FilmSnobReviews

Title: Paint It Black
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Director: Amber Tamblyn
Starring: Alia Shawkat, Janet McTeer, Alfred Molina
Runtime: 1 hr 37 mins

What It Is: Josie (Shawkat) has not seen her boyfriend in a few days. Then, she gets a call that most everyone fears. A body has been found in a hotel room in 29 Palms, California matching his description. The next call she receives is from her boyfriend Michael’s (Rhys Wakefield) mother Meredith (McTeer). She’s none too happy about the death of her son and she blames Josie for the whole thing. Now while dealing with his death Josie must also content with his mother’s wrath.

What We Think: This movie is an excellent exploration of the effects of suicide on the people in that person’s life. Shawkat gives an amazing performance and I think Tamblyn does a great job directing this. From a shot for shot perspective, this is ridiculously well shot. There’s an utter darkness surrounding this. A depressive manic that covers every character especially Josie. Great performance much like the aforementioned Shawkat, but also Janet McTeer is all kinds of crazy and nutty. This is the very opposite of a delightful film, yet it is all the better for not being so.

Our Grade: B+, This is a really small film but find it wherever you can. It’s on VOD currently here in the United States. Obviously, I can give this film a glowing recommendation. The film has a deliberate pace but that’s probably precisely what Tamblyn was going for. I think Tamblyn has a future in the director’s chair which is quite interesting indeed. I’m not certain anyone really saw that coming from a woman whose career highlights include a run on a soap opera, the dead girl in the beginning of The Ring, and The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.