Channels (2008) User Reviews

A beautiful, poetic and somewhat existential love story.

[jrichx123 · 25 July 2008]

This kind of film is a wonderful mix of a contemporary love story and some old fashioned comedy. There is a real sincerity here which promotes a really nice feel all along the way.

At first I wondered if the kids of today would like it as much. And I though, yes. We may be at a time where people of all ages are getting more reflective about our time here.

The cast is superb. The lead guy,played by Nat Christian, underplays the character of Black just right. He brings out what he needs to with a subtlety that only true artists can do. Kim Oja, the female lead, is sweet and fun in the role of Katherine. As always, Ed Asner, the consummate actor is compelling to watch. Taylor Negron, John Kassir and Joan Van Arc balance out the cast with impressive skill and talent.

The direction and the writing (also by Nat Christian) walks a fine line between comedy, philosophy and drama and I feel that Mr. Christian executed the incredible task beautifully.

I was left thinking about the movie hours later and even after I went out and I came home. It just stayed on my mind. CHANNELS truly comes form an artist's point of view. An original voice. And I sure do feel we need more original voices.

Witty, wonderfully romantic, with a bit of quantum physics thrown in!

[Virginia-Ms · 9/10 · 7 August 2008]

CHANNELS feels like the best of the old-fashioned films. But is was made recently and it is wonderfully crafted and sophisticated. A passionate, charming, witty, romantic story about a love transcending space and time. In the finely written screenplay by writer/director Nat Christian, the lead character, "Black", also played by Christian, is a busy producer on the rise. But he really doesn't have a spark in his life. He meets "Katherine", played by the beautiful Kim Oja, and together their chemistry keeps you glued to the screen.

Christian, a mesmerizing talent, gives the character of Black charm and cynicism, and is deliciously romantic when he meets Oja. He is fun and tragic at the same time. One immediately connects with his character.

Oja, displays great skill in playing comedy, coupled with moving scenes of reflective sadness. The two of them captivate the screen.

The whole cast - John Kassir, Taylor Negron, Joan Van Ark and the wonderful Edward Asner - plays every role with precision.

The beautiful photography by Michael Hardwick never gets in the way of the characters. Visual FX sequences by Duane Condor add mood. Rossanno Galante's score is sweeping.

I was quite moved. Lots to think about in this unusual love story. Maybe even a little bit of quantum physics!

Exquisite, romantic, and heartfelt - I loved it.

[RobertStern212 · 9/10 · 11 August 2008]

Channels arrives with a somber mood, and a cynical attitude, but then does a fantastic job of creating a romantic atmosphere in which we can believe in.

Actor, Nat Christian, gives a powerful, truthful and passionate performance as Black, a man so emotionally not alive, that when he comes home after a very busy day at work (he's a producer on a film shoot), he needs to just sit back and channel surf. His cynicism is delivered straightforward and not for show. He then starts to loosen up when he meets Katherine, played by the adorable Kim Oja. Christian, a masterful actor, doesn't immediately do a complete turnaround, but he does more of a gradual awakening, wonderfully playing these different moods. There is a lot of kissing and romance between Christian and Oja and the two of them burn up the screen (And there is no nudity). I've seen Nat Christian on TV when he started out doing soaps, and he was always engaging to watch.

Kim Oja was a very pleasant surprise as a comedienne. Taylor Negron gives a vulnerable performance. John Kassir is perfect as a cynical talent agent. Ed Asner rules. Joan Van Ark is also great and should be doing more movies.

Christian equals his acting talents as the director of Channels. Storytelling is the operative word. Done with artistry and sureness, he takes us to another place and we are there.

The music by Rossanno Galante was enchanting. The cinematography by Michael Hardwick was alluring as well as the set design. There is a song written by Daryl Orenge and Nat Christian, that is quite catchy.

Wonderful!

Imaginative, inventive, a work of art.

[AtlantaRocks · 10/10 · 21 October 2008]

Contributions to works of art in the medium of motion pictures have always been collaborative. Yet, at the helm of a project, navigating all of the many talents is the director, who is attributed with having the vision to carry out and complete such a work. One often wonders if the completed work carries more of the writer's or the director's vision. Or in some cases the leading actor's.

