Customer Reviews

What About Me

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

 

 

I loved this movie. Anyone who wants to know the real deal or just spent time there and wants to see some familiar faces will love it. I's about having the balls to make your dream happen for you, and it's completely authentic. Ms, Amodeo is one to watch!

If you bear in mind that this is a low budget independent film, it's enjoyable. It's gritty, seeing nyc's lower east side before gentrification is pretty cool, many of the scenes seem authentic, and some of the characters are very humorous. The plot is a little choppy, the now-dead punk icons (thunders, nolan, dee dee ramone) make cameo appearances in scenes that have little to do with the plot-- but it's good to see them. The scene with dee dee is actually so dee-dee, if you've ever seen an interview with dee dee. Richard Hell is the exception-- he has something of a role and for once plays a nice guy (in 'smithereens' and 'blank generation' he played not very sympathetic character roles). You also get to see Maryanne Bracken-- who plays main character "Lisa"'s aunt (Bracken is Johnny Thunders' sister). And the film is short enough that the weaknesses don't become too detracting to the enjoyment of the film.

A 1992 film shot in "surreal" black and white, if you will, on location in the lower East side of New York, around the time that the "homeless" became an alarming new critical issue in urban areas. Has an early '70s look and tone...and this adds to the overall impact, as we realize that the same issues plaguing the streets of the city then actually got worse...following that mystical Reagan revolution, when socail services were drastically cut and the economic structure went from poor-middle-rich to poor-rich and Main Street lost out to Wall Street which seemed more interested in Japan and England than to those who served - and to all just looking for a leg up.

Rachel Amodeo takes the lead as Lisa Napolitano, first Motherless, then homeless; she's directionless on the streets; mentally reaching back to childhood as she carries her doll collection with her and reaching forward: her goal is not to find shelter or a job or ask her Brother for help, but to locate her missing mate, a diaabled Vietnam Veteran...and to visit the Statue of Liberty. Will she draw inspiration from the greatest symbol of Home?

Some of the most haunting images ever caught on film are right hee in this "low-budget indi". The musical soundtrack has some sombre, penetrating sonics courtesy of Johnny Thunders, who is also seen in the movie. Other "names" are Judy Carne, who is quite compelling and believable as a semi-homeless person, who insists that Lisa call her Brother immediately; Dee Dee Ramone, and Richard Hell.

I'm really getting tired of being suckered by Amazon's "recommendations". I bought this as a recommendation to A Giant Leap's "What About Me" CD. I didn't get what I was expecting (a DVD version of how the music was made). I got this low budget indie flick. Well I tried to watch it anyways, and maybe I just hate low budget indie movies with no plot other than a homeless girl wandering the streets of NY, but I hated it. I hate it about 3X as much because I paid far too much money as well.

What About Me is fascinating as an historical footnote of the East Village music and/or drug scene of the 1970s.
However, as for acting skills, Rachel Amodeo's monotone voice could call forth bats from Hates.
The acting was so bad as to be comedic
As for screenplay? You've got to be kidding.. . ?

The best part of the movie are all the cameo roles from ghosted musicians victims of drug overdoses.
On a positive note, the social commentary on Tompkins Park was memorable.

What About Me certainly ranks as a cult film, right up there with Revenge of the Killer Tomatoes . . .