Entanglement

Lately i have been watching a lot of B movies. Not because i need to, it just happened. And the good thing about that is you realize that the budget is not always an issue. This is something i have noticed many times, especially in well made independent film. Usually when Hollywood is desperate and run out of ideas, There are so many good independent films out there to choose between, that i could probably mention a whole list of titles. But let´s just pick a few out, starting of with the funny drama comedy Safety Not Guaranteed. One of my personal favourite independent films of 2012, the story of three magazine employees who travel to meet a mysterious guy, who claims to need a partner in his time travelling quest. A very funny, and dramatic film that you need to see. Main actor Aubrey Plaza does one of her best performances as the character Darius. Also a great performance from actor Mark Duplass as the odd time traveler Kenneth. if you have not seen Safety Not Guaranteed yet, you have to buy it on DVD or Blu Ray. It is one of those films that deserves to be in your collection of quality films. Another great title that comes to my mind, within the independent genre is of course Frank, released in 2014. One of my favourite films of that year, Frank is the story about a musical genius Frank ( played brilliant by actor Michael Fassbender ), who wears a big head and tries to make great songs with his odd band. Frank is a really funny, and odd story, about a group of people who worship main singer Frank. Great soundtrack as well, and some really good performances from many actors, especially from Michael Shannnon and Maggie Gyllenhaal. Frank is a must see film, because it is much better than most cinema releases, and proves why independent films are needed. Since it has been a while since i watched a pretty fresh independent film, i decided to check what has been released. And i noticed that there are a lot of titles out there that i have not seen, so i might review some more later on this summer / autumn. I came across a title called Entanglement, that seemed interesting. One of the first things i noticed was that the main actor is Thomas Middleditch, mostly known from the TV series Silicon Valley. But i also really enjoyed him in the independent film The Kings Of Summer ( another great independent film you should see ). After reading the plot of the film, i found myself curious about Entanglement. Is it possible that Entanglement is another great independent film release, or is this one that you might as well forget about ?

Ben Layton ( Thomas Middleditch ) is depressed and have just tried to kill himself. He survives, and his best friend Tabby ( Diana Bang ) is really worried about him. While eating at his mother Betty Layten ( Marilyn Norry ), with his father Norm Layten ( Eric Keenleyside ) visiting after serious health issues, Ben finds out that he was supposed to have an adopted sister. Ben was always the only child in the family, so he is curious to find out who this girl is, and what she is like. With the help of Tabby, he manage to track her down, a girl he actually have met before named Hanna ( Jess Weixler ). It becomes clear that there is a special connection between Ben and Hanna, as they spend more time together. But when Ben finds out there is something not right about Hanna, he is about to see a different side of her, that he never expected to be real.

While watching Entanglement, i realize something. I realize why it is so nice to watch an independent film, that does not need a lot of budget to be good. A film like this still manage to deliver quality, while many Hollywood films fails, even how big the budget is. The biggest reason why i enjoy this film, is because that this is a charming story. It starts out very sad, where the main character tries to kill himself, tired of his life. This story progress along the way, to become funny, and even dramatic in some scenes. But the charming tone of the story shines through, and i find myself enjoying this journey with the main characters. The acting in this film is actually pretty good, especially from the main actors Thomas Middleditch and Jess Weixler. Their screen chemistry can´t be missed, and they clearly had fun making this film. In some ways there are some magical scenes between them, and you can feel that along the way. I also enjoy the performance of actor Diana Bang, as Ben´s best friend Tabby. You can tell that she loves Ben, even though Ben might not realize that. Nice to see actor Eric Keenleyside ( who have been in many great films such as Final Destination 2,  Dear Mr. Gacy and Godzilla ) here as Ben´s father Norm. I have to mention actor Marilyn Norry ( also done some great films such as The Exorcism Of Emily Rose and The Possession ) as Ben´s mother Betty. Great casting choice for his parents. Knowing that this is a story about a man, who falls in love with a girl who was supposed to be his adopted sister, does sound strange. I won´t reveal the real truth, but there is an interesting twist in the end that changes everything you thought was happening, and i am glad that the story changes. It could have ended very predictable and left us with just a simple ending, but instead we get a surprise. One of the things that is very important in this film, is how the main character Ben is dealing with his depression. And if you know someone who is depressed, or have been depressed, you will probably recognize the personality of Ben. He see things, no one else sees, like his other part of himself in the bathroom mirror, telling him different things. This is the kind of drama comedy that may not be for a larger audience, but that´s ok. Entanglement is a film that will make an impact on you, and make you realize how important it is to try and find happiness, no matter how long it takes. If you want to see something different this summer, then i suggest you watch Entanglement on VOD, and give this film a chance. This charming, and sad story, does have some important issues to share with us. A film like this don´t come around very often, that is why you should take the time to experience a quality film.

Rating: DDD