Directed By: Nima Nourizadeh
Written By: Michael Bacall & Matt Drake
Story By: Michael Bacall
Cinematography By: Ken Seng
Editor: Jeff Groth
Cast: Thomas Mann, Oliver Cooper, Jonathan Daniel Brown, Dax Flame, Miles Teller, Kirby Bliss Benton, Alexis Knapp, Nick Nervies
3 high school seniors throw a birthday party to make a name for themselves. As the night progresses, things spiral out of control as word of the party spreads.
The film plays like perfect pop-art, As half of the film is composed of shots of people partying, Dancing and having fun. Artfully photographed, though it is supposed to be randomly caught by camera phones by people attending the party and various forms of cameras. Like the film CHRONICLE. The found footage style is a good idea but too well filmed for that to be believed. The way it comes out at times makes the film look like an extended video with a storyline thrown in the middle.
The film plays like a teenage version of the tv show ENTOURAGE. Where we all wish our lives were that privledged and fun. This is the party we have fantasized about throwing or at least going to. The film also has the appeal of the Nerds/Geeks Finally having their day. While it is raunchy it makes you think that it’s headed for a typical over the top teen sex comedy. Though as the film goes on only the lead really shows signs of being a deeper human being, Open to mistakes and being lead astray.
You find yourself getting more and more into the story and film. Never knowing what’s going to happen next and constantly surprising you.
The film pulls you in and you feel like a participant in it. Technically the film is tight. Though it seems huge.
The film had only 200 extras and gave cast members and extras digital cameras to film with so with the scripted scenes. The filmmakers had over 10 hours of extra footage to edit down for different angles of the scenes and party.
The found footage take works well for the film making it more interesting then if it was normally filmed. It would feel basic to poor.
A satisfying Rental.
GRADE: B-
this is what i call the movie of two halves. the fist half is not very good at anything except annoying the crap out of me with lame jokes and stereotypes. the second half was really good. the party was one of the best ever put on screen and the fact that there are consequences and repercussions for there actions that usually in these movies is absent. 1st half (3/10) 2nd half (9/10) movie as a whole (7/10)
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