High school is a very difficult time for most students trying to find their place and purpose in life at the tail end of high school. For Logan and his best friend Hunter, this is all the more present in this film. The Hunt and the Hunted, directed by Jonathan Rome (Debut Feature), is about a coming of age dramatic independent film about two (2) best friends trying to answer a simple question, "Who are You"? Both characters test themselves on their own beliefs, relationships and sexuality before concluding their senior year of high school. The Hunt and Hunted is not just a movie, it is the directors take on what it's like in high school today and being different is not always a bad thing. Jonathan takes the viewer on an emotional ride from the start of the film and ramps it up a little after every scene you watch. These characters take real life and turns it on itself. Change is common for most; however, for Logan, he is stuck between himself and his future. The cast and crew of this film have done a great job portraying the characters and real life issues that are a political commentary on society’s views that affect theirs characters from first scene to last. Right from the opening titles, the main character, Logan (Tristen Tecala), gives you his background. Struggling to hide the truth from his family and friends, Logan owns it and brings in back to reality. Getting ready for his last first day of school as a senior, Logan shows us what he wants to accomplish by the end of the year. He reaches school where he is ambushed by his super energetic best friend, Hunter (Jonathan Rome). As he brags about what he did over the weekend, the viewer experiences the ying and yang of these characters. Logan, the quite, calmed and standoffish demeanor and Hunter, the loud, hyperactive and over sexualized teenage, are two great friends that have been there for each other since the very beginning. This is even more prevalent towards the end of the film. Taking place over the course of their senior year, Logan has been struggling with the fact that he isn't like Hunter or any other student at school. He is himself; however, he isn't sure if others will judge him differently. Logan confides in Hunter after realizing he needs to swallow his pride and ask this girl out. They both want to do something special and memorable for their dates; however, Logan isn't so sure he wants to go on this date with Rebecca (played by Jazlyn Rose). He has feelings for her, but not the same feelings that Hunter has for most girls before Hannah (Played by Mara Salinas). Mr. Fellini (played by Patrick Krupski) sparks a light that has been inside Logan that he wasn't expecting to feel at this point in his life. He gives Logan a proper peep talk that he doesn't want the same thing to happen to Logan that happen to him. His teacher is points him in a proper path that no one ever told or gave to him. Throughout the film, Mr. Fellini's assignment haunts Logan right from the start. Fearing he might lose focus on other things in his life, but has no choice to place assignment on hold for a while. Doing this, he needs to really figure out who he really is first. As Logan embarks on his journey, Hunter finds a female in his cross hairs that knows all about him, more than he does, and doesn't take him for his word (when it comes to his past). Hunter wants to have a reputation similar to the late Hugh Hefner in his high school. One girl; however, doesn't want any part of him as he tries so hard to get to her. Hannah (played by Mara Salinas) doesn't want to fall for Hunter because she wants something more that Hunter can't give to her. Hunter and Logan's relationship becomes strand as a result of Hunter spending more time looking to score with Hannah than being great friends with Logan. As soon as Hunter finally realizes that Hannah isn't like the other girls he had before, he shows more passion and drive that should've been focused himself all along. Hunter tries his hardest to win Hannah over and he gives her a promise to finally go out. Hunter, tries his hardest to change, even looking up sites on how to act proper around girls. This hurts his pride and hides the fact he has feelings for her but doesn't want anyone to know, not even his best friend. While on the journey to get with Hannah, he runs into a classmate. She sparks a change in him only after a few spoken words. Frighten by this, leaves abruptly out of weakness. Hunter fears a real relationship but that fear becomes a reality more and more while getting ready, mentally and physically. During a scene with Hunter talking to himself in the mirror, Hunter has self-doubts on how this date will go and wants to change. Changing with Hunter is a strong feet for him to cope with and states "You will proper mess this date up". In the back of Hunter's mind, he really wants a relationship with Hannah; however, his proud and boldness tends to lean the other way. While Hunter is getting ready for his date, Logan struggles with the fact he has to go on this date or Hunter with poke fun of him. Logan really wants to go on this date; however, Hunter influenced him to do the