Review: Cold Weather (2011)
Mark R. Leeper
(a film review by Mark R. Leeper)
CAPSULE: There is a decent story at the center of
COLD WEATHER. Unfortunately, it is only about a
half-hour long. It is just long enough to make the
center of a feature film if elsewhere the film is
padded using the conventions of the mumblecore film
style. Not every film has to have the pacing of THE
MATRIX, but this is a film that conspicuously spends
time and celluloid in some of the wrong places.
Rating: low +1 (-4 to +4) or 5/10
Aaron Katz's film COLD WEATHER is made in the "mumblecore" style of
filmmaking, a style with its own set of conventions in some ways
similar to those of the Dogma 95 movement. These can be a little
off-putting for the uninitiated. To give a realistic feel to a
mumblecore film generally non-professional actors are used and the
plot and pacing can best be called "unrushed." This can frustrate
the viewer while watching with the film's lack of progress, but
also it badly limits the complexity possible in the plot. Texture
is more the goal than is storytelling. Long sequences do not
advance the plot and merely create a background atmosphere, perhaps
expanding on the characters. The characters in mumblecore films
tend to be in their 20s. The films are frequently on video and
budgets are generally miniscule. In this spirit COLD WEATHER
ambles aimlessly toward its plot. When it finally arrives there is
no longer time to give the story the complexity it deserves.
In school Doug (played by Cris Lankenau) studied forensic science,
but never graduated. He has in the back of his mind that he
eventually wants to be a detective, but for the time being he is
just drifting. In his most optimistic and fanciful moments he
wants to emulate Sherlock Holmes. Meanwhile he is stuck in ice
cold Portland, Oregon where he works at an ice factory hauling
heavy bags of yet more ice. His career and life are frozen. And
there the film sits, itself seemingly frozen for nearly half of its
96-minute length. Too far into the film he introduces his co-
worker Carlos to his ex-girlfriend Rachel (Robyn Rikoon). Carlos
invites her on a date. The two become friends but then Rachel
mysteriously disappears from her motel room. Doug thinks that
there must be a simple explanation for Rachel's disappearance, but
that does not seem to be the case. Doug and Carlos pair up to find
her and they themselves find themselves in a mystery that goes
beyond Rachel's strange behavior. There appears to be for-real
foul play involved in Rachel's disappearance. Doug, who is
reluctant at first to get involved, soon finds his forensic skills
and his fund of knowledge from Sherlock Holmes books may be useful
in the real world. Doug involves his sister (Trieste Kelly Dunn)
in the mystery and the danger.
COLD WEATHER is written and directed by Aaron Katz who previously
directed QUIET CITY, also featuring Cris Lankenau. Considering the
terseness with which he handles the mystery part of the story, far
to many scenes end with the viewer wondering what that scene added
to the film. Then there are complete loose ends left at the end of
the film. By then end of the film the viewer has some clues to
what the mystery is about, but not at all a complete picture. And
similarly we never seem to come to much understanding of Doug. But
if all the mumblecore footage of the characters talking and
interacting leaves us without much interest in the film's main
character, one wonders why so much time is wasted in the film.
Perhaps writer-director Aaron Katz needed to try a more traditional
style of filmmaking. Perhaps he just needed to deliver more
substance sooner. As hard as I tried to like the film I still rate
it a low +1 on the -4 to +4 scale or 5/10. COLD WEATHER has been
playing at film festivals. It will be released theatrically via
IFC Films on February 4, 2011, in New York and on February 11, 2011,
in Los Angeles.
Film Credits: <http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1497874/>
What others are saying:
<http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/cold_weather/>
Mark R. Leeper
mle...@optonline.net
Copyright 2011 Mark R. Leeper