It kind of scares me that people think this movie is a testament to love. Letting a kid be an impulsive, destructive brat is not what being a mother is about, and it isn't love, it's just wimping out. Children need a parental figure to guide and teach them, build character and caring, not just passively observe and tolerate! He's a child, not a pet! I raised kids alone with a garden to feed us and money from odd jobs I could do while they were at school. We didn't have stuff, but we had love and respect for each other and didn't worry about them destroying the house if I wasn't looking! Life can be tough, but I didn't really need a depressing saga with unlikeable characters(besides the grandfather)to drive it home.
11 Reviews
Awful
vjhahn12 April 2015
I really thought I would like this movie, but I didn't. The mother and son characters are very unlikable. Each had his own challenges and I kept waiting for them to start to overcome them. Lordy. Painful to watch a terrible, lazy, inept mother raise a completely thoughtless, undisciplined son. Just because you're poor doesn't have to mean you're filthy and stupid. Where was this mother's effort to earn money in a meaningful way. Or to raise a child in a happy but at least minimally structured way? Utter fail. Very little redeeming values to the characters. I thought this was supposed to be about a strong mother? Don't bother with this one. It will leave you frustrated.
this is about life and its struggles
wingthwong19 April 2016
Unlike other biased reviews from privileged women who have choices in life and chose wrong and are bitter, this review is about the movie.
This movie is shown from more than one view.
It's about a boy living with an illness in poverty living like all is normal like a child his age does.
It's about a mother trying to get by with what she knows.
It's about family trying to help them cope with little resources to help.
This movie shows struggles in life common to rural America that society left behind.
One should go into this movie with a clean slate and watch bit for what it is.
It is a simple movie not trying to wow, to prove anything, or to win anything. It just tells a story about the life of people that are born and made everyday due to aa steamroller society that chooses to ignore the have nots.
This movie is shown from more than one view.
It's about a boy living with an illness in poverty living like all is normal like a child his age does.
It's about a mother trying to get by with what she knows.
It's about family trying to help them cope with little resources to help.
This movie shows struggles in life common to rural America that society left behind.
One should go into this movie with a clean slate and watch bit for what it is.
It is a simple movie not trying to wow, to prove anything, or to win anything. It just tells a story about the life of people that are born and made everyday due to aa steamroller society that chooses to ignore the have nots.
Another man making a film about a weak woman and calling it strong!
rivasflowblue7 April 2014
I watched this film, with a friend, at the Dallas International Film Festival premiere. I read the outline of the story and it seemed to be something I would like. The short of it was I didn't care for it at all.
The film itself was good the picture and sound. The music was a bit over done like a Hallmark movie. The actors were good except a couple, and I always hate to hear bad Texas accents. But all of that stuff was okay. There is some animation that doesn't seem to fit, but it is interesting to watch. There is, however, a bunch of stuff that just doesn't add up or make sense.
The part that really didn't work for me was the story, and or I guess I should say the script. After the film was over people where hoop'n and yelp'n about how deep and how it was such a love story. Just like on reviews I have read, but I see two common differences between them and me. First, they are 20-30 something men, and second they aren't in the health care profession.
I am not a movie professional, but I love movies and I am the middle American that watches them. So I guess I am an expert to some degree, at least I am an expert on what I like. The movie is irresponsible about the medical implications, and the character is just sort of stupid and does nothing to show the empowerment of woman. Of course, written by a male. And a young one at that, it comes through in the story being a yawn and a who cares.
Being a mother of 4 and a nurse (who has experience with both medical marijuana and the condition) the film is just not good. It is like it is trying to fabricate emotion, and it just doesn't get it. Like an artsy director doing a Lifetime movie. You can't fake heart. People were going on an on about unconditional love and how powerful, I saw nothing like that. I saw a stupid lazy little girl with a kid that she had no business taking care of. It must be a generational thing of if I say it enough it will be true, rather than being smart enough to actually do something.
Sorry if this seems so negative, but as a mother it really makes me sick. Unconditional love is working double shifts and getting your life together. It annoyed me so greatly I had to look at what people were saying and after reading other reviews (which seem like they are biased and probably friend of the director) I felt I should give some of the other side's view.
