After reading all the excellent reviews I gave the film a shot. Okay, it was a decent movie. If you allow yourself to buy the daughters ability to somehow telepathically see her fathers memories and then draw them, yea it is a decent movie and propels the movie towards its dramatic but still somewhat lacking finale. I just couldn't buy it. It seemed to me like it was part "A History of Violence(2005)" with a son inheriting his fathers killer instinct thru observation as well as DNA(?)(a more plausible story IMO), and other times like so many other movies about memory loss, like Momento. The whole movie depended on the young girl and her drawings and that was too big a leap for me. Good acting, but not Oscar level by no means, good sequencing and good music but a story hard to buy.
13 Reviews
Decent- there are very minor spoilers in this. Very minor
addisonwhughes10 January 2017
Warning: Spoilers
So, this movie was based on a play by Steve Timm. I've watched and read the play, and it bears very little resemblance to the film. But that's not why I dislike it (it being the film). I dislike because it's a bad movie.
Let's begin with the main character: Bob. After leaving the military, he develops a separate personality in a little boy he talks to, along with forgetting his time in the military. I have no qualms with this. But his actor was only OK, chewing through scenes as deadpan as a cadaver until the final scene.
Next, bob's daughter. I feel like it's not much of a spoiler to say: she dreams about Bob's forgotten war memories and that's fine. But what's not OK is that there's never an explanation for it. Perhaps have her be friends with Bob's alternate persona and she learns the memories that way? Other than that, she was good.
The wife: she was a hippie, until she had a child. From that point on, literally every choice she makes contradicts the idea of her being a hippie. That's it.
The friend from the military: he comes in because Bob is happy, and jacks all that up. That's fine. Is he good? Bad? Vengeful? I don't know. What I do know is that he's the only actor who delivers a decent portrayal that is wonderfully creepy. As a small side note, the phrase "rape" is just as shocking as "plugged in the nasty hole".
Which brings me to my final point: the drudgery that is the script. As I said before, the play is unlike the movie in that it does not rely on constant curses to deliver meaningful dialogue. The script is basically this: "sex, cursing, guns."
Overall, the movie is underwhelming, with a promising idea that ultimately falls flat in the execution. The twist is unbearably predictable. I recommend this film if a) you're bored, or b) the video store doesn't have anything else for rent today.
P.S. Is it just me, or would it be impossible to provide for a family of three doing nothing other than selling vegetables? Seems ill-advised. I mean, he is a veteran. Doesn't he have skills? Guess not.
Let's begin with the main character: Bob. After leaving the military, he develops a separate personality in a little boy he talks to, along with forgetting his time in the military. I have no qualms with this. But his actor was only OK, chewing through scenes as deadpan as a cadaver until the final scene.
Next, bob's daughter. I feel like it's not much of a spoiler to say: she dreams about Bob's forgotten war memories and that's fine. But what's not OK is that there's never an explanation for it. Perhaps have her be friends with Bob's alternate persona and she learns the memories that way? Other than that, she was good.
The wife: she was a hippie, until she had a child. From that point on, literally every choice she makes contradicts the idea of her being a hippie. That's it.
The friend from the military: he comes in because Bob is happy, and jacks all that up. That's fine. Is he good? Bad? Vengeful? I don't know. What I do know is that he's the only actor who delivers a decent portrayal that is wonderfully creepy. As a small side note, the phrase "rape" is just as shocking as "plugged in the nasty hole".
Which brings me to my final point: the drudgery that is the script. As I said before, the play is unlike the movie in that it does not rely on constant curses to deliver meaningful dialogue. The script is basically this: "sex, cursing, guns."
Overall, the movie is underwhelming, with a promising idea that ultimately falls flat in the execution. The twist is unbearably predictable. I recommend this film if a) you're bored, or b) the video store doesn't have anything else for rent today.
P.S. Is it just me, or would it be impossible to provide for a family of three doing nothing other than selling vegetables? Seems ill-advised. I mean, he is a veteran. Doesn't he have skills? Guess not.
B-movie and not a good one
deloudelouvain28 August 2017
I don't know if the few reviewers for this movie have anything to do with the movie but they are for sure exaggerating. It isn't a great movie like they want to make you believe. It's just an average B-movie. A movie with no great budget, nothing wrong with that, but still not a great movie. The script is boring, dragging you through the movie. The cast is what it is, unknown actors and there is a reason why. They are not great at all, just average. The most annoying thing about the movie, and also from a lot of B-movies, is the soundtrack. That boring piano and guitar music that makes you want to fall asleep. I think a good soundtrack is essential for a good movie, and this one is clearly not. When will people learn boring piano keys and lousy guitar strings don't make a good soundtrack. It resumes the movie good, too boring and too slow for me.
