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By GustavoLeao / 15:02, 17 July 2010 / General Genre/SciFi
YESTERDAY WAS A LIE (2009 / 2010)
Released by E1 Entertainment
Reviewed for TrekWeb.com by Bill Williams
1 disc / Running time: 89 minutes
Rated PG
ISBN # 141723251X
Date of release: April 6, 2010
Introduction:
Film noir and science fiction - those two genres are as typically different as night and day to the average filmgoer. Quite honestly, they're the last two things you would ever expect to see combined in a single film. But that's the case with YESTERDAY WAS A LIE, now on DVD from E1 Entertainment. This award-winning independent film, which has garnered top awards from over a dozen film festivals, combines the old school style of film noir with the modern technology of digital filmmaking and brings to life a truly compelling tale the likes of which we haven't seen in a long time.
Written, edited, and directed by James Kerwin, YESTERDAY WAS A LIE follows the story of a detective named Hoyle (Kipleigh Brown), a girl with a sharp mind and a weakness for bourbon who finds herself on the trail of a reclusive scientist named Dudas (John Newton of SUPERBOY Season 1, THE UNTOUCHABLES, THE CHRISTMAS CARD) who may be able to distort reality. But her detective work takes a series of unforeseen twists as events around her grow increasingly fragmented, disconnected, and surreal. With a sexy lounge singer (Chase Masterson of STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE) and a loyal partner (Mik Scriba) as her only allies, Hoyle is plunged into a dark world of intrigue and earth-shattering cosmological secrets. Haunted by an ever-present shadow (Peter Mayhew [Chewbacca himself!]) whom she is destined to face, Hoyle discovers that the most powerful force in the universe - the power to bend reality and know the truth - lies within the depths of the human heart.
Good science fiction has always been about metaphor, ever since the days of the original TWILIGHT ZONE and STAR TREK in the 1960's, when writers and producers could convey powerful messages through the prism of exciting adventures or intriguing mysteries. And this is exactly what James Kerwin has achieved with YESTERDAY WAS A LIE. Shot in 2006 and first screened at film festivals in 2008, the film soon garnered top awards at numerous film festivals including Shockerfest, the LA Femme Film Festival, Visionfest, and the St. Louis International Film Festival among others before its theatrical release in late 2009.
And I have to admit, I was first intrigued by the film upon watching it. What attracted me was its origins in the old-school film noir of the 1930's and 1940's - that's something we don't get to see in today's era of quick flashes, big bangs, and dumbed-down moviemaking to appeal to the lowest common denominator. Movies rarely require you actually think. That's what YESTERDAY WAS A LIE does - it makes you think, and that's a very good thing. Shot entirely in high-definition video, you would think it carried a higher production budget than it did - it cost only $200,000 to make - but then again some of the best original movies don't need an extravagant budget, just a well-written script, a director with a vision, and a talented and believable cast to make it come to life. And that's what is more than accomplished here in this movie.
Kipleigh Brown's character of Hoyle is a daring one at that, embodying both attractive qualities and her own hardened sensibilities that typically dominate characters played in the past by Humphrey Bogart or James Cagney. You want to root for her as she attempts to uncover Dudas' mystery while discovering her own secrets and battling her own weaknesses. As equally mysterious, appealing, and attractive is Chase Masterson's character of the nameless singer/guide. Here we get to see her wider range of talents that we never got to see on DS9, her love for jazz music as well as her intelligence and mystery coming forth like never before, and all I can say is wow! More filmmakers should realize the gem of a talent they have in her - for that matter, in both leading ladies! And John Newton brings a controlled intelligence to his character of Dudas - or is it insanity he's revealing? Definitely makes you wonder. Kudos also goes to the entire supporting cast for bringing a level of realism and believability that a film with fifty times the budget and big names could probably not pull off.
At 89 minutes YESTERDAY WAS A LIE is a lean, brisk film, but the style and substance, not to mention a compelling script, make it feel more like an ages-old film that moviegoers used to enjoy. It's a shame other big-budget movies aren't made like this.