The film itself was good the picture and sound. The music was a bit over done like a Hallmark movie. The actors were good except a couple, and I always hate to hear bad Texas accents. But all of that stuff was okay. There is some animation that doesn't seem to fit, but it is interesting to watch. There is, however, a bunch of stuff that just doesn't add up or make sense.
The part that really didn't work for me was the story, and or I guess I should say the script. After the film was over people where hoop'n and yelp'n about how deep and how it was such a love story. Just like on reviews I have read, but I see two common differences between them and me. First, they are 20-30 something men, and second they aren't in the health care profession.
I am not a movie professional, but I love movies and I am the middle American that watches them. So I guess I am an expert to some degree, at least I am an expert on what I like. The movie is irresponsible about the medical implications, and the character is just sort of stupid and does nothing to show the empowerment of woman. Of course, written by a male. And a young one at that, it comes through in the story being a yawn and a who cares.
Being a mother of 4 and a nurse (who has experience with both medical marijuana and the condition) the film is just not good. It is like it is trying to fabricate emotion, and it just doesn't get it. Like an artsy director doing a Lifetime movie. You can't fake heart. People were going on an on about unconditional love and how powerful, I saw nothing like that. I saw a stupid lazy little girl with a kid that she had no business taking care of. It must be a generational thing of if I say it enough it will be true, rather than being smart enough to actually do something.
Sorry if this seems so negative, but as a mother it really makes me sick. Unconditional love is working double shifts and getting your life together. It annoyed me so greatly I had to look at what people were saying and after reading other reviews (which seem like they are biased and probably friend of the director) I felt I should give some of the other side's view.
A beautiful, surreal experience that really hits home...
WestCoastGirl18 April 2014
In my opinion we are in an age where filmmakers and artists in general take the minimalist approach too far, leaving us to want more. This movie is not afraid to make you feel. It takes you through a span of emotion that never feels disingenuous. It lets you laugh, cry and most importantly, dream. The story is genuinely hilarious at times and completely heart wrenching at others. Perhaps my favorite aspect, was that scenes of a very real and gritty human experience are interwoven with beautiful surreal imagery that is at times even psychedelic. This is done seamlessly, just as life is when seen through the eyes of a child. Flutter entertains and let's us escape. That is after all what art was meant to do.
Absolute garbage
jholcombtx5 May 2016
Warning: Spoilers
This is quite possibly the worst film I've ever seen. The visual appeal and the attention paid to the technical aspects of filmmaking by the director were not sufficient to overcome the poor storytelling and unlikable, if not downright hateworthy, characters. This is a movie that thinks far too much of itself and presents a specific point of view in the most ham-handed of ways. We are to believe that the "protagonist's" endless stream of poor choices, which include murdering her son's pet pig, are merely the best she can do with what she has. The only saving grace of her act of porcicide is that the poor animal would have eventually met a brutal demise at the hands of the reprehensible monster to which she gave birth.
It is never really clear how much the marijuana brownies factor into the child's behavior, but it doesn't matter. Regardless of the driving forces behind the son's destructive and murderous rampages I could not bring myself to sympathize with him. I sympathized with his mother much less.
The director would have us believe that the mother and son are the good guys, while men are completely patronizing jerks who are unreliable and will only disappoint you and traditional medicine is a pharmacentric racket that is perfectly fine with making zombies of children. I feel for those who can relate or empathize with the supposed heroine because of their own life experiences. They are the only audience who can possibly find any redeeming value in this film.Everyone else should steer clear.
It is never really clear how much the marijuana brownies factor into the child's behavior, but it doesn't matter. Regardless of the driving forces behind the son's destructive and murderous rampages I could not bring myself to sympathize with him. I sympathized with his mother much less.
The director would have us believe that the mother and son are the good guys, while men are completely patronizing jerks who are unreliable and will only disappoint you and traditional medicine is a pharmacentric racket that is perfectly fine with making zombies of children. I feel for those who can relate or empathize with the supposed heroine because of their own life experiences. They are the only audience who can possibly find any redeeming value in this film.Everyone else should steer clear.
