Movie Review - Among Ravens - Your Entertainment Corner

Production Company: Gravitas Ventures

Genre: Dramedy

Directed by: Russell Friedenberg and Randy Redroad

Written by: Russell Friedenberg

Cast: Will McCormack, Joshua Leonard, Amy Smart, Victoria Smurfit, Russell Friedenberg, Christian Campbell, Johnny Sequoia, Calum Grant, Castille Landon, Christopher Pinkalla, Natalie Imbruglia, and Olivia Hoffman

Running Time: 140 minutes approximately

Rating: ★★★★★

Among Ravens is inspired by the true experiences of writer/director/star Russell Friedenberg and director Randy Redroad when they and their families gathered for their annual Fourth of July weekend in McCall, Idaho. It examines their individual lives and marriages, and the effect it has on Friedenberg’s 9-year-old real-life daughter Johnny Sequoia, who plays 10-year-old Joey in the film.

The tale revolves around a bunch of miserably unhappy, angst-ridden people, including the weekend’s hosts Wendy (Amy Smart) and Ellis (Josh Leonard) Conifer. Wendy, a radical during her college days, is extremely unhappy with her husband and her life, while Ellis is a trust fund baby who would do anything for Wendy and Joey, Wendy’s daughter. Wendy’s ex-husband Saul (Friedenberg) is a writer who hasn’t written one word of his published novels. Instead, he uses the services of an alcoholic ghostwriter, Will (Christian Campbell), who is responsible for Saul’s fame. Saul’s wife Emma (Victoria Smurfit) is also unhappy in her marriage so it’s no surprise she’s having an affair with Will. Then, there’s Wendy’s best friend Hal (Calum Grant), a hippie life coach and his main squeeze Saturn (Castille Landon), or as he says, “she’s my life partner…for now.” He also uses words like “vangina,” while she says things like “You need to fuck my yoni puja,” and “I fuck only to elevate to a higher spiritual plane.” What a throwback to the 60s!

Joey and Chad promise to share secrets

Into this odd group of people comes Chad (Will McCormack), a peculiar, childlike wildlife photographer who is inflicted with haphephobia, a rare phobia involving the fear of touching or being touched. At first, I thought Chad was autistic as he appears very uncomfortable in his own skin, making jokes only a child would laugh at. “May the Fourth be with you,” he says to Jay (Christopher Pinkalla), who drops Chad off at Wendy and Ellis’ house. Don’t ask me who Jay is, or where he went for the majority of the movie, because I have no idea. The audience is never told what relationship Jay has to anyone, although he appears to be Wendy’s friend. Last, but by no means least, is Wendy and Saul’s daughter Joey, who immediately befriends Chad, and calls Ellis her “provider dad” and Saul her “bio dad.” Her knowledge of what kind of wine is in the wine cellar, as well as the number of bottles of each, conveys this is no ordinary little girl.

Joey narrates the story, comparing ravens and humans and their similar tendencies, quoting from The Little Big Book of Birds. Her description of a hawk seems to be a picture-perfect depiction of Chad. He even resembles a hawk. Speaking of Joey, she can’t seem to get any attention from her “bio dad,” something she, like most little girls, craves. At one point, Joey confides in Chad, “My dad always wanted a boy…that’s why he named me Joey. I disappointed my dad by being a girl, and my mom by being too much like my dad. I think that’s why my dad left…’cause when he looks at me, he sees himself. It’s all my fault.” And, like most children of divorce, she still hopes they’ll reconcile even though she knows that will never happen.

My heart breaks for Joey as she tries to force a connection with Saul. “Could you at least pretend to be interested in me?” The two have an odd staring contest that Saul seems to believe is the connection to his daughter, but it’s obvious he doesn’t have a clue. Saul sucks as a father, period.

Wendy and Joey enjoy some mommy/daughter alone time.

Sequoia is the one bright spot in Among Ravens. You may remember her from her starring role in the TV series Believe. You can’t teach the level of acting this young girl achieves. She has the most expressive eyes of most people I know. Plus, the way she has her character look at a golf club she is polishing without uttering a word makes you understand how seriously she takes her job. Sequoia is truly one to watch.

I know the film is billed as a dramedy but I didn’t find anything particularly funny about it. There is one scene, however, that did make me laugh. While golfing, there is an incident involving a swarm of bees. The sight of a grown man running as fast as his legs will allow throughout the entire golf course yelling, “Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeees,” is a good laugh out loud moment.

Weirdest of all in Among Ravens is a scene where the group goes hiking in the woods. When Hal takes out some weed for the group to indulge in, I thought, ‘OK, here comes the fun.’ It is anything but. It is, perhaps, the oddest way to depict people who are stoned. I just didn’t understand what the director was trying to convey, especially when Chad starts shooting birds.

Almost every scene seems to have a hidden message. For example, during the annual Fourth of July parade, Chad gets “all gussied up” in a suit and walks the parade route uninvited. When Joey sees him in the middle of the street, she joins him. As he struts down the street, she imitates his gestures—for instance, when he walks like Frankenstein, so does she. Suddenly, he stops and stares at the sky where a hawk is circling. I’m not exactly sure what I’m supposed to take away from this scene and I wish someone would explain it to me.

The entire group watches Chad row out to the middle of the lake.

Among Ravens was shot entirely on location in Idaho. The setting is beautiful, and the Conifers’ house on the lake is magnificent, the kind of house I’ve always imagined myself living in should I win the lottery. The inner doors are a gorgeous mahogany with stunning inlaid glass panels, which contrasts immensely with the huge floor-to-ceiling rock wall surrounding the fireplace. The windows are also floor-to-ceiling and the view looking out is absolutely splendid. The outdoor shots, courtesy of aerial cinematographer Harrison Sanborn, are breathtaking. The only thing I don’t like about the house is the life-size stuffed black bear standing upright on one of the verandas.

Overall, the movie is slow and boring at times. Friedenberg uses a lot of metaphors to get his points across, but it failed miserably for me. Thirty minutes in and I wanted to stop watching. Had I been in a movie theater, I would have walked out, pissed about spending my hard-earned money on this dribble. My advice to you is don’t waste your money. Not only is Among Ravens premiering in movie theaters, today, July 18, it is also coming out on VOD at the same time. If you’re smart, you’ll go that route.

Biography of the Author(Read Below)..
Latest Posts (view them )..

Linda

Love TV, movies, and books--mostly mysteries, with a good love story thrown in every now and then. I have four adopted dogs who I adore. I love trying new recipes, and enjoy eating what I make. English language perfectionist. Reading in bed, Italian food, warm weather, the beach, all types of games = favs!