Review of Old Fashioned (2014) by Laura E — 07 Feb 2015

The mark of great art and film making is the ability to make the viewer feel something different or see the world from the artists perspective. By that measure, Old Fashioned is artistic in the highest order. The audience will initially be confronted with a world view that seems... well... a little too old fashioned to connect in a meaningful way. The director intentionally gives a nod to our concerns very early on in the film (in a moment of obvious self-awareness) when Amber teases Clay for being a little "on the nose". As the film unfolds, Swartzwelder holds in tension the reality of the modern dating scene with his (clearly Christian) worldview. By the climax of the film, the audience amazingly finds itself so strongly connected to the worldview that iseemed so distant at the outset. Swartzwelder truly created something beautiful and he guided the audience masterfully to a vantage point where we could see from his perspective. Well done.

This film was beautifully shot and had all of the marks of a sweet indie film that will not be soon forgotten. As a side note, Elizabeth Ann Roberts was an absolute knockout. I imagine that this will be a breakout role for her. Wonderful performance!