Indie Lover's Wet Dream
A_Different_Drummer8 November 2016
Writer/Director Kyle Ham has done the near-impossible.
He has produced an indie thriller with (generally) unknown actors that, pound for pound and frame for frame, can hold its own with the A-list productions.
No small feat.
The script is a nice, deft, turn on the "amnesia" thrillers that were very popular in the 1940s but have been somewhat overlooked in more recent years.
The cast is generally excellent. Jon Huertas practically steals all his scenes, projecting at the same time a genuine since of menace yet somehow couched in that aura of "well meaning" that we usually see only from master villains in a Bond film. Amazing acting. Half the time the viewer wants to shoot him, half the time the viewer is sympathetic towards him.
Virginia Newcomb has an interesting "Amy Adams" vibe and holds her own. Even the "hullucinatory" character (played by young Brody Behr) brings a sense of gravitas to a very brief role.
Recommended. Highly.
He has produced an indie thriller with (generally) unknown actors that, pound for pound and frame for frame, can hold its own with the A-list productions.
No small feat.
The script is a nice, deft, turn on the "amnesia" thrillers that were very popular in the 1940s but have been somewhat overlooked in more recent years.
The cast is generally excellent. Jon Huertas practically steals all his scenes, projecting at the same time a genuine since of menace yet somehow couched in that aura of "well meaning" that we usually see only from master villains in a Bond film. Amazing acting. Half the time the viewer wants to shoot him, half the time the viewer is sympathetic towards him.
Virginia Newcomb has an interesting "Amy Adams" vibe and holds her own. Even the "hullucinatory" character (played by young Brody Behr) brings a sense of gravitas to a very brief role.
Recommended. Highly.
Original Screenplay, Outstanding Cast
kalikathy23 September 2015
Finally an exciting and original storyline that you can't predict! Reparation kept me on the edge of my seat, I will definitely be recommending this one to others. The acting is excellent. You may recognize Jon Huertas from Castle and Marc Menchaca from Generation Kill. Virginia Newcomb is new to the scene but packs a powerful female punch. The children actors tug at your heart strings like pros, very touching performances. The film is beautifully shot, set in rural Indiana. There is original music composed for the film that is eerily beautiful at times, and at other times gets your heart pumping. You'll enjoy this one! I think Writer/Director Kyle Ham will be one to watch.
Recovering lost memories always affects more than one person.
Charoncita4 October 2016
Suspenseful, honest look at what consequences a past which hides from view can bring. Deeply explored, nuanced performances from an amazing ensemble cast and laser-focused directing kept me riveted, even when I might have drifted off otherwise, since this is generally not my preferred genre. This story needed to be written, told and shared. I've seen John Huertas' work before, so his deft handling of a multi- layered character did not come as a surprise. The unexpected treat came from every other performer, from the strong adult leads through the brilliant children to the walk-ons. The depth of understanding from the actors and the director of the main character's condition and of his daughter's gift brought to life a cleanly told story of many levels which in other hands would have been wordy and turgid or hopelessly shallow. I must confess, though, I went to see the movie because of Virginia Newcomb - She never ceases to amaze me, she is fearless and always helps me see more than I expected from any character she takes on.
Living a policeman's nightmare
tkelley-823991 January 2016
Bob Stevens can't remember anything about his Air Force service, until his daughter recognizes a stranger from his past. I saw Reparation with my wife, a police officer coping with PTSD. At one point in the film she sat bolt upright in her seat, and then cried. This is a very powerful film about family, friendship, loyalty, duty and of course reparation. Written by a former military policeman, Reparation isn't a story that will leave you wondering if the characters might have made other choices the story could have ended differently. The superb story line, skillful direction and wonderful acting leave you convinced the none of them had any other choices. This is one of those rare adventures that sucks you into somebody's nightmare and then breaks your heart.
Reparation A suspensefulindependent film
clarissaW511 October 2016
Reparation
A film by Kyle Ham and Steve Timm Based on the play "The Activist" by Steve Timm, screenplay by Kyle Ham and Steve Timm, produced and directed by Kyle Ham. A Red Dirt Picture
CSA music by Devan Yank, costumes by Sami Martin Sarmiento, production design by G. Duane Skoog, director of photography by Jay Silver, executive producers Suzanne Ham, Liz and Chris Dooley, Vizher Mooney, Patricia Pardee, Phoebe and Bobby Tudo, producers Mathew Lessall, Steve Timm
Reviewed by Clarissa Wittenberg
The poster for this movie lists eleven awards won at film festivals and it has probably won more since the poster was designed. It deserves every one. The screenplay and the acting alone would win honors. It is, at heart, a mysterious play telling of the sort of traumatic scars that many people hide as they go about their lives. The story starts with a soldier in a military prison and then in a military hospital. Nothing is explained except that the man has suffered amnesia and is clearly traumatized.
