Todd Verow — Director (5)
Vacationland (2006) [Movie] Douban TMDB WikiData IMDb
Vacationland
director: Todd Verow actor: Charles Ard / Theodore Bouloukos
other title: 度假胜地 / 慌心旅行
The further removed from watching this film, the more chance I had to change my initial impressions of it. There was some very nice acting by Brad Hallowell--very impressive in his film debut and in the starring role,no less (and just an incredibly sexy, adorable guy). Gregory J. Lucas was also good as Andrew.
The female roles were poorly cast/poorly written/poorly acted in some combination at almost every time. Also, while the guys seemed to be able to play younger (18), the women playing the high school girls seemed way too old and the woman playing Joe's mother was RIDICULOUSLY too young.
The high school girls were caricatures -- overly silly and just didn't have real roles. The sister was also not believable--although I think it was more the writing that her acting.
Story-wise, it was enjoyable and seemed to have a nice arc. However, there were huge leaps in the plot--sometimes between scenes, sometimes right in the MIDDLE of scenes. There were also some twists/tangents that didn't really fit to the story. The script and the film could both have used some better editing and the direction seemed non-existent in stretches.
All that said, I would still recommend seeing this movie--on the strength of the acting by the leads, their on-screen chemistry, and the viewer's interest in learning what happens to them.
Been Too Long at the Fair (2015) [Movie] Douban
director: Charles Lum / Todd Verow actor: Charles Lum / Joe Wakeman
The Fair theater in Jackson Heights, Queens is one of the oldest continually running gay establishments in New York City. A loyal patron of the Fair tells the history of this gay porno theater and how it has managed to stay open while all the other gay porno theaters in New York City shut down. The narrator recalls the sexual encounters he had there over the last 35 years.
Between Something & Nothing (2008) [Movie] Douban
Between Something & Nothing
director: Todd Verow actor: Brad Hallowell
other title: 有和没有间
This is an odd film that is both engaging and sometimes off-putting at the same time and, perhaps because of my own art student years, also spoke to me on several levels. Tim Swain is Joe, an innocent adrift from Bangor, Maine - the home of Stephen King. During his opening narration, he remarks that his high school art teacher told him that, in addition to attending art classes, he must also experience as much of the world as possible. This he does, and more.