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DVD Review
Blue Car
By Lee Tistaert Published November 4, 2003
US Release: May 2, 2003
Directed by: Karen Moncrieff
Starring: David Strathairn , Agnes Bruckner , Margaret Colin , Frances Fisher
R
Running Time: 96 minutes
Domestic Box Office: $464,000
Directed by: Karen Moncrieff
Starring: David Strathairn , Agnes Bruckner , Margaret Colin , Frances Fisher
R
Running Time: 96 minutes
Domestic Box Office: $464,000
B
21 of 132
Even with its low budget and low-key filmmaking approach, the film accomplishes more than many films that have a budget.
Blue Car is an independent film that few people will ever see, let alone ever hear about; but even with its low budget and low-key filmmaking approach, the film accomplishes more than many films that have a budget.
Blue Car is about a high school senior named Meg (Agnes Bruckner) who lives with her mother and sister, and is troubled given that her father abandoned her years back and now her mother neglects her. With her English teacher, Mr. Auster (David Strathairn), noticing Meg?s writing talent, he inspires her to enter a poetry contest held out of town that would require her to move away from home temporarily (an idea that her mother would probably resent). Soon, Meg and Mr. Auster develop a relationship as friends, but gradually cross the limit.
The film is a personal character study that not a lot of moviegoers will be interested in, but its delicate execution in the writing, direction, and acting makes Blue Car a treat in the independent filmmaking world. The beauty of low budget projects such as this (and even Project Greenlight?s Stolen Summer) is that you have actors who are not signing on for a paycheck, but rather an opportunity to act regardless of the financial limitations. With Blue Car, we are presented with a family that doesn?t have it all together, and the acting depicts this element in a very realistic way that few films do.
The film tends to be very quiet in its audio volume, but the tone mixes well with the subject matter. This approach forces the viewer to listen to the main character (Meg) in a more intimate angle, as with Meg?s shy manner and secluded lifestyle, the low volume aids in the film?s impact.
Though writer/director Karen Moncrieff doesn?t set out to break barriers or tell a differed story from the past, her feature is nevertheless remarkable given the attention to detail. In a nutshell, Blue Car is similar to American Beauty (A-), Finding Forrester (B), and a few others in the subject of suburban life and inspiration, but the spot-on acting is where Blue Car overrides the threatening comparisons.
A film like this is not going to be appreciated by everyone (and it probably will not catch a big audience on video), but for those that discover it and admire low key filmmaking, Blue Car will likely satisfy.
DVD Features:
- Feature Commentary with Director Karen Moncrieff
- Deleted Scenes with Optional Director's Commentary
- Widescreen
Audio Features:
- (English) Dolby Digital Surround Sound
- French Language Track
Blue Car is about a high school senior named Meg (Agnes Bruckner) who lives with her mother and sister, and is troubled given that her father abandoned her years back and now her mother neglects her. With her English teacher, Mr. Auster (David Strathairn), noticing Meg?s writing talent, he inspires her to enter a poetry contest held out of town that would require her to move away from home temporarily (an idea that her mother would probably resent). Soon, Meg and Mr. Auster develop a relationship as friends, but gradually cross the limit.
The film is a personal character study that not a lot of moviegoers will be interested in, but its delicate execution in the writing, direction, and acting makes Blue Car a treat in the independent filmmaking world. The beauty of low budget projects such as this (and even Project Greenlight?s Stolen Summer) is that you have actors who are not signing on for a paycheck, but rather an opportunity to act regardless of the financial limitations. With Blue Car, we are presented with a family that doesn?t have it all together, and the acting depicts this element in a very realistic way that few films do.
The film tends to be very quiet in its audio volume, but the tone mixes well with the subject matter. This approach forces the viewer to listen to the main character (Meg) in a more intimate angle, as with Meg?s shy manner and secluded lifestyle, the low volume aids in the film?s impact.
Though writer/director Karen Moncrieff doesn?t set out to break barriers or tell a differed story from the past, her feature is nevertheless remarkable given the attention to detail. In a nutshell, Blue Car is similar to American Beauty (A-), Finding Forrester (B), and a few others in the subject of suburban life and inspiration, but the spot-on acting is where Blue Car overrides the threatening comparisons.
A film like this is not going to be appreciated by everyone (and it probably will not catch a big audience on video), but for those that discover it and admire low key filmmaking, Blue Car will likely satisfy.
DVD Features:
- Feature Commentary with Director Karen Moncrieff
- Deleted Scenes with Optional Director's Commentary
- Widescreen
Audio Features:
- (English) Dolby Digital Surround Sound
- French Language Track
Lee's Grade: B
Ranked #21 of 132 between Spanish Apartment (#20) and Spellbound (#22) for 2003 movies.
Ranked #21 of 132 between Spanish Apartment (#20) and Spellbound (#22) for 2003 movies.
Lee's Overall Grading: 3025 graded movies
| A | 0.4% | |
| B | 30.0% | |
| C | 61.7% | |
| D | 8.0% | |
| F | 0.0% |