Terrible
gmork1322 September 2016
Warning: Spoilers
One of the worst movies I've seen this year. The story is terrible: a mother raising his son in the worst way. The movie wants to depict the mother character as strong and independent but it fails completely. I really don't know what the director wanted to say but it shows his characters as completely ignorant, lazy and stupid. A father abandoning his family and the mother does nothing with her life but complaint. And it's not like she's alone, she has the support of her father in law but she prefers doing nothing. Instead she is lazy and dirty, she doesn't clean the house or work for money they need. She prefers to be a bum and grow weed. That's supposed to be the heroin of the movie. The child character is unlikable (and a terrible actor just to add to the mix). He has nine years but looks like eleven. His behavior is like a little kindergarten boy. Out of the blue he decides to destroy things giving no explanation. That's where the movie fails. We never know the motives of the characters doings. Why do they act like that? The grandma is under develop and there are some parts of the story that are not well done like the marijuana medicine or the pig story. And the worst part is that it ends like it began, with nothing, no conclusion. Horrible movie, avoid it.
Powerful
SillyGayBoy30 April 2016
Loved the characters and story very much. This little destructive boy is amazing and he is a great actor.
Loved the use of directing and color as well.
I have not seen a lot of films with strong moms being a core concept but this is a good one.
Though I did not cry it did get to me and make me sad.
Love the pig so much and all of the scenes with the boy. His imagination is fantastic too and the animation is amazing for those scenes.
Good drama because it is funny effective but does not pull punches. Things are treated as realistic and not glamorous.
Loved the use of directing and color as well.
I have not seen a lot of films with strong moms being a core concept but this is a good one.
Though I did not cry it did get to me and make me sad.
Love the pig so much and all of the scenes with the boy. His imagination is fantastic too and the animation is amazing for those scenes.
Good drama because it is funny effective but does not pull punches. Things are treated as realistic and not glamorous.
Unconditional love
lebowskiunderachiever6 April 2014
FLUTTER is a special movie that stays with you. It's about the love that exists between a parent and child and what any parent would do to save them. Eric Hueber is the next great director. He has an eye for talent and focuses on the core of a great movie; where is the soul of the film. The ending of Flutter is similar to other classics like The Graduate or Midnight Cowboy leaving you wanting more.
Flutter is a movie that creeps up on you. You will begin to look at the psychology and dynamics of your own movie. It's a little gem and deserves to get major distribution and to be put out to the masses. This is a real independent film unlike a lot of the Hollywood type. It almost never got made per the filmmakers. Very glad it did and exists now.
Flutter is a movie that creeps up on you. You will begin to look at the psychology and dynamics of your own movie. It's a little gem and deserves to get major distribution and to be put out to the masses. This is a real independent film unlike a lot of the Hollywood type. It almost never got made per the filmmakers. Very glad it did and exists now.
Great Independent Film with lots of Heart.
davidbrewington13 April 2015
It's always refreshing to find a hidden gem in life. Sometimes it's something as simple as finding a $1 bill in your pants pocket before doing the laundry or a nice bottle of beer in the back of the refrigerator you had forgot was there. However finding a great movie that you didn't know existed is one of the great pleasures in life and that's how I feel about the film Flutter.
The story follows a young mother named JoLynn (played by Lindsay Pulsipher) who is raising her son who loves his pet pig, Wee Wee and fighting imaginary Sea Monsters. Johnathan (played by Johnathan Huth Jr), the son, has nystagmus, which makes his eyes "flutter." He also suffers from severe narrow angle glaucoma; an acute condition that if untreated can lead to permanent blindness. JoLynn has to battle poverty, her absence musician husband, and the threat of Johanthan being taken away by the state all while trying to do what she thinks is best for her and her son.