In a situation where the writer, director, actor and co-editor (and producer) are embodied in one person, there is little doubt that the vision belongs to that individual. In rarer situations, such an individual chooses to express his/her original "voice" against the seductive pull of playing it safe or trying to be more commercial.

I discovered "Channels" to be such a rarity.

The voice belongs to writer, director, actor, Nat Christian, who engrosses the viewer with the story of a man who arrives at a crossroads where he must choose between what his logic and his heart are telling him simultaneously. As the writer/director, Christian focuses on the emotional subtext and visuals, and he does so with great artistry.

The talented director of photography, Michael Hardwick, helps carry out the vision with confidence. The romantic production design by Dolores Piazza expertly lends itself to the vision. Duane Condor creatively whips up Special Visual Effects, which are organic to the story. And, very moving, is the powerful score by Rossano Galante, a talent that I feel we'll be hearing about a lot.

The acting talent is outstanding. Kim Oja as the female lead is bewitching, with a natural honesty. In the comedic portions, she has a willingness to play, reminiscent of one of the ballsy actresses (Carole Lombard?) during Hollywood's heyday.

Nat Christian, in the lead role, is spontaneous and powerfully moving. A fascinating actor to watch, he acts with great economy, never hitting an untrue note. His acting choices are unconventional and seem to be derived from the core in the writing.

John Kassir, a gifted performer, is wonderful to watch as a self-serving talent agent.

Taylor Negron resists going for the easy laughs and is very touching.

Joan Van Ark allows her vulnerability to seep through as a tough TV executive (and she looks great).

Ed Asner, a true artist, convincingly walks the fine line of being a tough guy and humorous at the same time.

Some of the supporting roles: Chloe Hunter is perfect as a an actress who plays small roles. Gil Glaskow is honest and appealing. Richard Partlow plays it convincingly tough and believable as a television network executive. Ellyn Lindsay and Herman Poppe are very funny as a late night comedy soap opera couple.

I think of other movies such as Wings of Desire (Wim Wnders), The Conversation Francis Ford Coppola), Midnight Cowboy (John Schlesinger) and many others where the one strong common denominator is that an artist's voice is expressed. Channels allowed me an experience, which I thought of long after the movie was over.

This is one heck of a romantic movie.

[ILoveMovies922 · 2 August 2008]

A movie like this is rare and wonderful. This sweet whimsical movie that is entertainment the way I like it. it makes you, forgive my cliché, laugh, cry and think. I thought about how little actual time we have here to enjoy what is "real" to us. And not to let little things get in our way.

The acting was real. Nat Christian, as the main character, never hits a false note. This actor couldn't lie if he had to. Kim Oja graces the movie with her charm. John Kassir, a terrific actor, is very funny as an agent. It was a joy to see Taylor Negron not camp it up and still be funny, but in a real way. Ed Asner plays it gruff with a skillful mix of comedy and drama. A scene with Joan Van Arc and Nat Christian is very moving. Both are consummate actors.

The direction is crisp with a sure hand by writer-director, Christian. The score by Rossano Galante is extremely moving. I recommend it to anyone of all ages.

Would like to see ore movies like this.

[ritabaasch · 9/10 · 10 January 2009]

I just started writing comments on movies. I watched three recently. Two I loved. One I didn't. I'll get around to writing about the movie I didn't like. But the two I loved were "Slumdog Millionaire" and "Channels."

"Channels" is a very special piece of work. it is funny, romantic and beautifully quite profound. Questions were posed that I suppose I've had passing thoughts about, but "Channels" brought them to the surface for me by pulling me in to the story.

It was directed and written by Nat Christian, who did quite an artistic job of putting all of these moments together. His vision imbued the movie with a poetry, or maybe a lyrical quality that was quite appealing.

The cinematography by Michael Hardwick very much helped capture this vision as did the nice production design by Dolores Piazza. Duane Condor gave the movie some haunting Visual Effects. The musical score by Rossano Galante is quite marvelous. And there is a cool song written by Daryl Orenge, with Christian providing the lyrics.

