Movie Review from the New York Times | 'Bad Posture'
Malcolm Murray/THIS
Florian Brozek (with Trey Cole out of focus in the background) as roommates in “Bad Posture.”
Outsiders in Albuquerque
By JEANNETTE CATSOULIS
Published: August 11, 2011
The first thing you notice about “Bad Posture” is that it’s unstudiedly cool: laid-back, observant and rather shady, it cares so little for your attention that you can’t stop watching.
This offhandedly nonchalant tone emanates in no small measure from the film’s summer-doldrums setting in Albuquerque. The director, Malcolm Murray, grew up there (as did most of his nonprofessional cast of friends and acquaintances), and this guys-hanging-out feature — Mr. Murray’s first narrative project — proceeds with an insider confidence that belies his inexperience and that of his collaborators.
Meandering but never aimless, Florian Brozek’s script observes a recently unemployed graffiti artist named Flo (Mr. Brozek) and his roommate, Trey (Trey Cole), a petty thief and occasional drug dealer. A chance encounter with the sweet Marissa (Tabatha Shaun) fills Flo with romantic longing and allows Trey to boost her car and wallet. For the rest of the movie, the crime’s gentle fallout provides the framework for a loving tour of Albuquerque subculture, a place where arguments are brief and cans of spray paint more prevalent than guns.
Enforcing a consistently mellow tone with inspired musical choices — Flo’s sole brush with violence plays out to Fredo Viola’s song “The Turn (A Pagan Lament),” and a lengthy tagging sequence mesmerizes with the help of Monteverdi — Mr. Murray creates a beguiling, visually rich canvas. In interviews he describes his film as a romance, but it’s not the one we think: the real passion here is between the director and his hometown.
BAD POSTURE
Opens on Friday in Brooklyn.
Directed and edited by Malcolm Murray; written by Florian Brozek; director of photography, Mr. Murray; production design by Rich Watts; produced by Lucy Bickerton and Neda Armian. At the reRun Gastropub Theater, 147 Front Street, Dumbo, Brooklyn. Running time: 1 hour 33 minutes. This film is not rated.
Here is Malcom's website:
He is involved in other projects as well, including what you see below. Also check out all the amazing press for this film.
from Malcolm:
Meandering but never aimless, Florian Brozek’s script observes a recently unemployed graffiti artist named Flo (Mr. Brozek) and his roommate, Trey (Trey Cole), a petty thief and occasional drug dealer. A chance encounter with the sweet Marissa (Tabatha Shaun) fills Flo with romantic longing and allows Trey to boost her car and wallet. For the rest of the movie, the crime’s gentle fallout provides the framework for a loving tour of Albuquerque subculture, a place where arguments are brief and cans of spray paint more prevalent than guns.
Enforcing a consistently mellow tone with inspired musical choices — Flo’s sole brush with violence plays out to Fredo Viola’s song “The Turn (A Pagan Lament),” and a lengthy tagging sequence mesmerizes with the help of Monteverdi — Mr. Murray creates a beguiling, visually rich canvas. In interviews he describes his film as a romance, but it’s not the one we think: the real passion here is between the director and his hometown.
BAD POSTURE
Opens on Friday in Brooklyn.
Directed and edited by Malcolm Murray; written by Florian Brozek; director of photography, Mr. Murray; production design by Rich Watts; produced by Lucy Bickerton and Neda Armian. At the reRun Gastropub Theater, 147 Front Street, Dumbo, Brooklyn. Running time: 1 hour 33 minutes. This film is not rated.
Here is Malcom's website:
He is involved in other projects as well, including what you see below. Also check out all the amazing press for this film.
from Malcolm:
Hi Jeannie,
So nice to hear from you!
I'm doing a variety of things.
I made a feature doc- cameracamerafilm.com
I do advertising work- http://vimeo.com/10562000
And now "Bad Posture".
Here's our facebook page- http://www.facebook.com/BadPostureFilm
We would love your help publicizing.
Below is some press-
Thanks so much for getting in touch!
Malcolm
below, the review as you read above, and then please see the others--all amazing--jean
"The first thing you notice about “Bad Posture” is that it’s unstudiedly cool: laid-back, observant and rather shady, it cares so little for your attention that you can’t stop watching. Mr. Murray’s first narrative project proceeds with an insider confidence that belies his inexperience and that of his collaborators…. Mr. Murray creates a beguiling, visually rich canvas. In interviews he describes his film as a romance, but it’s not the one we think: the real passion here is between the director and his hometown."
Jeanette Catsoulis, THE NEW YORK TIMES
"A calmly assured, generally delightful narrative debut… There are rarely movies about friendship and boyhood's dying light (and eternal spirit) as generally effervescent as Mr. Murray's….Bad Posture contains worlds of rich texture and character interaction, or, for lack of a better word, community. While watching it, one almost expects many of the colorful cast of Albuquerque outcasts who make up the supporting players to walk off the screen and start talking to you over 40s and blunts. In fact, I really wish they would."
Brandon Harris, FILMMAKER MAGAZINE (FILMMAKER MAGAZINE PICK OF THE WEEK)
"Immaculately shot misconduct… it's hard not to admire such a drolly off-kilter pass at the domestic regionalist indie."
Benjamin Mercer, THE VILLAGE VOICE
"Filled with some of the driest, sometimes almost undetectable dark humor I have ever seen in a film."
Jeff Berg, LOCAL IQ
"A nuanced, visually inventive vista of young life in Albuquerque. Violence and crime are in the air at all times, but the moments of greatest tension are handled with an ethereal grace that is part comic nihilism and part hopeful dream."
Mark Elijah Rosenberg, ROOFTOP FILMS
"leisurely, deadpan hilarious, sneakily ambitious"
FILMMAKER MAGAZINE DIRECTOR'S INTERVIEW
reRun theatre
147 Front St (between Jay St & Pearl Pl)
Brooklyn, NY 11201
(718) 766-9110
SHOWTIMES:
FRIDAY, August 12 (7pm, 10pm) * Filmmakers + Star in person! *
SATURDAY, August 13 (2pm) * Filmmakers + Star in person! *
MONDAY, August 15 (7pm)
TUESDAY, August 16 (7pm, 10pm)
WEDNESDAY, August 17 (7pm, 10pm)
THURSDAY, August 18 (7pm, 10pm)
93 minutes. In English. Presented in Blu-ray. Unrated.
Tickets may be purchased for $7 at the door or online at http://badposture.eventbrite.com/.
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FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
THIS: info@hereisthis.com
Armian Pictures: Lucy Bickerton, lucy@armianpictures.com