The film is a modern tragedy, with the wounds of soldiers and others who protect us laid out in painful succession. The character and quality of the actors, script and the extraordinary skills of the crew come together to prove that when art gives form to tragedy we can benefit from its lessons. Even small parts are beautifully played and the major roles of Bob, the injured soldier played by Marc Menchaca, Jerome, his former buddy turned enemy, played by Jon Huertas; the lovely and loving Lucy played by Virginia Newcomb; and the parts of the children, Charlotte and Ralph acted by Dale Dye Thomas and Brody Behr are masterful with each committing body and soul to their roles. Adam Philpott playing Marty, a junior sheriff and Bob's brother, perfectly portrayed a sense of ambivalent confusion. I have no doubt they are all skilled and experienced actors, but as director, Ham must have allowed each one to breathe life into their parts.
Throughout the film Ham has achieved a highly unusual command of impending danger and suspense and a deep understanding of the uniquely American place and character.
The tragic injury is both real and a metaphor. The film asks what is real? What is true? Can anyone love us? Can we continue? How do we recover and find balance again? At first I thought the film was about a soldier injured in wars of the Afghanistan or Iraq as we have seen so many soldiers return with both bodily and psychic injuries. But the soldier at the heart of this film had been a military policeman decades ago and had never been to a war zone—unless you count any military setting a war zone. The settings in Indiana are so familiar; anyone who has been to those parts has seen them. Everyone has passed by the old house. We know the farmer's market with its sign, "Bob is here." My brother had a truck like their old blue truck, except it wasn't blue. Kyle Hamm has rooted his film perfectly.
Each setting, each costume, each beam of golden light is perfect. Ham edited his own film and it is put together in a very crisp way. Beautiful shots of sunlit fields, dark woods, and dangerous country roads help create the montage that makes up this soldier's life.
The music supports and sometimes, guides the film. It provides an American soundtrack and is filled with the wisdom of country music.
It is important that the secrets of the film be kept, so I will not describe the plot. The film was truly twenty-years in the making. Ham had the good fortune as a student at DePauw University to read the stories and plays written by one of his professors, Steve Timm. A story written by Timm had haunted Ham. Eventually the team tried the studio route in Hollywood and then after almost ruining it with required re-writes and tepid responses, withdrew and eventually self funded this independent film. They made the right decision and it seems that the number of people who volunteered and those who "kickstarted" it, made the right decision too.
This is a hell of a first movie! Review courtesy of Washington Film Institute http://filminstitute.org/fil:review-reparation/.
A film by Kyle Ham and Steve Timm Based on the play "The Activist" by Steve Timm, screenplay by Kyle Ham and Steve Timm, produced and directed by Kyle Ham. A Red Dirt Picture
CSA music by Devan Yank, costumes by Sami Martin Sarmiento, production design by G. Duane Skoog, director of photography by Jay Silver, executive producers Suzanne Ham, Liz and Chris Dooley, Vizher Mooney, Patricia Pardee, Phoebe and Bobby Tudo, producers Mathew Lessall, Steve Timm
Reviewed by Clarissa Wittenberg
The poster for this movie lists eleven awards won at film festivals and it has probably won more since the poster was designed. It deserves every one. The screenplay and the acting alone would win honors. It is, at heart, a mysterious play telling of the sort of traumatic scars that many people hide as they go about their lives. The story starts with a soldier in a military prison and then in a military hospital. Nothing is explained except that the man has suffered amnesia and is clearly traumatized.
The film is a modern tragedy, with the wounds of soldiers and others who protect us laid out in painful succession. The character and quality of the actors, script and the extraordinary skills of the crew come together to prove that when art gives form to tragedy we can benefit from its lessons. Even small parts are beautifully played and the major roles of Bob, the injured soldier played by Marc Menchaca, Jerome, his former buddy turned enemy, played by Jon Huertas; the lovely and loving Lucy played by Virginia Newcomb; and the parts of the children, Charlotte and Ralph acted by Dale Dye Thomas and Brody Behr are masterful with each committing body and soul to their roles. Adam Philpott playing Marty, a junior sheriff and Bob's brother, perfectly portrayed a sense of ambivalent confusion. I have no doubt they are all skilled and experienced actors, but as director, Ham must have allowed each one to breathe life into their parts.
Throughout the film Ham has achieved a highly unusual command of impending danger and suspense and a deep understanding of the uniquely American place and character.
The tragic injury is both real and a metaphor. The film asks what is real? What is true? Can anyone love us? Can we continue? How do we recover and find balance again? At first I thought the film was about a soldier injured in wars of the Afghanistan or Iraq as we have seen so many soldiers return with both bodily and psychic injuries. But the soldier at the heart of this film had been a military policeman decades ago and had never been to a war zone—unless you count any military setting a war zone. The settings in Indiana are so familiar; anyone who has been to those parts has seen them. Everyone has passed by the old house. We know the farmer's market with its sign, "Bob is here." My brother had a truck like their old blue truck, except it wasn't blue. Kyle Hamm has rooted his film perfectly.
