The family McGregor must have decided that a dad/daughter road movie was just what we all needed, so Ewan and Clara set about manufacturing this really rather unremarkable and tedious drama. We gather from fairly early on that their's is a strained relationship and he has a lot of ground to make up with a daughter who has just emerged from the ER but a few hours earlier. Of course all the details of that duly unfold and the usual smattering of entirely predicable familial baggage is also unpacked for us as this trundles along. Luckily (for us) their truck breaks down and that offers us a chance to meet the entertaining tow-truck driver (Kim Zimmer - easily the highlight of the whole enterprise) and as it's fixed, un-named daughter sneaks a few snifters with "Kip" (Jake Weary) before dad saves the day and on they travel. She's a bit prone to toilet stops, and on one she unknowingly encounters a little spider that leaves quite an agonising gift in her nether regions. Luckily, again, we have a local hooker on hand who knows just how to apply the ice and yep, more tarmac and white lines.... Road movies work if you care about the passengers. I can honestly say that I didn't at all here. I'm a bit weary of these stories that just show us yet another dysfunctional relationship being played out against a background of desertion or addiction or adultery or just plain boredom, and I am afraid that much of the tortuous and over-delivered dialogue did little to engage me further. It didn't need a big budget, the production is fine - but the story and both performances here are just yawn, yawn, yawn. Sorry.
7 Reviews
arachno road trip
ferguson-615 February 2024
Warning: Spoilers
Greetings again from the darkness. There is no shortage of movies depicting the challenges associated with being a parent, although there is an added element of interest when a real-life father and daughter are cast in the lead roles (remember PAPER MOON with Ryan and Tatum O'Neal?). Such is the case with this first feature film from director Emma Westenberg, co-written by Vera Bulder, Ruby Caster, and Elle Malan. Ewan McGregor and his daughter Clara McGregor co-star in a dramatic father-daughter road movie filled with awkward moments.
No character names are given, so we'll have to refer to them as Ewan/father and Clara/daughter. After Clara overdoses, long-estranged dad shows up to drive her from San Diego to Santa Fe, where he tells her she can stay with an artist friend in hopes of rekindling her passion for art. Of course, that is a lie because that's what dad's do after they've drunkenly walked away from their family years ago. Ewan plays a recovering alcoholic who has started a new life by re-marrying and having a young son. Clara, on the other hand, is an addict with no direction in life, other than wanting to run from dad and get the next fix.
These two mismatched blood relatives have only flashbacks to her childhood in common. Dad is trying to make amends, and 20-year-old daughter just pouts and spews anger. It's a road trip movie that requires only one night in a roadside motel. When Dad's truck breaks down, they encounter a live-wire tow truck driver (Kim Zimmer), who drops them at a small town birthday party where the big gift for a young boy is a rifle. It's here where Clara meets a young man (Jake Weary, excellent in the series "Animal Kingdom", and Ms. Zimmer's real-life son) who assists with some much needed booze for the underage lass. Once back on the road, Clara gets a spider bite on her lady bits, and it's a local prostitute (Vera Bulder) dreaming of Broadway who provides guidance.
A road trip movie typically requires these types of interactions to hold our interest, but the missed opportunity here comes from real life father-daughter dynamics. Ewan and Clara play off each other very well, but simply needed more friction and conflict to make this believable. The expected reconciliation hits too few speed bumps, and a hokey AA meeting produces more cringe than tears. The movie feels over-directed, when letting these two go at each other full force is what they needed ... and what we needed as viewers.
In select theaters and OnDemand beginning February 16, 2024.
No character names are given, so we'll have to refer to them as Ewan/father and Clara/daughter. After Clara overdoses, long-estranged dad shows up to drive her from San Diego to Santa Fe, where he tells her she can stay with an artist friend in hopes of rekindling her passion for art. Of course, that is a lie because that's what dad's do after they've drunkenly walked away from their family years ago. Ewan plays a recovering alcoholic who has started a new life by re-marrying and having a young son. Clara, on the other hand, is an addict with no direction in life, other than wanting to run from dad and get the next fix.
These two mismatched blood relatives have only flashbacks to her childhood in common. Dad is trying to make amends, and 20-year-old daughter just pouts and spews anger. It's a road trip movie that requires only one night in a roadside motel. When Dad's truck breaks down, they encounter a live-wire tow truck driver (Kim Zimmer), who drops them at a small town birthday party where the big gift for a young boy is a rifle. It's here where Clara meets a young man (Jake Weary, excellent in the series "Animal Kingdom", and Ms. Zimmer's real-life son) who assists with some much needed booze for the underage lass. Once back on the road, Clara gets a spider bite on her lady bits, and it's a local prostitute (Vera Bulder) dreaming of Broadway who provides guidance.
