AWARD THIS! 2023 NOMINEE! Bernice, Too, directed by Rick Passmore and Jon Bristol, is quite a lot of issues without delay: a narrative of two mates experiencing the world; a farcical tackle directionless arthouse movies; an prolonged meditation on how the individuals one crosses throughout their every day actions have lives past the snapshot seen; a downright hysterical comedy; as said by one of many filmmakers, “an attractive nightmare,”; and at last, it’s the final word MCU-style crossover occasion/ shared universe for the Connecticut-based puppet studio Elmwood Productions.
The one factor the drama-music video-arthouse-comedy-adventure isn’t is plot-driven. In truth, the movie is only a collection of vignettes loosely related by two mates, Mike (Mike Finland), who’s in an electrical wheelchair, and Rick (Rick Corbo), who rides on the again, as they journey throughout the town. Their sojourn leads them to witness a person get offended at his girlfriend for ingesting all of the scrumptious espresso. A girl’s moped is stolen by her grandma. Two mates interrupt a broadcast to play their favourite band’s music video.
All alongside the way in which, Rick and Mike solely observe these individuals, by no means talking. The two buddies additionally take within the pure magnificence surrounding the city. They frequent the seashore and stare previous the horizon. They gaze up on the timber of the forest. Of course, that is earlier than they arrive throughout two hobos discussing the trademarked title of “Hobo Joe” and a number of other characters from different Elmwood options similar to Josh And Todd and The Risley Brothers.
“…a collection of vignettes loosely related by two mates…”
Bristol, Passmore, Finland, Corbo, and the complete forged and crew collaborated on the script. They’d give you the concepts for vignettes and workshop them to everybody’s satisfaction. That such care is taken for one thing so deliberately absurd and onerous to explain exhibits an actual stage of dedication that’s not solely commendable however spectacular. It additionally immediately interprets to the viewing expertise, as it’s apparent the filmmakers are having a blast throwing conference and expectations out the window. While there’s extra to the story, similar to it’s, that could possibly be parsed out, the allure of Bernice, Too is having the ability to expertise one absurd, surreal, or simply plain odd interplay after one other and spoiling that greater than obligatory would smash that enjoyable.
Head, Elmwood’s cult horror hit, is barely six or seven years previous. But, the distinction in manufacturing worth and high quality between that (their final full-length manufacturing) and that is staggering. The cinematography is extra outlined and crisp, including a better depth of area. The puppets are not immediately within the foreground, permitting for extra attention-grabbing shot compositions and a wider vary of motion from the felt stars. The enhancing is extra exact, permitting the filmmakers to mess around, making for a number of experimental arthouse-esque photographs. The standout includes a rocket and the fan-favorite character The Jungle Man. But once more, let’s not spoil all of the enjoyable.
By its very nature, Bernice, Too won’t attraction to everybody. It has no narrative to talk of, and whereas there are character arcs, these individuals may disappear for 15 or 20 minutes at a time. I do know for a proven fact that this may frustrate viewers, who both don’t perceive it or don’t recognize what the manufacturing is sending up. However, if the bands Sgt. Scagnetti or Strawberry Machine, fully offbeat characters, non-sequitur scenes which might be akin to breaking the ninth wall, meditative scenes of serenity, and over-the-top hallucinatory photographs are your bag, effectively then, this puppet slice of madness is for you. And it’s positively for me.
Bernice, Too is a 2023 Award This! Indie Comedy nominee.
