Search - Expiration Date on DVD

An excellent independent!

08/22/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This movie shows you exactly just what you can do when making a movie outside of hollywood and the big studios. One of the best independent movies I have seen in a long time. Wonderful story line and excellent acting and scene executions. This movie is altogether funny, quirky, and even a little romantic. It's also great to see a movie that actually represents Native people in a good way and not a stereotypical one."

Pretty Good Independent Film

Daniel G. Lebryk | 02/13/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is what independent film is all about. Small budget, mostly unknown actors, small production, but a well told story with well executed editing and filming. Expiration Date is one of those good independent films. It's not great, but it is good.

The film is told in much the same way as Princess Bride, an old man tries to tell a young boy a story. The boy doesn't want to listen, but through the magic of great story telling, the old man hooks the young boy. And in the end, the young boy learns a lesson. It's a wonderful technique, the director reminds the viewer at about the right moments that we are watching a story being told. Revealing too much more of the plot would lessen the impact of the movie, there's some things well worth discovering.

Technically this is a fairly simple film. Charlie is stiff at exactly the right moments. There's some good chemistry between Bessie and Charlie. The supporting cast is very good. There were a couple of out of focus scenes, not critical moments. The film is a bit uneven especially at the midpoint, Charlie makes the transition from being depressed and just surviving to a person trying to live a life. Some of the scenes run a bit long, and the director seems to overplay his hand with the relationship. There was also a couple of slow motion moments that just didn't fit very well, or have context within the rest of the film.

Over stereo speakers the sound was evenly recorded, dialog was clear. There was one extremely annoying effect, every time the milk truck appears they sound an old auuggaa horn. The horn is just sad.

The soundtrack is outstanding. The music is small alternative music, a bit folk like. The only poor moment is when William arrives with his paintballs and the 1812 overture plays very loudly. It was an abrupt music choice, that over powered the scene.

The DVD includes Theatrical Trailer, Deleted Scenes (some fairly funny out takes), a Making of featurette, a well done documentary about Nakotah LaRance a 16 year old Hoop Dancing Champion. And the usual director commentary.

The film is more or less PG. There is a moment when somebody makes a wise crack joke about "women with male genetalia." It happens so quickly and is somewhat oblique, that most younger viewers probably wouldn't notice. Otherwise, this is an excellent intelligent family film. A pleasant hour and a half."

Sometimes channel surfing is a good thing

D. Turner | 12/21/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It's snowing and icy outside .. and with general garbage and repeats on the tube, I stumbled upon this film on PBS. Thinking it was going to be nothing, it turned into something indeed. And something I intend to buy as soon as I'm finished with this review. The caracters are outstanding and the acting as well. Being a fan of dark humor (think Fargo, Leaving Ozona and the like)and Native American I was pleasently surprised by this film. I recommend it whole heartedly."