A road trip movie typically requires these types of interactions to hold our interest, but the missed opportunity here comes from real life father-daughter dynamics. Ewan and Clara play off each other very well, but simply needed more friction and conflict to make this believable. The expected reconciliation hits too few speed bumps, and a hokey AA meeting produces more cringe than tears. The movie feels over-directed, when letting these two go at each other full force is what they needed ... and what we needed as viewers.
In select theaters and OnDemand beginning February 16, 2024.
Pretty Bad Movie
cinemapersonified13 June 2023
Rating: 5.4
Overall, a movie that suffers from having too low of a budget as the performances by the leads cannot save this artsy/indie film as it is held back by poor acting from the rest of the cast, bland writing (though not all of it is bad), and poorly executed sequences (whether it be scenes with a lot of dead air or the climax itself).
Pretty Bad to Decent Direction (For a directorial debut on a low budget film, she makes the most out what she can as she gets a good amount from the lead two actors from a pretty minimal story; though she is a victim of her own circumstances as the low budget caps at how much she can actually get the most out of the extras and shooting the scenes; the more artsy parts of the movie were really hit or miss as some of the nature aspects were visually pleasing but the more drug induced scenes were just like a fever dream), Pretty Bad to Decent Acting (Pretty Good from Clara McGregor (Plays the role pretty well with only some minor hiccups as she plays off her father while still showing her own demons; there are a lot of awkward pauses in the performance but I think they may be more from the direction than the acting), Pretty Good to Good from Ewan McGregor (Really pulls from experience for this performance as it seems like he is transcending all the actors around him, though he does work well with his daughter), Bad from the rest of the cast (Just a lot of inexperience and poor direction)), Pretty Bad to Decent Story (The concept of the story is pretty good as the road trip aspects mixed with the addiction parts really help portray the message of the story; but the more micro elements that help progress the story forward were pretty bad as a lot of them felt unnecessary and did not really add too much to overall story/message), Pretty Bad Screenplay (The dialogue was very amateur and pretty bland overall; there were a good amount of overt symbols but there were some subtle symbols I did appreciate; the foreshadowing of the movie is pretty good), Decent to Pretty Good Score (Helped give the movie a more artsy feel), Pretty Bad Cinematography (Very hit or miss as some of the more shaky amateur shots made the movie incredible nauseating and hard to watch, but the more artsy shots did have some merit to them), Decent Sound, Pretty Bad to Decent Editing (Felt very amateurish as the movie trades in being more artsy than actually having a tighter edited movie), Plot Structure was pretty prevalent as the different elements were laid out to show their importance to the story, Pacing was a really slow as it went more for a artsy/indie feel than a more stereotypical hollywood movie (a stylistic choice I cannot really complain about); Runtime could have been cut 10-20 minutes to make the movie seem a bit more tighter and fast paced, Climax was a bit of a mess as it feels like there is more effort in trying to piece what we are watching rather than viewing what is actually going on for the subjects, Tone was very art-house as the different edited shots with the score really helped in giving this vibe, Saw World Premiere at SXSW.
Pretty Bad to Decent Direction (For a directorial debut on a low budget film, she makes the most out what she can as she gets a good amount from the lead two actors from a pretty minimal story; though she is a victim of her own circumstances as the low budget caps at how much she can actually get the most out of the extras and shooting the scenes; the more artsy parts of the movie were really hit or miss as some of the nature aspects were visually pleasing but the more drug induced scenes were just like a fever dream), Pretty Bad to Decent Acting (Pretty Good from Clara McGregor (Plays the role pretty well with only some minor hiccups as she plays off her father while still showing her own demons; there are a lot of awkward pauses in the performance but I think they may be more from the direction than the acting), Pretty Good to Good from Ewan McGregor (Really pulls from experience for this performance as it seems like he is transcending all the actors around him, though he does work well with his daughter), Bad from the rest of the cast (Just a lot of inexperience and poor direction)), Pretty Bad to Decent Story (The concept of the story is pretty good as the road trip aspects mixed with the addiction parts really help portray the message of the story; but the more micro elements that help progress the story forward were pretty bad as a lot of them felt unnecessary and did not really add too much to overall story/message), Pretty Bad Screenplay (The dialogue was very amateur and pretty bland overall; there were a good amount of overt symbols but there were some subtle symbols I did appreciate; the foreshadowing of the movie is pretty good), Decent to Pretty Good Score (Helped give the movie a more artsy feel), Pretty Bad Cinematography (Very hit or miss as some of the more shaky amateur shots made the movie incredible nauseating and hard to watch, but the more artsy shots did have some merit to them), Decent Sound, Pretty Bad to Decent Editing (Felt very amateurish as the movie trades in being more artsy than actually having a tighter edited movie), Plot Structure was pretty prevalent as the different elements were laid out to show their importance to the story, Pacing was a really slow as it went more for a artsy/indie feel than a more stereotypical hollywood movie (a stylistic choice I cannot really complain about); Runtime could have been cut 10-20 minutes to make the movie seem a bit more tighter and fast paced, Climax was a bit of a mess as it feels like there is more effort in trying to piece what we are watching rather than viewing what is actually going on for the subjects, Tone was very art-house as the different edited shots with the score really helped in giving this vibe, Saw World Premiere at SXSW.