The actors all were wonderful. Ed Asner is fantastic in a cameo appearance and is funny at times. John Kassir, famous for his character roles and "voices", gives his very fine talents as a manager. Taylor Negron, who normally plays goofy characters, does a really nice job and comes off quite sincere in this. Joan Van Ark is also sincere and appealing while keeping her character tough.

The lead character is played by wonderfully talented Kim Oja. She's really fun to watch and, in the moments when she loosens up, she sort of reminds of an old movie actress, Carole Lombard.

Christian plays the lead character with a powerfully nuanced performance. In his subtle looks and gestures, we know what is going on with him. I would like to see more of this compelling actor.

And I would like to see more movies like "Channels", and that's what the energy out there feels like.

This story took me by surprise. A very pleasant one.

[LindaKirshnerNY · 9/10 · 8 August 2008]

CHANNELS affirms that love is a force to which the laws of space and time do not apply.

The screenplay brings our characters together and holds on to them, while subtly exploring what is "real", or what makes something real, or rather how we define what is "real."

Nat Christian performs the triple task of writing, directing and acting with great virtuosity.

As an actor, he is compelling to watch, always honest. Kim Oja shows a feisty side along with a sweetness that would melt anyone's heart. In a cameo appearance, Joan Van Ark sobers you up with her fine acting ability. The multi-talented Ed Asner can only be real. The scenes with him and Christian are funny and tense. Rounding out the main cast, Taylor Negron and John Kassir are consummate actors.

Director, Christian, handles his actors masterfully, giving them a healthy amount of screen time. They all deliver real performances. As a storyteller, Christian captivates us from point A to point Z. Not just going there, but taking us there.

The production design was utterly romantic. The score by Rossanno Gallante was moving.

I'll probably watch this movie once a year (maybe once every two years).

A beautiful, profound, funny and engaging motion picture!

[sandrawolfson7 · 10/10 · 8 September 2008]

CHANNELS makes you realize that the time to act is now. Before it is too late.

Within the context of a love story, we are made to laugh, to enjoy and to cry as we begin to realize how precious it is to seize the moment.

I read that the budget was something like 200,000.00. I can only imagine that, if the movie was made for 60 million, how it could have been a box office success and even an Oscar contender.

Writer-director-actor, Nat Christian's film works on so different levels - as a love story; as a philosophical introspective; and as a comedy. Most importantly as one person's true realization that time has passed. The cast works beautifully under Christian's direction. So does the music (Rossano Galante) and the camera work (Michael Hardwick).

As an actor, Christian is one of those very rare talents who is incredibly fascinating to watch, only using honest, subtle, nuances. Hopefully he'll act in more features. John Kassir as a selfish agent is very funny. Kim Oja is sincere and real, and beautiful. Taylor Negron is also very real both in the serious scenes as well as the comedic ones. Ed Asner and Joan Van Ark make special appearances and contribute great talents to the movie.

Is the film right for everyone? Probably not. But if you like romance and would like to think about things after the movie, CHANNELS may be right for you.

Touches your heart with a knockout.

[rosen-brosen-bob · 9/10 · 31 July 2008]

Yeah! A movie that not only entertains with chuckles here and there, but really moves you with some knockout punches. The main characters played by Nat Christian and Kim Oja have a marvelous chemistry. You WANT these two to be together. Christian has the magnetism and sex appeal of some of the old time male movie stars. Oja fits right in with the sweet yet sexy clan. Both are great actors. Christian never hits a false note and allows us to journey with him throughout the movie. As the director of the movie too, Christian selflessly gives a lot of screen time to all of his co-stars. Oja is able too show us a comedic style that hasn't been shown before. Joan Van Ark, still hot at her age, is able to project a vulnerability under her character's hard shell. Ed Asner has a great monologue which made me nearly fall over laughing. John Kassir and Taylor Negron are perfect matches for these actors and are always interesting to watch. It was great to see Amber Barretto on the screen, along with Chloe Hunter. Both are beauties who could grace any movie. Gil Glaskow is a standout in a supporting role.

