Review of 3 Backyards (2010) by Dawn T — 15 Aug 2011

I love Elias Koteas, think Edie Falco is great, and was looking forward to seeing this movie. Nutshell review: Interesting story idea, unfortunately it was played out like a student film, with a little too much and a little too little, all at the wrong times. The soundtrack brought the whole thing down several notches by seeming to filch background/transition music straight from the1970's "Family" TV series. Too many flora and fauna transitions, and like a mind-meld of amateur short stories, too much was left unsaid in each of the three stories. Not fun. At least, the three stories didn't connect subtly the way "Art House" films try to do. That would have been a reach.

I still love Elias Koteas and think Edie Falco is great, though, and I am glad to see them do funky movies. They both did a nice job and the movie would have been dead if anyone else played their roles. Although I don't need a Hollywood ending to make me happy, I need some sort of ending. Or perhaps some sort of reason for character/story resolutions. This one didn't cut it for me.