FilmSnobReviews

Title: An L.A. Minute
MPAA Rating: R
Director: Daniel Adams
Starring: Kiersey Clemons, Gabriel Byrne, Bob Balaban
Runtime: 1 hr 26 mins

What It Is: Ted Gold (Byrne) is a highly successful author of absolute trash. When he begins a tour for his newest book, about the homeless, he tries to live that experience. Well only if for the night. During this time he meets homeless performance artist Velocity (Clemons) who changes his perspective on those that are without a place to live. But as Velocity becomes an overnight sensation Ted may have to take a backseat.

What We Think: Gabriel Byrne has still got it! Adams directs the hell out of this and I think that this is certainly a hidden gem. Kiersey Clemons is great here and you can see that Adams just let her go. Daniel shoots this on film on purpose as he explains and I think it’ a wise decision. There really aren’t a ton of people defending the use of film over digital so his perspective, which is seen down below in our interview, is welcomed. As for the narrative, it isn’t the most interesting thing in the world. In fact, the story of how long it took to make this film is actually more interesting.

Our Grade: C+, I recommend this film with the caveat that you probably won’t find it outside of New York and L.A. (the latter is quite fitting). If you do find it you’ll be in for an interesting narrative with its message firmly at the center of it. I’m interested to see how the film plays outside of the two major cities it started in. What you’ll get here is a carefully direct satire of modern life that feels both told as a new and retold. Either way, it’s something just a little different.