Real & gritty, rich & intimate, indie drama with fine performances
danieljfarthing21 February 2024
In indie drama "Bleeding Love" reformed addict Ewan MacGregor takes estranged teen addict daughter Clara MacGregor (his actual daughter btw) on a road trip from San Diego to Santa Fe after a near fatal OD. En route they re-connect (via significant hiccups) while interacting with random characters like Jake Weary, Kim Zimmer, Vera Bulder, Travis Hammer & in cameo Esther MacGregor (another actual Ewan daughter). On her debut Ruby Caster writes with grit & integrity while Emma Westenberg directs with rich but intimate style - the real stars though are the two lead MacGregors for their terrific performances. This is a fine film indeed for fans of up-close and personal drama.
From families comes strength
Boristhemoggy28 February 2024
A father takes his estranged daughter on a road trip in an effort to get her out of trouble. Along the way they meet all types of strangers, as their strained relationship is put to the test.
I've never seen Clara McGregor before, but some of the issues she faced in real life are played out in this story. It's a testament to Ewan's character that he joined in with his daughter to make this cathartic film.
It lays bare the things you don't even know you do that affect others so deeply. And the way you think you have been kind when really you have striped someone of their dignity.
It shouts volumes that only looking for truth and meaning brings answers which ultimately creates peace.
Their performances are fabulous and I suspect because they are lived experiences. But the director deserves a shout out for bringing all of that out and showing life as raw as it can be.
I loved this film, it won't be the only time I watch it.
I've never seen Clara McGregor before, but some of the issues she faced in real life are played out in this story. It's a testament to Ewan's character that he joined in with his daughter to make this cathartic film.
It lays bare the things you don't even know you do that affect others so deeply. And the way you think you have been kind when really you have striped someone of their dignity.
It shouts volumes that only looking for truth and meaning brings answers which ultimately creates peace.
Their performances are fabulous and I suspect because they are lived experiences. But the director deserves a shout out for bringing all of that out and showing life as raw as it can be.
I loved this film, it won't be the only time I watch it.
Best film to come out of SXSW 2023
Bruchetta13 March 2023
You Sing Loud, I Sing Louder is a superb, thought provoking and emotional film.
A father (Ewan McGregor) attempts to reconnect with his struggling daughter (Clara McGregor) on a road trip.
Smashing performances by everyone in the cast. Clara McGregor, Ewan's real life daughter is mesmerizing on screen, and can hold her own next to her father. Ewan McGregor does some of his finest work in this and is without a doubt one of the greatest actors of the past two decades.
The film is brought to life through stunning visuals and great directing by Emma Westenberg. This is the first movie of hers that I've seen, and I can't wait to see what she does next. You Sing Loud is simply terrific. A thoughtful, contemplative and reflective piece of storytelling, with subject matter that cuts deep and almost anyone can relate to.
Everyone should see this movie.
A father (Ewan McGregor) attempts to reconnect with his struggling daughter (Clara McGregor) on a road trip.
Smashing performances by everyone in the cast. Clara McGregor, Ewan's real life daughter is mesmerizing on screen, and can hold her own next to her father. Ewan McGregor does some of his finest work in this and is without a doubt one of the greatest actors of the past two decades.
The film is brought to life through stunning visuals and great directing by Emma Westenberg. This is the first movie of hers that I've seen, and I can't wait to see what she does next. You Sing Loud is simply terrific. A thoughtful, contemplative and reflective piece of storytelling, with subject matter that cuts deep and almost anyone can relate to.
Everyone should see this movie.
Bleeding Love
smkytwnng13 March 2024
What a surprising gem of a movie. You know how sometimes you take a chance to watch a movie on a whim and get rewarded with a satisfying story- this is one of those films. Great movie, gritty but heartfelt with moments of humor. Quirky New Mexican characters throughout. Lovely acting between father and daughter. Was definitely worth watching. Loved the way it was filmed.
Apparently, the main characters are really father and daughter as well. Ewan Macgregor and his daughter Clara shine as the protagonists, a father and daughter road tripping through the southwest, I would definitely recommend.
Apparently, the main characters are really father and daughter as well. Ewan Macgregor and his daughter Clara shine as the protagonists, a father and daughter road tripping through the southwest, I would definitely recommend.
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