This review is long overdue. It has been months since I have first seen the project. Still, I find that praise can often come across equally as juvenile as criticism if not given proper thought. I process even slower than most.
It seems to me that a great deal of this film deals with choices that we make and the actions we take that leave us estranged from those that love us. This makes it an interesting piece for review. Especially when dealing with something so subjective as music and the things we find attractive. There is an startling amout of debate here as to whether or not Matthew Alvin Brown is an attractive individual, and while I think that calling Matt unattractive is just plain silly, what I think, and what anyone thinks on that subject is completely beside the point. As is, when you think about it, whether or not you LIKE the music. I myself am partial to this sort of thing, but that opinion is, again, completely irrelevant. What is to review here is not the budget of this film or the attractiveness of the protagonist or the genre of the music. This is a film. It is a story, albeit a nonlinear one, and that story comes through loud and clear.
This is a smaill independent film made by talented passionate people. With any indie film, there will be raw moments, but I find that lends itself to rock and roll. And on that note, rock and roll, at it's best, IS raw and flawed. Some people won't like this film. Some people won't like rock and roll. I am a big fan of this film. I am a big fan of Matt's AND his music. I am not the only one. A lot of people share this love. That's what this about. As was pointed out in the movie, the people that love us can give us the strength to "be good." And we do our best for those that give us that strength. It worked for Matt and friends. They had the strength to "Be Good" enough to make this wonderful little movie.
I want it to be clear that I am NOT saying that I loved this film ANYWAY because I am a fan of Matt's. I AM saying that I loved this film because it is clear and precise in it's reminder to us that even when we feel we are at our lowest, and feeling as though we can't please a soul, there are people that love us BECAUSE they know we can be great. This film is great, it inspires me (and I imagine others) to take my best, sometimes pitiful swing at greatness, and when you allow the core of this film to find you, it gives hope. Thank you to all involved for that.