Tumbledown (2015) Reviews

• A movie that I did like but was almost a little too cookie cutter like to be considered original.

  cosmo_tiger2016-03-11

  "You're the one obsessed with death. My Hunter was obsessed with life." Hannah (Hall) is trying to cope with the death of her husband, and popular singer. She spends her life living in the past and trying everything to keep his memory alive. When Andrew (Sudeikis) shows up wanting to write a book about him he is met with resistance from Hannah. Little by little the more they talk they more they realize they both have something that will help the other one. This is a very good movie that is worth watching, but it also a tad bit generic and cookie cutter like. Most romantic comedies are though so going in I expected that. Sudeikis is great and funny as always, even though this is more serious than we are used to from him. In terms of romantic movies this is one that men will like, maybe more than women. Overall, a movie that I did like but was almost a little too cookie cutter like to be considered original. I give this a B-.

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• Near Miss

  larrys32016-04-13

  This movie, on the surface, would seem to have the ingredients of a successful film. It has two charismatic lead actors in Rebecca Hall and Jason Sudekis, a good supporting cast, a nice small town in Maine flavor, and beautiful cinematography.However, for me, it just never seemed to come together to a point where I was able to connect emotionally with its characters. Hall portrays Hannah, living in a backwoods area of Maine, who is grieving the loss of her husband Hunter, some two years before, from a hiking accident, He was a singer/songwriter who had a wildly successful first album, thus achieving great notoriety before his death, and was revered by Hannah. Sudekis plays Andrew, a writer and associate professor, who doggedly pursues Hannah to possibly collaborate on a book he's writing about talented artists who have died way too young. However, Hannah wants to write her own biography of Hunter, and resists Andrew until she realizes she does indeed need his help. As Andrew uncovers more and more information, he begins to suspect that Hunter may have committed suicide and that his death was not an accident. The interplay between the two works well, at times, but at other times seems forced and just doesn't ring true. All in all, this movie, directed by Sean Mewshaw with a screenplay from Desi Van Til, had its moments but never really came across to me as totally believable, so I would say it was a near miss.

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• First 40 minutes great, last half of the movie falls apart.

  TxFlyboy2016-02-21

  Watched this on VuDu on 2/20/16 and it was an engaging heartfelt movie that drew us in at the start, but then it began a slow agonizing death by the mid-point and by the end of the movie we were praying for the end. Any end. Just end it. The movie just falls apart in the second half. Almost as if the ending production was rushed because everyone was bored or ran out of interesting things to say and do on screen. There are so many wasted story lines in this movie that just seem to start, do nothing, mean nothing, and go absolutely nowhere. The only character that seemed to engage and hold our attention was the one played by Jason. 5/10. And I am being generous.

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• Inspired and entertaining study on the inevitable selfishness of grief

  reviewcentralny2016-03-03

  Understated, honest and soulfully choreographed. The cast is engaging, authentic and surprisingly interesting even in the most ordinary situations, of which there are few. Grief may be the premise of this film, but the result is a calm escape into a world you'll be happy to spend some time in. After reading about the film, I did expect an Indie movie with the usual predictable story lines and romantic frou frou, and there is no shortage of that, but there is another layer of depth that caught me off guard. The intimate warmth of the soundtrack, like the weightless smoke of a dying candle in a quiet room, lingers long after the end credits are over. Some of the songs really are beautiful enough to warrant this type of language, trust me. So do the memories of other musicians who left behind their timeless creations along with the shock and mystery of a lifetime cut short. Martyn Bennett and Jeff Buckley, however different the circumstances of their departure, come to mind. Whenever an Indie movie finds the perfect balance between lighthearted, mainstream entertainment and the relatability of a smaller story and budget, it proofs that a solid Indie production can transcend the restrictions of a genre and touch the audience beyond 90 minutes of entertainment. I couldn't think of a single studio produced movie in recent months that achieved 'Tumbledown's subtlety and depth with the same simplicity and grace. To proof my point, this movie would work even without the romance and succeed as a relevant reflection on grief and the responsibility of moving on.

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• It's about little things which sprung only with somebody else

  DVR_Brale2016-08-12

  This is a cute little movie! Maybe it was a bit to cheesy for a true man I myself am, but I liked it nevertheless. Let me immediately point out what's the best this movie gives: it' chemistry between McDonnell (Sudeikis) and Hannah (Hall). They can be compared to Nicholas Cage and Tea Leoni in The Family Man. Story itself is predictable. Hannah deals with loss and keeps being trapped in past when a NYC writer arrives and makes her confront herself. The rest I leave to your imagination. There's a mindset one has to adopt in order to enjoy this movie. This is not about delivering story or even emotion (expect lots of them) - it's about little things which we usually take for granted and realize how important they are once they're gone. Little things which come to life only when somebody comes to our life. Little things we share together. Adopt this mindset and you're going to enjoy this movie as it may bring forth some memories. Now the soundtrack. Music is almost central to the movie. All the credits for soundtrack go to Damien Jurado. Search him - I'm sure you'll find it very relaxing and nice. His music really helps you to find and reflect upon some precious moments in the movie and in your own life. Since almost entire movie plays in a little, snowy town, movie really blends with the music. Jason Sudeikis shows some acting skills! He's the main star of the movie - very entertaining and charismatic. Rebecca Hall was a cutie. Together they form a nice couple. Chemistry among them is what gives a reason for adopting mindset mentioned above. It's never easy to "Turn the page and start a new chapter" as the tag line suggests. It's really not easy to do it only by yourself. I recall what C.S.Lewis once wrote: "To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket, safe, dark, motionless, airless, it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. To love is to be vulnerable." If you want to see this quote in motion, see this movie.

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