Just saw Wild Canaries at the BAM Cinemafest, and what a great thing that we did! A great indie film with lots of laughs, many great moments, well developed characters, a thrilling nosy-lady- thinks-someone-murdered-someone plot, awesome yelling matches between boyfriend and girlfriend... An all around excellent example of the genre. After a slow start, where the plot and characters are set up, the screwball comedy takes off and never looks back. Probably best enjoyed in a cinema or with a large crowd (as it is the case with most comedies),but could be a good date film, as well. Lots of couple moments where the main characters have some very realistic, sometimes hilarious, arguments. Very Brooklyn, very sexually fluid (and conscious of these facts),and very indie.
Don't miss it!
Wild Canaries
2014
Comedy / Crime / Drama / Mystery / Romance / Thriller
Wild Canaries
2014
Comedy / Crime / Drama / Mystery / Romance / Thriller
Plot summary
In Brooklyn, engaged Noah and Barri have hit a rough spot in their relationship. Their issues stem from what may be an impending mid-life crisis for thirty-six year old Noah, and financial issues partly from Barri's unemployment, which has led to them taking in a roommate, Jean, Barri's restaurant managing lesbian friend. These issues are only exacerbated by Barri and Jean contemplating going into a Barri-initiated joint venture to renovate then open and manage a resort if they can find the necessary property upstate, this proposition despite they having no money and as of yet no investors. Noah believes Jean only agreed to the proposition because she is in love with Barri herself. Although Barri states she is all right with it, another issue may be Noah working for his ex-girlfriend Eleanor in her small home-based media firm. Although Eleanor is also primarily a lesbian, she and Noah only broke up because of wanting different things in life. Noah and Barri largely get along with the other people in their rent controlled building: the Anders - successful artist Damien, his wife Annabell and their young daughter, Wren - the building owners, Damien with who Noah often plays poker; and octogenarian Sylvia, whose Floridian son Anthony often comes for visits, Anthony included within those poker games. After Sylvia passes away from what is officially listed as natural causes the result of a heart attack, Barri begins to suspect Anthony of having murdered his mother for the insurance money. Barri's feelings are largely due to what she considers Anthony's odd behavior surrounding the death and suspicious activities after the fact. While Jean supports Barri, Noah dismisses what becomes Barri's singular focus on Sylvia being murdered as sheer madness. As Barri and Jean progress with their clandestine investigation of Anthony, they begin to believe that Damien is also somehow involved. With Jean implying that yet another one of who Noah considers a friend is a murderer, their relationship may not be able to survive, that is unless they end up on the same page, which if Barri holds steadfast to her beliefs means providing Noah with more concrete proof. However, if Barri is correct, it may mean their lives are in danger.
Uploaded by: FREEMAN
Director
Top cast
Movie Reviews
A great comedy!
Both Entertaining and Annoying
As the title line implies, I had mixed reactions to this film. There were times when I had to force myself to continue watching it. Those were the times when the female lead character, Barri, was acting particularly like the little girl trying to charm her daddy and get away with all the antics and pranks that come with that. Despite the director/writer being aware of having a female lead who is "bratty", a word she uses to describe herself at one point, I kept wondering would anyone intentionally be with someone like this? But, alas, there's someone for everyone.... The longevity of their relationship, and others, is one of the film's subplots. The main storyline is the "mystery" which another astute reviewer compared to a Woody Allen film, especially "Manhattan Murder Mystery." I agree; in more than one way this film was like the WA film: on some levels stupid, slapstick comedy which, if you like it, then you'll like this. Ultimately I kept watching it, as it was also somewhat engaging and entertaining, as another reviewer pointed out, thanks to great photography and visuals of Brooklyn Heights, both indoors and out.
Liked it a lot
Every once in a while you see a gem at Maryland Film Festival. This picture is a gem.
I'm giving them an extra point or two for being young filmmakers. Really good tho. A dream of a screenplay, with several events taken from the filmmakers' lives -- Lawrence Michael Levine wrote and directed, and plays the male lead. His real-life wife, Sophia Takal, co-stars. Ms Takal's dream of resurrecting a casino, which Mr Levine thought was a bad idea in real life, recurs in the film, and the mysterious wild canaries of the title appear at the casino.
This is a screwball murder mystery a la The Thin Man. Levine and Takal are also big Colombo fans, and Colombo's trench coat makes an appearance.
A very hip comedy, with great jokes and payoffs (a running gag about who should drive the car pays off hilariously),along with expert physical comedy. Funny and endearing. Nick and Nora would be proud.