date for all the wrong reasons. Logan finally confides with Hunter's sister, Brianna (played by Jazlyn Rose). Brianna has some very choice words for Logan for doing this date for the right reason, not the wrong reasons. Logan see this opportunity to tell her how he really feels. Her strong suggestion puts another inter struggle in front of Logan. After talking with Brianna, Logan agrees to tell Rebecca how he really feels. As they both go on their long awaited dates, Hunter talks to Hannah about his history of why he became this way and realizes that maybe Logan and Brianna was right all along with himself. While the dates they went on, might not have been successful, Logan feels betrayed by others he held dear to his heart. After speaking with his teacher, Logan doesn't know where to go in his life but his teacher shed some light on some of his experiences. Fast forward to about four months and both Hunter and Logan are at separate points of their spectrum and while some people find a second chance, others’ hit rock bottom. Briana gets a call from a friend in need of helping; however, this friend doesn't want help. Logan goes on a long walk, after finally talking to Rebecca. He just needs to find the meaning to his life and little does he know, it has been right in front of him that whole time. Change is sometimes the best thing that can happen to a great friend or it can be a bad thing. The question that has been echoing throughout this film, “Who are you”, isn't about one person, it's about all persons. Once the credit start to roll, this film is powerful enough to start questioning yourself and who you want to be in life. When it comes to the story; however, this really isn't just about Logan and his journey to find himself, it’s about those lives he changed along the way and who will undertake him as who he really is. Overall, this film works on some many levels that it is justifying in saying, this is not a perfect movie. Case in point, it struggles to keep up the pacing and some scenes/characters feel unnecessary. For example, when Logan talks to Hunter about Rebecca and going on a date with her, we don't get to see how much interest he has in her. Just remember, show more and talk less works wonders in this type of film. Action speak louder than words at times. It's almost like Rebecca isn't that much of a major part of the story when in fact she is in the end. Even though this film is about partly about Logan and his journey on who he is, we could benefit with showing Rebecca once before she introduction scene. In order to make a story/film more believable and not be over the top, acting is a make or break deal that doesn't break this film at all. Sure, people will compare this film's acting to a Hollywood studio film and shit all over it; however, we are not in that factor just yet. For the most part, the acting in this film is pretty well thought and spot on. The audience gets a sense of the real feelings of these characters and how each character handles emotions. Granted this is an independent film and the story is pretty spot on; however, it takes on a whole new format when it comes to the source material. With society as it stands today, Jonathan really pushes the envelope on the important LGBTQ community and how everyone matters no matter the race, creed, or sex of a person. Jonathan Rome, Tristen Tecala, and the rest of the cast should be very proud of themselves and giving the audience an hour of dramatic performances that may reveal B movies at this point. Granted, not all scene were acted well and like I said, this isn't a perfect film; however, I understand why and how this film got a few awards already. Both Tristen and Jonathan as well as the whole cast deserve the recognition and be awarded Best Director, Breakthrough Actor, and Best Ensemble for this film. Another piece that stands out to me and may others is that when they went four (4) months without talking to each other. They do go to the same school, one would wonder that they would at least talk once in that four (4) month time jump. For some audience members watching this film, they might not get it since this is an independent film and they are so used to a the Hollywood smoke screen, we are used to in today's world, this gem of a film hits a lot of points that make it a superb film. The Indie Corner Rating: 8.0 out of 10 stars The Hunt and Hunted IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7682908/ The Hunt and Hunted Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTLXcAe4WYs Jonathan Rome Offical Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-4bnu6wLwEGqLjVsr6nGsA
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bRANDON
During a few talks with independent companies and people, we have received a few emails about reviewing independent, short or long, films. We have created the Independent Corner for all things Independent!!! These film review may have the same format, but will be a different feel then the Hollywood treatment of our main Film Corner reviews. Please bear with us in constructing this new page. Archives
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