Each setting, each costume, each beam of golden light is perfect. Ham edited his own film and it is put together in a very crisp way. Beautiful shots of sunlit fields, dark woods, and dangerous country roads help create the montage that makes up this soldier's life.
The music supports and sometimes, guides the film. It provides an American soundtrack and is filled with the wisdom of country music.
It is important that the secrets of the film be kept, so I will not describe the plot. The film was truly twenty-years in the making. Ham had the good fortune as a student at DePauw University to read the stories and plays written by one of his professors, Steve Timm. A story written by Timm had haunted Ham. Eventually the team tried the studio route in Hollywood and then after almost ruining it with required re-writes and tepid responses, withdrew and eventually self funded this independent film. They made the right decision and it seems that the number of people who volunteered and those who "kickstarted" it, made the right decision too.
This is a hell of a first movie! Review courtesy of Washington Film Institute http://filminstitute.org/fil:review-reparation/.
Wow!
kbarnhart-1500531 December 2015
What a great film! I was lucky enough to get to see this movie in April at the Newport Beach Film Festival. The storyline was compelling and kept my interest for the entire time. There were quite a few twists and turns. I pride myself in figuring out plots, so I was pleasantly surprised that I was unable to predict where this movie ended up. The characters were realistic and and believable. I loved the cast and think they all did an amazing job. This was one of those films that really gives you a lot to think about and I do love a movie that makes you think. I really enjoyed this movie and can't wait to see it again! If it makes it to the big screen, I will be first in line!
A Must See Independent Film!
sharonpotter1 November 2016
This film deserves all the awards it has received. The story is engaging and unpredictable and sheds light on a topic about which most people know little - the recovery of memories. It kept me on the edge of my seat until the end with twists and turns throughout. The actors masterfully told the story of a veteran's journey after being discharged. It really highlights the plight of military veterans following service and reflects on the relationships of soldiers and their bond during that time though there are no scenes of battle in the film. The child actors in Reparation do a wonderful job and their roles are such an integral part of the story line. The movie drifts seamlessly from gentle storytelling to intense suspense, a perfect journey.
The soundtrack was masterful - bravo!!!
The soundtrack was masterful - bravo!!!
A Real Independent Film
rhwasc4 October 2016
Many films claim to be independent but are merely small films released by large studios. This is a provincial film. By that I mean these are unique characters that don't follow stereotypical arcs. We've lost so much of our regional story telling whether it be in England, Canada, Australia, New York.... Those cities and countries are manufacturing Hollywood movies. I deeply miss those uniquely different films. I wonder if Kurosawa, Lumet, Lean, Bunuel, Bergman or Beresford would be allowed to make their unique films today? This is a well told story with real characters that meet well and are incredibly interesting to follow. This is a unique simple yet complex film that requires viewing by serious film enthusiasts.
Accidents of Fate
nogodnomasters3 September 2017
Warning: Spoilers
Bob Stevens (Marc Menchaca) was an Air Force MP. An incident happened which created a three year gap in his memory. He talks to an imaginary boy (Brody Behr) who guides him and tells him to look forward. He hits the road and meets Lucy (Virginia Newcomb) a free spirit who discovers she is fertile. Charlotte (Dale Dye Thomas) becomes their love child as they are able to get by in Indiana. When Jerome (Jon Huertas) shows up, he claims to have been a friend of Bob's and he gives everyone bad vibes, especially Charlotte who appears to have strangely acquired Bob's forgotten memories. The forgotten incident is revealed to us slowly as it is piecemeal to Charlotte.
The film was very good. The acting was top notch. While there is an aspect of the unexplained in the film it is still primarily a drama. Winner of 10 Independent film festival awards. In the beginning we see Bob is shot in the face and the film is leading us back to that point as we wonder who and why.
Guide: F-word. Brief sex. No nudity
The film was very good. The acting was top notch. While there is an aspect of the unexplained in the film it is still primarily a drama. Winner of 10 Independent film festival awards. In the beginning we see Bob is shot in the face and the film is leading us back to that point as we wonder who and why.
Guide: F-word. Brief sex. No nudity
Excellent Film!!
grfulnfree-7264919 October 2019
I do not usually write reviews, however, in this instance I made an exception so that people would give it a shot if they wouldnt have normally. I dont feel the preview does the movie justice but I gave it a shot anyway, and I'm so glad I did. The acting is great, story is fresh and different. So without giving anything away, just watch it; especially if it caught your eye, you will not be disappointed! Enjoy!
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