| A Good Day to Runaway | ||
| Kisses | ||
| Review by Ross Anthony | ||
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What a powerful opening. Two adolescents endure verbal and physical abuses of various adult relatives in some working class Irish city. The torment comes to a boiling point. At an unplanned moment, the two make a break for it. With the young actors so painfully splendidly showing the ache on their faces, and the filmmakers skillfully crafting the undeservedly punishing scenes around them, I found myself in tears as these "kids" choose the unknown brutality of big city streets over the known angst of their home life reality. While the events that unfold aren't absurdly over-dramatized, their quantity/frequency pushes the believability factor. Still, the kids, especially Shane Curry are so intent, endearing and pull at every compassionate heart string, audiences can't help but be compelled. The production rounds off nicely, ending with the strength with which it started. What a powerful conclusion! Lastly, as if from another world, the "kisses" that appear like twinkling stars in a dark night, are awkward and at the same time refreshing. Oh, and Bob Dylan fans shouldn't miss it. Comments regarding "casting the kids" from director Lance Daly: "We went to schools all over Dublin … We picked the worst behaved of them … then brought them in for one very long and painful Saturday." |
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Grade..........................B+ (2.5/4) |
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Copyright © 1998-2023 Ross Anthony, Author - Speaker - Solo World Circumnavigator In addition to reviewing films and interviewing celebs at HollywoodReportCard.com, traveling the world, composing great music, motivational speaking, Mr. Anthony also runs his own publishing company in the Los Angeles area. While traversing the circumference of the planet writing books and shooting documentaries, Mr. Anthony has taught, presented for, worked &/or played with locals in over 30 countries & 100 cities (Nairobi to Nagasaki). He's bungee-jumped from a bridge near Victoria Falls, wrestled with lions in Zimbabwe, crashed a Vespa off a high mountain road in Taiwan, and ridden a dirt bike across the States (Washington State to Washington DC). To get signed books ("Rodney Appleseed" to "Jinshirou") or schedule Ross to speak check out: www.RossAnthony.com or call 1-800-767-7186.
Go into the world and inspire the people you meet with your love, kindness, and whatever it is you're really good at. Check out books by Ross Anthony. Rand() functions, Pho chicken soup, rollerblading, and frozen yogurt (w/ blueberries) also rock! (Btw, rand is short for random. It can also stand for "Really Awkward Nutty Dinosaurs" -- which is quite rand, isn't it?) Being alive is the miracle. Special thanks to Ken Kocanda, HAL, Jodie Keszek, Don Haderlein, Mom and Pops, my family, R. Foss, and many others by Ross Anthony. Galati-FE also deserves a shout out. And thanks to all of you for your interest and optimism. Enjoy great films, read stirring novels, grow. |
