Things That Hang from Trees (2006) Reviews

• moody

  jamesmarlas2006-06-02

  1 of the locally shot films in the Jacksonville Film Festival. A series of creepy, moody events guide this bare bones plot about a semi-retarded kid wanting to see the July 4 fireworks. The kid drifts through the days and seems barely aware of his cringe-inducing father, drug-addled mother (Deborah Kara Unger who poses in negligee in her store front window) and spiteful Christian weirdo neighbor. There are tons of weirdos in this film. The main character basically bumps into all of them along his way to see the fireworks. This brings me to my only real issue with this film. There are almost too many unpleasant aspects of the south squashed into what is really just a straightforward story about a kid with a very kid-like goal. At times it weighs down the film. The actors were all good. A seriously sexy Deborah Kara Unger was born to play roles like this. Overall I liked the film a lot and thought it was a nice break from the norm.

• Hmm...

  vrhsoboe2006-03-26

  I was actually looking forward to seeing this film at the Austin film festival, but I was a little disappointed. The plot, although interesting and somewhat emotional, is presented in a tricky and sometimes confusing way. After seeing the movie, I looked to the person sitting next to me, and asked if they knew what had just happened. After seeing "Things that Hang from Trees", I went to its page here on this website and read the plot. To my surprise, it was completely different than what I thought it would say. Now that I think about it, it makes sense, but I shouldn't have to read the plot after the film to find out what the heck was going on. Nice try by the director, a period piece requires a lot of work and it truly shows in the overall picture and look of the film, but the story is just not there...

• The Ultimate Movie Review! - http://tss5078.blogspot.com

  Tss50782011-12-24

  I decided to give this film a chance, because it really is an intriguing story. Set in 1969, in a small town in Florida. An alcoholic father has abandoned his wife and child. The child is slow and has all kinds of problems, so the mother is forced to open up a business. In 1969 what kind of business does every small southern town need? You guessed it, a sex shop! It's a different plot and seemed like it would be a very interesting story, but looks can be deceiving. They hire writers to make the "official" description of the movie, so it sound great and you'll go see it, and in this case they got me. This has got to be one of the slowest and most pointless movies I have ever seen. Everyone is portrayed as stupid, the film is choppy and makes no sense, and on top of that it's just a total bore! They fooled me, don't let them fool you! Avoid this one!

• Imagine David Lynch directing Mayberry

  eliasteven2006-05-27

  Saw this at SXSW and liked it. The flick centers around a sort-of-autistic kid? whose whacked-out mother (Deborah Unger) models lingerie in the window of her store. The characters are all pretty grotesque and are almost more a symbol to the kid instead of believable peoples. (especially the kids abusive dad played by one of my favs -the crazy priest in Deadwood---Ray McKinnon.) My main problem with the film is the lack of any magical quality to the tree of which the whole film is named? The acting (casting especially) was good, the story is there---subtle with a deemphasis on plot which has it flirt dangerously with dullness. Every time though, the story surprises. I found the cinematography to be one of the films strongest elements- Not perfect but pretty impressive for first time director.

• boring

  agyar2006-04-01

  This film is a bore. i like unconventional, foreign and art films, but they have to have a character or story element that holds some kind of interest. this lacks any interesting element or character. Unger is strong, and her character could have saved this film, but alas, it just doesn't happen. for me there is nothing worse than an art film that is filled with clichés. weak effort. I guess the biggest problem was the script, but it's the director's responsibility to recognize those problems and turn clichés into original and interesting characters, or dispense with them. when the boys father shows up and is a nasty a**hole, it's just another eyeball rolling moment. This film is loaded with them. although it looks good and is shot well enough, the story-telling is just amateurish.