This film is a bit of a mess. It attempts to be clever by having the black person in the interracial relationship having all the doubts because of society's pressures. Big deal. It's poorly written, poorly constructed and poorly photographed. And when I say amateur hour -- I mean just a little more than an hour. Note the short running time and the use of still photographs to take up screen time. It's a real shame that a film trying to tackle an important topic was mishandled so badly. It may have made a decent ABC Afterschool Special in the 1970s -- if you made the characters high-school kids.
5 Reviews
An interesting effort
mbridgii7 April 2003
This was a modest attempt at a film, though it appeared more like a TV pilot extended.
Some may find this unfair, but it looks like someone saw "The Brothers" and "Save the Last Dance", and thought "Hey, I could do that too." Well, not quite.
While I personally found the movie predictable, somewhat poorly acted, and contrived (watch for the cookies), Carl Payne shows that he can carry off a lead role, and should be back on television. The leading lady (can't remember her name, sorry) was plausible too, but you keep thinking of Julia Stiles (she was the one in "Save the Last Dance", right?) because this one was really stuck in "white girl" mode.
Some may find this unfair, but it looks like someone saw "The Brothers" and "Save the Last Dance", and thought "Hey, I could do that too." Well, not quite.
While I personally found the movie predictable, somewhat poorly acted, and contrived (watch for the cookies), Carl Payne shows that he can carry off a lead role, and should be back on television. The leading lady (can't remember her name, sorry) was plausible too, but you keep thinking of Julia Stiles (she was the one in "Save the Last Dance", right?) because this one was really stuck in "white girl" mode.
Some Clever Support
mrlillo-12 July 2006
I have seen this movie about 4 times and every time I am impressed with the Second Camera Assistant's work. Seems trivial but there is something very professional, knowledgeable and talented there. The movie as a whole suffers from other problems, as stated by other comments. The significance so the issues being approached are as relevant today as it was 40 years ago. The acting is a bit strained but the work of the Second Camera Assistant is stellar! This person needs to get back into the business - perhaps directing? What is this person waiting for? I will be watching and waiting and cheering from the sidelines!- Bob
Good intentions on the director's part...
lancemach28 February 2004
This movie meant well, and it has the basic premise and story for a unique, intelligent and humorous romantic comedy. But it falls short in a few areas. The biggest problem is with Carl Payne and Stephanie Griffin, who have no chemistry together. They're supposed to be lifelong friends but their relationship lacks the depth and familiarity that childhood friends have. And their romantic scenes are forced and without sexual energy.
The director is completely unoriginal, throwing every narrative trick into this film. There's the clever chapter titlecard, the flashback sequence, the voiceover narration from Payne, the fantasy sequence, the character-talking-directly-at-the-camera interview narration, and lots of music montages. The cheap film stock is excusable, but there's plenty of poorly framed shots. Ninety percent of the shots have the characters partially out of frame. Very amateurish.
The writing's also lackluster. Although the premise has promise, it's the lame, wannabe Kevin Smith dialogue that sticks out as wince-inducing. There's even a "Star Wars" anecdote that's usually found in a Kevin Smith movie. Except for this one (about how Vader was black, Luke was white) wasn't funny. The actors uncomfortably spit out sex-talk and are either having conversations that don't flow, or are cookie cutter stereotypes, i.e., the angry Black Panther, the goofy white kids that act black, the high-maintenance black girl that hates black men. There's even a character, Jay, that seems to be imitating Ben Affleck imitating Quentin Tarantino.
As for the issue of interracial dating, it's not quite as taboo anymore. Sure, it makes some people uncomfortable, but concept of people losing out on a business contract in 2003 Los Angeles because they date a black man, is just as out-of-date as the slang term "swirl".
Overall the makings of a better movie are there, but the finished product is trying too hard to be so many other movies, that it's never it's own.
The director is completely unoriginal, throwing every narrative trick into this film. There's the clever chapter titlecard, the flashback sequence, the voiceover narration from Payne, the fantasy sequence, the character-talking-directly-at-the-camera interview narration, and lots of music montages. The cheap film stock is excusable, but there's plenty of poorly framed shots. Ninety percent of the shots have the characters partially out of frame. Very amateurish.
The writing's also lackluster. Although the premise has promise, it's the lame, wannabe Kevin Smith dialogue that sticks out as wince-inducing. There's even a "Star Wars" anecdote that's usually found in a Kevin Smith movie. Except for this one (about how Vader was black, Luke was white) wasn't funny. The actors uncomfortably spit out sex-talk and are either having conversations that don't flow, or are cookie cutter stereotypes, i.e., the angry Black Panther, the goofy white kids that act black, the high-maintenance black girl that hates black men. There's even a character, Jay, that seems to be imitating Ben Affleck imitating Quentin Tarantino.
As for the issue of interracial dating, it's not quite as taboo anymore. Sure, it makes some people uncomfortable, but concept of people losing out on a business contract in 2003 Los Angeles because they date a black man, is just as out-of-date as the slang term "swirl".
Overall the makings of a better movie are there, but the finished product is trying too hard to be so many other movies, that it's never it's own.
C for effort.
daddymack25 May 2003
Swirl attempts to cover the some of the issues of interracial dating.It's not a very good film but a decent "student film".It has elements of Spike Lee's "She's Gotta Have It".Throughout the film you will hear recurring racial cliches.Carl Payne shows that if given a decent role he can be a good actor who shouldn't be typecasted as the comedic sidekick of his "Martin" days.Stephanie Denise Gordon is interesting in that you can replace her with Julia Stiles of "Save The Last Dance" and wouldn't know the difference. Overall I give the film a C for effort.
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