of humor while expertly weaving together a large number of threads, all while keeping things fairly firmly in realist territory and providing satisfactory resolutions. It's also emotionally satisfying and relatively "deep", often in subtle ways, all aided by the fantastic performances. Everyone says just as much with subtle body language as they do via their dialogue, and this just as often occurs in what could tend to be read as the lighter or shallower scenes.

I wanted to see far more about every one of these characters--and we could hardly call that a flaw.

Let's face it! Kids will be kids and there's value in coming together when your friends get married to celebrate the "night before". The typical flick would make this a total joke...a night of stupidity, drunkeness, drugs and mindless sh&^! This one allows tha cast to be as carefree as they want on the eve of the marriage, but it has a profound message...many messages...and takes responsibility and pride in the sanction of marriage, friendship, family and lifestyle. I loved this film. It captures youth, marriage, commitment, zany antics and reality in a neat little 90-minute bundle. Ya' gotta see this with your significant other, wife, husband, family...anyone. All 5 stars.

Bradley Smith's review is dead on. Most of the elements of this film are competent and engaging, but there's nothing really deep here. Standing Still provided a good hour or two of escape. I've seen several of these "just before the wedding" ensemble movies, and this one holds its own.

This movie is definitely aimed at the 20-something crowd. I didn't much care about anybody in the movie, but it was great to see Amy Adams do her thing before she hit the big-time. Her lesbian kiss/tummy snuggle is easily the highlight of the movie!

Coming of age flick involving some 25 year olds who discover that getting married ain't so bad after all. The usual deadbeat dad makes an appearance, someone's pregnant, someone's a lesbian, someone is a jerk, and, oh yeah, there's plenty of gratuitous naked flesh. Does the plot make sense? Yes, such as it is. I have no idea what the title means, though. Worth watching, but not urgently.

The story takes place during a 48 hour time period prior to a wedding. If it wasn't for the profanity (the "F" word being used 42 times), nudity, drugs, drunk scenes and underage sex I would have thought I was watching one of the less entertaining episodes of Friends.

This movie is essentially the story of marraige of a couple the day before their marraige with the arrival of old college friend and the ensuing bachelor/bachelorette parties and the wedding. Included in the story as always is some distress/secret in the bride and groom past, now confronting them. Some of the friend had broken relationships now brought back together with their mutual friend put in an awkward position. Also, thier is the best man confronted with his own future and questioning his own marriage plans to his long time girlfriend. No suprises here, many of the wedding party end up "hooking up" during the course of the evenings party, and no major suprises with any of it. Trying to be Sixteen candles meets American Wedding...maybe a touch of breakfast club/pretty in pink, just not great as a knock off. check it out, I think many may like this one, but just not my cup of tea.