The DVD Presentation:
YESTERDAY WAS A LIE is presented in crisp 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen format, reproduced from the high-definition master. The visuals are sharp, and director of photography Jason Cochard's black-and-white palette brings out the visuals all the more. Because of its film noir homage, the lack of color adds an additional depth of character and clarity rarely brought out in films today. The sound quality is also very crisp and clear, as the film is presented in Dolby 5.1 surround sound and 2.0 stereo with optional English SDH subtitles.
Bonus Features:
The DVD release of YESTERDAY WAS A LIE comes with a nice collection of features that further explore the making of the film. First off is a fascinating full-length audio commentary with writer/director/editor James Kerwin, producer/star Chase Masterson, and lead actress Kipleigh Brown about the creation of the film. They discuss the genesis of the story and how the film came to reality. Listening to the commentary, you would never know from watching the film that it was shot on a relatively small budget of $200,000! As they reveal during the commentary, it took a lot of hurdles just to get the film made and defeat the naysayers who told them it would never be accomplished. They also discuss how Kerwin and crew brought a high energy level to the production and keeping enthusiasm high.
Next are a collection of seven behind-the-scenes commentaries, running a total of 18:20 in length, and featuring Kerwin, Masterson, Brown, Newton, and executive producer Sarah Nean Bruce. The first feature (5:06) explains the development of the film and the use of quantum mechanics as a metaphor for studying the human heart and psyche, and we get a brief look at some test footage for the film. In "Noir and the Heroine" (2:16), they discuss how the film noir elements influenced the overall look of the film, the photography, the music, the lighting, everything, and how important it was to develop Hoyle's character as a strong female lead, something we don't get too often in a film of this caliber. In "Digital Filmmaking" (1:21) Kerwin discusses how he opted to shoot the film digitally, thereby making it more true to what he sees in both the original concept and the final product. In "Directing" (3:58) everyone gives praise to Kerwin for his creativity and energy during the production, and he discusses how his cinematic influences of Alfred Hitchcock and Stanley Kubrick inspired him to pursue filmmaking as a career. We also get storyboards of a number of the film's sequences, along with outtakes and alternate angles of shots as well. In "Hoyle" (2:02) Kipleigh Brown discusses her character's strengths and weaknesses, along with the combination of feminine and masculine qualities to create a truly unique character. In "Singer" (2:00) Chase Masterson discusses how her role as the cabaret singer serves as Hoyle's guide throughout the film, and apparently the singer knows more than she lets on. It's through the singer, Masterson describes, that Hoyle learns some important truths about herself. Finally, in "Dudas" (1:37) John Newton discusses his personal connection to the character and how he is able to manipulate reality around him - does he use pain to experience it ad infinitum, or can he use it to better himself? Newton also describes how there is a closer personal connection with this character as opposed to his past roles.
The disc also contains a preview trailer (2:11) and a reviews trailer (1:05), and is also rounded out with two still galleries of production and behind-the-scenes photos. Just looking at the photos alone, it really does make a difference how the overall product works better in old-school black and white than in color. Finally, there is an eight-page preview of a comics adaptation of the film as adapted and illustrated by James Hill. The film's website contains even more fascinating information such as additional interviews, pod casts, panel discussions, blogs, and even a mystery link that delves further into the film's mystery.
Final Thoughts:
I've always enjoyed good science fiction and filmmaking, the kind of storytelling that forces you to think. While I love a good popcorn flick like the next person, sometimes we need to be reminded that the power of the medium can compel us to think about the way we look at things. YESTERDAY WAS A LIE is such a film. Where else can you see an old school film noir mystery, an extremely strong female lead, and explorations of quantum mechanics and the human heart? That's a rare and unique combination indeed, and in the hands of a talented writer/director and a believable cast, it's all the stronger as a result. Check it out for yourself. Trust me, you won't be disappointed. And I for one wouldn't mind seeing Kipleigh Brown return for a second outing as Hoyle! J
Rating: 4.5/5 stars
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