Jefferson (Grant Rosenmeyer) is a ski-bum who does temporary office work in order to save up enough money for his next ski trip. At this job he meets Stephanie (Lindsey Shaw), who he quickly develops a casual relationship with. But soon enough Stephanie wants to have some clarity with what their relationship is, even though Jefferson is happy with just keeping it casual. This causes conflict between the two and Jefferson realises that he is in a state of arrested development but has no desire to get out of it.
Like most indie movies, Temps has a pretty simple plot and it really works in its favour. The exploration of the characters and their motives is quite deep and it works well as a reflection of Generation Y and non-committal approach they have to life, as well as the surprise when someone their age actually displays some maturity and direction in life. There is a scene in which Jefferson runs into an old drinking buddy of his and is baffled at the fact that he is married with a child. The fact that his friend feels sorry for him, goes completely over his head.
Temps also takes a realistic stance on the idea of relationships. It comes very much from the school of (500) Days of Summer in that people and situations change. I've always been a fan of these movies over generic rom-coms where guy-gets-girl and everyone is happy, because that's not how most people experience relationships. The idea of the grand romantic gesture doesn't exist and there's no way to get back someone you've previously had a falling out with. This film reflects that perfectly.
Like most indie movies, Temps has a pretty simple plot and it really works in its favour. The exploration of the characters and their motives is quite deep and it works well as a reflection of Generation Y and non-committal approach they have to life, as well as the surprise when someone their age actually displays some maturity and direction in life. There is a scene in which Jefferson runs into an old drinking buddy of his and is baffled at the fact that he is married with a child. The fact that his friend feels sorry for him, goes completely over his head.
Temps also takes a realistic stance on the idea of relationships. It comes very much from the school of (500) Days of Summer in that people and situations change. I've always been a fan of these movies over generic rom-coms where guy-gets-girl and everyone is happy, because that's not how most people experience relationships. The idea of the grand romantic gesture doesn't exist and there's no way to get back someone you've previously had a falling out with. This film reflects that perfectly.
The performances in Temps are quite genuine and convincing. Grant Rosenmeyer (who you might recognise as the little kid in The Royal Tenenbaums) gives a top-notch performance as Jefferson. The maturity he experiences through the film is great and his chemistry with co-star Lindsey Shaw is fantastic. Shaw takes her character through a number of emotional tight spots and carries it off exquisitely, especially the scene in which it is revealed that she has had a boyfriend all along. Reid Ewing provides some of the much needed lighter moments in the film and brings some comedic emotion to the film.
All in all, Ryan Sage's Temps definitely sits in a certain time and place that should be fairly relatable for it's target audience (of which I'm surely a part). Yes, being an indie movie does mean that the production value is pretty much nonexistent, but the emotions are there and that's what hooked me in.
No comments:
Post a Comment