Missed Connections (2012)

I checked out Missed Connections tonight at The 2012 Sarasota Film Festival Day 7. Missed Connections was co-written and directed by Martin Snyder on what he described before the screening as a shoe-string budget.

To set up the film in the simplest of terms, like three words – this indie feature is best described as (drumroll please) Girl Meets Boy. Adding a little more of a structured description, which was sent to me by Mickey Sumner’s press agent, we have:

Josh (Jon Abrahams) is a cocksure techie working in a corporate I.T. department when he meets Lucy (Mickey Sumner), an up and coming lawyer looking for Mr Right. When Lucy encounters a handsome stranger outside of the office, she decides to place an ad in an online Missed Connections site in the hopes of finding true love. But when Josh intercepts the message and, with the help of his friends, undertakes a plot to steer Lucy into his own arms, things get complicated in a hurry. MISSED CONNECTIONS is lighthearted fun, a truly independent comedy for the age of online romance.

Got all that? How about a bit more?

Mickey Sumner as Lucy

Lucy (played by Mickey Sumner), is a tall and willowy blonde. When we meet her at a New York law firm called Milstein Gray, she and a gal pal are discussing their misfortunes in recent dates. Seems that neither has had much luck of late. Lucy talks about this rotten state of affairs, or lack thereof, with a rather intelligent and memorable line of thought, which includes ‘… the soft bigotry of lowered expectations…‘.

In short, Lucy hasn’t expected much from the guys that she’s gone out with recently. And the guys have definitely lived up, or is it down, to those expectations.

Jamie Belman as Peter

But Lucy is on the move. She’s transferring to London , and she’s only got a few days left. Then, with her belongings packed into a box, she leaves the office, and bumps into this well dressed, and sophisticated guy Peter played by Jamie Belman) – only no names and no numbers are exchanged. But there was a strong attraction on both sides.

She calls her friend and describes the event. Then the friend says why not post to ‘Missed Connections’ a website where messages like “…Saw you on the 4 train heading uptown Thursday at 700 PM. We made eye contact. You were in a navy suit, and I was wearing a black track suit. You got off at 86th street. Please contact me.”

2012 Sarasota Film Festival

The 2012 Sarasota Film Festival opens tonight and I’m going. This is the 14th year of the festival and the there will be everything from Feature Films to Documentaries, Shorts, and even some kid-friendly film opportunities. The total of events and screenings will be more than 260.

While most of the festival content will be screened at the Regal Hollywood Stadium 20 (despite the high-falutin’ name – it’s really just a huge movie cineplex) on Main Street in downtown Sarasota, tonight’s Festival Opener will be screened at the beautiful, state-of-the-art, bay-front facility – The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall.

This post is just the lead story from me so you can get a glimpse of what films I’ll be covering.

The Opening Night Feature will be Robot & Frank. [Quoting from the festival's own film guide -->] Set in the near future, ROBOT & FRANK is the story of Frank (Frank Langella), a retired thief living alone and resigned to longing for the local librarian (Susan Sarandon). Concerned about his father’s health, Frank’s son brings him a new caretaker; a state of the art robot with a perfect memory and an inexhaustible desire to make Frank’s life better. Initially reluctant to accept help, Frank soon recognizes the benefits of his robot, treating his electronic helper like a true friend. So, when Frank decides to get back in business, who else to turn to but his newfound companion?ROBOT & FRANK is a Samuel Goldwyn Films and Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions release. Director Jake Schrier and star Frank Langella will be in attendance. A small clip from the film is below

http://bcove.me/ymidjfi7

On Sunday, April 15th, I will take in the French Film, The Big Picture. [Again, quoting from the festival's own film guide] Paul Exben (Romain Duris, THE BEAT THAT MY HEART SKIPPED) is a successful lawyer who has it all; a beautiful wife and family, handsome good looks and an enviable position at one of Paris’ top law firms. But when Paul uncovers his wife’s secret transgressions, it sets into motion a series of tragic events that will change their lives forever. Driven by Duris’ haunted performance as Paul, Eric Lartigau’s THE BIG PICTURE is a taut thriller of life on the run from the law, changes of identity and paying the consequences for a fatal mistake.