For this film to truly work you need a strong actress in the lead role, especially a mom who skips conventional medicine and gives her son pot brownies to battle her son's glaucoma. She also makes several decisions along the way that conventional society would frown upon. Lindsay Pulsipher is that strong actress and creates a character that is vulnerable, deeply felt, and enduring. Also her interaction with Johnathan Huth Jr is truly heartfelt and feels like they could actually be mother and son. The amazing thing is that this is Johnathan's first film role and I never would have known that without talking to Glenn Morshower while doing press for the film.
Glenn Morshower plays JoLynn's father-in-law Mark and he might be the heart of the entire film. Mark is a man who is stuck between his wife and his daughter-in-law, also while trying to do what's best for his Grandson. The scenes between Glenn and Lindsay are also a highlight to the film and showcase what both great actors they are in this film.
The great thing about independent film is that there are no rules that can be followed. There is no guarantee that the lead actor/actress will make it out of the film alive. There is no guarantee that there will be a happy ending. There are no guarantees at all and that kind of film making excites me as a viewer.
I haven't even mentioned the cast of actors in this film, which include Charles Baker (Breaking Bad), Charles Halford (True Detective), and Jesse Plemons (Breaking Bad). All shine in this film and make this movie worth your time. Writer/director Eric Hueber says the story line for Flutter was inspired by his own mom, who was only 19 when he was born and died in 2010. Kudos to him for bringing part of his personal life on screen and making it an amazing experience.
The story follows a young mother named JoLynn (played by Lindsay Pulsipher) who is raising her son who loves his pet pig, Wee Wee and fighting imaginary Sea Monsters. Johnathan (played by Johnathan Huth Jr), the son, has nystagmus, which makes his eyes "flutter." He also suffers from severe narrow angle glaucoma; an acute condition that if untreated can lead to permanent blindness. JoLynn has to battle poverty, her absence musician husband, and the threat of Johanthan being taken away by the state all while trying to do what she thinks is best for her and her son.
For this film to truly work you need a strong actress in the lead role, especially a mom who skips conventional medicine and gives her son pot brownies to battle her son's glaucoma. She also makes several decisions along the way that conventional society would frown upon. Lindsay Pulsipher is that strong actress and creates a character that is vulnerable, deeply felt, and enduring. Also her interaction with Johnathan Huth Jr is truly heartfelt and feels like they could actually be mother and son. The amazing thing is that this is Johnathan's first film role and I never would have known that without talking to Glenn Morshower while doing press for the film.
Glenn Morshower plays JoLynn's father-in-law Mark and he might be the heart of the entire film. Mark is a man who is stuck between his wife and his daughter-in-law, also while trying to do what's best for his Grandson. The scenes between Glenn and Lindsay are also a highlight to the film and showcase what both great actors they are in this film.
The great thing about independent film is that there are no rules that can be followed. There is no guarantee that the lead actor/actress will make it out of the film alive. There is no guarantee that there will be a happy ending. There are no guarantees at all and that kind of film making excites me as a viewer.
I haven't even mentioned the cast of actors in this film, which include Charles Baker (Breaking Bad), Charles Halford (True Detective), and Jesse Plemons (Breaking Bad). All shine in this film and make this movie worth your time. Writer/director Eric Hueber says the story line for Flutter was inspired by his own mom, who was only 19 when he was born and died in 2010. Kudos to him for bringing part of his personal life on screen and making it an amazing experience.
An excellent movie that shows how a mother in certain circumstances struggles to help her child with a condition.
mikeysasi14 May 2014
Hands down excellent movie! It makes you think of how many people are raised with all the bells and whistles and still never got it right. Especially mothers who,(post above me), think it could be done differently because they had blah blah blah experience. ..weak constructive criticism if you actually think about it. There is no set in stone instructions on how to love. That being said enjoy the different perspectives on how many unfortunate mothers out there who can not pay for garbage drug prescriptions that come from doctors who really themselves are not healthy and intelligent about medicine. Many druggists today are drug dealers who get cash from drug companies that endorse them for prescribing their drugs. We need to wake up and relearn natural medicine and stop the corporate drug world that doesn't look into the lives of the individual. This movie shows how a mother (under certain circumstances) did what she had to do.
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