Nobody Walks (2012)

I am very thankiful for independent film-makers. Sometimes, after seeing the millionth identical Hollywood production, it's nice to see someone make something with fresh ideas and new energy. Making a movie independently means that you do not have to conform to studio demands and desires, yet it also means that you're in for a lot of difficulty, just one example of which would be the financial obstacles. That's why I'm very impressed with Ry Russo-Young, a 30-year-old woman with three feature films under her belt. Although, I must confess I'm more impressed with her ability to get the films made than in their quality as motion pictures. Her latest effort is Nobody Walks, written by Lena Dunham and the director, and it will get more attention than her other projects. This is because it has attracted great stars like John Krasinski, Olivia Thirlby and Rosemarie DeWitt, all of whom are so good at what they do that they make this little drama somewhat enjoyable where it would have otherwise, unfortunately, been unwatchable.

The story features Krasinski as a small-time sound effects editor who is helping small-time art film-maker Thirlby complete her short about bugs. These early scenes of the movie are the most involving. Both of the stars are charming and likable and their time together seems genuine. I'm sure Thirlby's character's struggles in creating her little masterpiece, which everyone knows isn't very good, reflects some of the heartache that Ry Russo-Young has been through herself. Krasinski also has had brief experience as a director (He made the interesting Brief Interviews with Hideous Men.) and has surely dealt with the complicated world of sound in real life. I was fascinated by the moments when these characters go through the house and yard and record all manner of sounds to meet the requirements Thirlby has laid out ("I want sounds only ants can hear!"), and these scenes increase our awareness of the film's other sounds, which seem to have been increased for that very purpose. If the entire picture had been as charming as these moments, I would have been more eager to recommend it. Sadly, the second half spirals into an absurd plot of forced and unnecessary drama, some lengthily involving a young girl and her inapporpiate Italian teacher and the therapist played by DeWitt being harassed by another film director, this one a jerk.

I was dissapointed to see Nobody Walks take the direction it did. It all too eagerly enters soap opera territory as loyalties are altered, feelings are hurt, marriages are wrecked and our interest disappears. None of the events that occur during the majority of the film made me feel anything but increasing annoyance. How much we liked these characters during the early scenes that played so well are quite forgotten by the time the ordeal is over, and for no good reason. There is no real logic behind what the characters do to make things get so out of hand, but stems entirely from the director/writer's immense desire to make an impression. She does do that, even if it isn't an altogether good one. I would still be interested to see what else she can accomplish.

5/10