The director takes us on an emotional journey step by step with our main characters and mixes it up with some great imagery. The composer, Rossano Galante, delivers an emotional score.

Wow!

An authentic expression

[GoodFilmRapper · 9/10 · 9 February 2009]

It's not often that I can feel an authentic expression. In art it is sometimes referred to as a "voice." Often times, I would rather hear a "voice" than see a formula well done.

In CHANNELS, a filmmaker's voice is heard. He doesn't shout it, but sort of lays it out like prose. The filmmaker is Nat Christian, who wrote and directed this movie with a lot of passion and a keen vision. The central question in the movie is whether or not we can make our own "realities."

Christian's actors are also keen and very talented. Kim Oja plays two roles with real confidence and a lot of skill. It was hard to do, but she pulls it off beautifully. In the lead role, Christian gives a fiercely truthful performance, with subtle nuanced layers piling on as his character grows from being almost motionless to being in love. An honest actor, I felt like he just walked off of the street as his character. Ed Asner plays a supporting role with a subtle humor. He is one of those actors who can play it very straight, while being funny. Taylor Negron comes of sympathetic. John Kassir brings his experience and talents and delivers some funny moments as a frustrated agent.

The music is irresistible. The look and feel of the whole movie is seductively romantic. The movie hits with a one-two punch of thoughtful poignancy towards the end.

Watchable supernatural romantic comedy

[Gordon-11 · 6 February 2008]

This is a supernatural romantic comedy, that a beautiful TV character comes out of the TV screen into a producer's life.

Initially the plot is a little slow, but it becomes sweet and romantic. Katherine is sweet and charming. Her constant saccharine smile melts the hearts of the viewers. She reminds me of Reese Witherspoon. The lead guy, Black Racklin, on the other hand, is rather disappointing. He is wooden and uninteresting. he is unable to convey emotions and feelings, especially of live and passion. Though he frequently kisses with Katherine, I still am not convinced by his passion for Katherine.

It's a very watchable film, and I am sure it would have been a blockbuster if it had top A List actors and actresses in the lead roles.

Quite a special movie

[FelixEbner · 9/10 · 8 June 2009]

I recently heard Ed Asner's voice in UP, and he was great. I rented a low budgeted independent movie, CHANNELS, and I got to see him in a supporting role that he completely embodies with humor and cynicism. But was just the beginning.

The surprise was that CHANNELS is quite a special movie. Imaginative. Though a bit quirky, it presents big ideas, albeit on a minuscule budget. Nevertheless, the execution of these ideas are wonderfully done by all involved.

Writer-director and lead actor, Nat Christian allows us in his psyche and romanticism with this sweet, poignantly lyrical and funny movie. This is a filmmaker who doesn't just settle for truth, but uses truths to explore further possibilities, thus presenting us with more of an expressionistic work of art rather than a basic representation of life.

Co-star Kim Oja is perfectly cast as the ethereal love interest. Oja not only easily fills this role, but delivers very strong comedic chops, where she plays another character that is very opposite to her main character. Actors, Taylor Negron, John Kassir and Joan Van Ark lend their marvelous talents as an ensemble that blends well. Christian plays the lead role with imploding passion. He resists "showing" and his consistent honesty is refreshing, making you wonder a bit scene by scene.

The score by Rossano Galante is quite romantic. Set design (Dolores Piazza) and cinematography (Michael Hardwick) all lend themselves to the romantic feel.

Christian's put together a group actors and filmmakers, whose dedication and talents were able to make such a movie on, from what I've read, such a small budget.

Given the romance, it was so affecting that it caught me off guard.

[CerebralInTheCity · 9/10 · 27 March 2009]

"Channels" is very affecting movie, a romantic comedy with a mix of some profoundly sincere thought.

A character named "Black" (appropriate for his mood in the beginning) is a movie producer on the rise, who is having a hard time dealing with a movie that he is producing. The head of the studio feels that Black is messing up with his creative personnel. With all that is going on, the only place Black finds any solace, is when he goes home and routinely channels surfs, not really watching what is on the TV. He does, however, take note of a certain character, "Katherine", who appears on a specific TV series that comes on regularly. He is enchanted by her. Then one night, through an odd, unexplainable circumstance, the character appears in his apartment.

