Vashirdfel Simply A Masterpiece

SnoReptilePlenty Memorable, crazy movie

KnotStronger This is a must-see and one of the best documentaries - and films - of this year.

Brainsbell The story-telling is good with flashbacks.The film is both funny and heartbreaking. You smile in a scene and get a soulcrushing revelation in the next.

Anne Blue Jay is the incredibly enchanting story of a memory brought back to life. Its simplicity — yet, followed by its simultaneous complexity to deal with the relationship of the couple whose story it tells us — makes it worth every minute. I was fascinated by the difference noticed in the characters' behaviors from the first scene, when they run at each other for the first time in 20 years at the market, to the last one, when they smile at each other as a sign of goodbye. Besides its "genuine" atmosphere, the fact that it was composed with basically two characters gave it a particularly intimate ambiance. Oh, and I couldn't forget to mention the tender black and white effect, which, together with the nice photography, amazed me during the whole movie. So sensitive!

Davalon-Davalon I do not understand how anyone could give this bad excuse a "10." Mark Duplass, who has some talent, owes an apology to all filmmakers who struggle to make their art. This exercise in bad judgment and self-indulgence is atrocious. As may be commonly known, there was no script for this film. That is painfully obvious as we watch Sarah Paulson, an otherwise fine actress, fake her way through this, following Mark Duplass's meandering lead. If we cared about these people and wanted to have an intimate look at their lives, this might have been a touching film. But because neither of them gave me any reason to care, all I could do was sit and watch in slack-jawed amazement. Sarah (as Amanda) and Mark (as Jim) stumble into each other at a supermarket after apparently not seeing each other for 20 years. Although Sarah has purchased ice cream for her sister, in addition to other items, she agrees to join Mark for a coffee at a place called the "Blue Jay." This cafe does not have any other importance in the film and begs the question, "Why was this film called 'Blue Jay'?" We follow Sarah back to Mark's mother's house as he attempts to pack it up after her death. During this process, we understand that Sarah and Mark have history, and as the film unfolds, they have a fantasy moment of what their lives would have been like had they remained together. Although I will allow that there were several sweet moments during their imagining of "what if," we had to endure endless stupidity having to do with them both doing "rap" music, making stupid sounds, doing stupid dances, and making up stupid dialogue. Again, if these two individuals were deeply engaging, I would have happily followed their story. Perhaps because I wanted a STORY (and not some out- of-control blabber-fest that felt like: Let's hit this point about 15 minutes in; let's hit the next point about 30 minutes in, ad nauseam...), it was hard to invest myself emotionally in the lives of two people that actually could have been interesting. Things get borderline maudlin with the discovery of "the letter that was never sent" and the "confession" from both sides about the "tragedy that should have never happened." I'm sorry; for all of Mark's Oscar-winning (in his mind) crocodile tears, I didn't buy his performance for a minute. He seemed like a first-class wimp, a crybaby, an emotionally stunted a**hole who was apparently incapable of manning up for over 20 years and was, I guess, going to go on and live in anger and denial till the day he died instead of coming to terms with the past. Yes, there are people like that... and in the hands of a qualified actor, I would have felt those things. But Mark has a certain detachment about him that makes him come across as a failed stand-up comic or a serial murderer -- it's hard to tell. Bottom line: I could not like him. Sarah fared better, but because she spent the majority of the film under an absolutely ghastly ski cap, even her Hollywood smile couldn't help her in the wardrobe department. As another reviewer said, it seemed that the Duplass Brothers (or whoever was involved in this amateur 80 minutes) scored a camera (and Sarah) for the weekend and said, "You know what? Why the hell not?" And so... they made this mistake. I do not think it was brave or fresh or emotionally moving. I always felt that they were just about reaching for straws as they tried to "improvise" what they were going to say next. The further along it went, the more Mark dropped in my estimation (and I actually liked him in "Your Sister's Sister."). He said at the beginning that his face "leaked" -- "Leaked?" Give me a break; was that supposed to be funny? By the time he really was supposed to be crying (and I'm sure he thought he was brilliant), I was looking for my barf bag. Last, who on earth goes around by the name of "Waynie" ? It's amazing that the prod co managed to press Clu Gulager into service as the manager of a liquor store. He actually seemed real and I would have much rather heard his story. But why did they have to name him "Waynie"? I found it borderline vulgar and insulting. Sorry, I went into this with an open mind, struggled to get through it, found a few entertaining moments, maybe even a twinge of sadness during Mark's big "breakdown," but over all, this is like a demo of what the film COULD be following the FIRST draft of a screenplay. There could have been a much more polished version of it if some thought had been applied instead of saying, "Yeah, hell, sure, let's go for it." Throughout the whole film, I kept asking my husband, "But what about the ice cream that she bought for her sister?"

Ana 4 settings, 3 actors, 2 colors, 1 day and 80 minutes that will warm your heart.An emotional story that develops between old school friends who meet again after 20 something years after their ways part. Mark Duplass and Sarah Paulson have an amazing chemistry together and deliver high class performance. With well-written dialogues, relatable story line, and good music, it is the one of the best Indie movies of 2016.Expect to be amused, sad, melancholic, and nostalgic throughout the movie. I gave it 10 and would recommend it to everyone who appreciates good movies.

Murtaza Ali Are you in love? Or, do you want to fall in love? Or, are you heart broken? Whatever the case may be, Alex Lehmann's Blue Jay is the perfect remedy. Here is a film so honestly made that it will make your heart melt. Blue Jay is essentially a two handler about two former high school lovers who bump into each other for the first time in two decades.It is an awkward situation at first. But soon it develops into a very memorable day for the both of them. There are moments of immense joy and pain as they revisit their past through their present. It's like experiencing catharsis. Indie films, when they are really good, can really pack a punch because they are not bound by the liability to placate the Studio bosses, thereby allowing greater liberty to the filmmaker. And, Blue Jay is a very well made indie film and certainly one of the better indies that I have ever seen.One of the greatest strengths of the film are the acting performances of Mark Duplass and Sarah Paulson. The two of them look so natural (the choice monochrome of course helps... color would have drastically toned down the intensity). Both the actors demonstrate a great range of emotions. Duplass looks the more volatile of the two but it is as per the demand of the character. As for Paulson, her smile seems capable of speaking a thousand words. Together, they create magic, which, I daresay, most Hollywood A- listers fail to create these days. The film has its share of flaws but overall it makes for a wonderful movie viewing experience. If you are a hopeless romantic then this film is certainly for youFor more on the world of cinema, please visit my film blog "A Potpourri of Vestiges".