They decide to figure out what is going on, but instead, eventually fall in love with each other. At a certain point, Katherine says that she simply doesn't care about making sense out of it all, and that they should just believe in their love and that is what matters, and that is what is "real." Black hesitates. And in that hesitation, he may have lost her.

There is an interesting symbolism of a train passing by in his dreams. The train, representing time passing, fits in with his not taking advantage of the opportunity that appeared to him at a moment in time. The moment he hesitated. So, he tries very hard to get her back

Channels stars Nat Christian, a completely honest actor, who is very interesting to watch. He imbues his characterization with a kind of poetic philosophical artistic stroke. Projecting a character's philosophy is an interesting place to go for an actor. And, in a restrained characterization, he makes it look simple .

"Katherine" is played by Kim Oja, whose terrific talent matches her endearing nature. Oja seems very comfortable playing both comedy and drama, and she pulls it off.

There are other marvelous actors, such as Ed Asner, John Kassir, Joan Van Ark and Taylor Negron. They were cast well, because each brings specific characterizations to this piece.

The score by Rossano Galante is stirring and fits in with the poetic nature of "Channels."

The writing and directing also had Nat Christian at the helm. He blends his thematic and cinematic vision with a commanding skill, allowing us to laugh at times, feel the romance, and still ponder the central question – With two lovers in a strange situation, if one believes strongly enough in the "love" could that make the situation real?

So very imaginative. So very original. So very good.

[CelluloidTape · 10/10 · 8 March 2009]

Channels gives us an artist's point of view about what constitutes "reality." Covered in the frilly dressing of a romantic comedy. It really provokes some thought.

The director and writer, Nat Christian cleverly seduces us into having fun and rooting for our two main characters. Then we suddenly realize that something serious, something big is happening.

Christian demonstrates a confidence in carrying out his vision. This is his piece of work and he paints it the way he wants it to flow. It works very effectively. He also utilizes an alluring romantic look, helped by cinematographer Michael Hardwick, production designer Dolores Piazza and visual effects person Duane Condor.

The actors give us impeccable performances. Ed Asner is always good, but here we also see several sides to him (and he has an outstanding monologue). Taylor Negron comes across sincere and is still funny at times. John Kassir is funny as a cynical character. Joan Van Ark looks hot and brings much strength to her role. The two leads are played by Christian and actress Kim Oja. Christian is a "natural" actor. Very real as though we were getting telescopic glimpses of this guy on the street. His honesty is appealing as well as compelling. Oja too is very interesting to watch. She has a lot of vulnerability under her beautiful facade. Both create a defining romantic chemistry.

Special note should be given to Daryl Orenge who wrote a catchy tune with Christian and Cynthia Hasson. And to actors Christopher Shiffrin (in a very funny silent bit), Amber Barretto, Chloe Hunter and Gil Glasgow.

It's a different kind of story. Not formula. But this formula worked real well for me.

Offers some things to think about.

[tonytu-1 · 29 August 2010]

I've been watching a lot of romantic comedies lately. Don't know why, but maybe because the advertising offers a refreshing change form all of the ultra-high special effects movies out there. Nothing negative about them I just wish that they put a little more into character relationships.

Which brings me to CHANNELS. Didn't really know what I was getting into. So, initially I thought "okay, another romantic comedy on the lighter side." I was kind of on track with the "lighter side." Then the story takes a turn and I was drawn into what was being said and the value of time in regard to the people we become intimate with.

This seemed like a very personal movie for writer, director and star, Nat Christian. And he delivers from his heart. As the main character, he gives a truthful performance, natural and he delivers his lines with great ease. Kim Oja as the female co-star makes for a great match with him. I cared about them. They don't play down to the audience.

John Kassir, Taylor Negeron, Ed Asner and Jan Van Ark round out a superb cast of high caliber actors who are in this movie.

CHANNELS is a romantic comedy that reaches higher and in a subtle and seductive way manages to do so.