#carmine famiglietti | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

fearsmagazine · 3 years ago

Text

HERE AFTER - Review

DISTRIBUTOR: Vertical Entertainment

SYNOPSIS: Michael is a struggling actor who dies right after getting some good news about his one man show and a bad breakup. He awakens to find himself in a single’s Purgatory where he must find his soulmate in order to cross over to the other side. Scarlett, the angel in charge of his case, informs him he has a limited time to find true love among other recently deceased single New Yorkers or fade into nothingness. Michael tries to navigate the new customs of a ghostly dating life. When he meets the woman of his dreams, she turns out to be alive. With the clock running out, Michael must figure out how to cheat the system to cross over with her.

REVIEW: HERE AFTER (aka “Faraway Eyes”) is a fantasy film that looks at the meaning of life in terms of the quest for true love, finding one’s soulmate. It turns out it is required to transcend. Director and screenwriter Harry Greenberger presents it in terms of a very New York story by having his main character be a struggling stage actor, dealing with the New York dating scene, and veteran New York actor Michael Rispolias as Michael’s friend Angelo. A native of Pennsylvania, Greenberger tells this New York story with tones reminiscent of classics such as “Heaven Can Wait,” “Here Comes Mr. Jordan” and “City of Angels.”

Greenberger’s story in many ways addresses the faced-paced life of the big city and how something people neglect more and more, relationships, is the lynchpin to finding meaning and a continued existence in the afterlife. Without finding our “other-half” we will be reduced to nothing. So, Michael, a self-centered, vapid person, struggles to find that significant other. One of the few things the dead can still do is drink. Micheal head’s back into the New York bars on his quest for true love among the deceased loitering there unseen by the living. Greenberger presents some interesting assumptions about this process in the afterlife, and as Michael and Angelo muse about it they have some philosophical conversations about life and love that are presented like two guys talking in a locker room, which at times they do. It’s interesting how Greenberger’s writing style has a classic romcom/sitcom feel but at times he pushes the envelope by adding dialogue that feels like a Seth Rogan/Danny McBride film. There are moments when it seems out of place and distracts from the tone of the film.

The film has a talented cast that does a solid job of creating likeable characters that draw the viewer into the tale. Andy Karl carries the majority of the film until actress Nora Arnezeder appears. Karl and Arnezeder handle the comedy extremely well and they quickly get into a very comfortable routine that makes the film a delight to watch. Christina Ricci’s character is very similar to the James Mason role in “Heaven Can Wait.” She brings a little Wednesday Adams to the role, but she is a bit more understanding. She adds some nice moments to the film and has some fun moments with Karl. Michael Rispoli gives the audience the full New Yorkers with a dash of Brooklyn. It’s interesting how he brings this energy to a character that has given up and is waiting for the end. There are some nice performances by other cast members who Karl interacts with in the afterlife and they offer a few solid laughs.

Greenberger and team have some nice locations, keeps the energy and pacing rolling along, does some nice framing, and crafts an immersive New York experience.

HERE AFTER is a fun film and director Harry Greenberger shows he has the props to be working in features and television given the look and the feel of the film. There were a few moments where I thought the dialogue was misogynistic and disrespectful, and it made me feel the character might not be deserving of finding his soulmate. The character does have a revelation and ultimately becomes self-sacrificing for his true love, so he is not without redemption. So, in the end HERE AFTER might not be a perfect film, but it has a lot going for it that makes it a solid, adult date night film. Hey, Fuhgeddaboudit!

CAST: Christina Ricci, Andy Karl, Nora Arnezeder, Jackie Cruz, Ray Iannicelli, and Michael Rispoli. CREW: Director/Screenplay - Harry Greenberger; Producers - Carmine Famiglietti & Harry Greenberger; Cinematographer - Christopher Walters; Score - Angelo Badalamenti & Joseph LoDuca; Editor - Sara Corrigan; Production Designer - Tara Pavoni; Costume Designers - Michael Bevins & Patrick Saint Jean; Visual Effects Artist - Mihai Gabriel Barbu OFFICIAL: N.A. FACEBOOK: N.A. TWITTER: N.A. TRAILER: https://youtu.be/VHeP9UDLMG8 RELEASE DATE: On Demand July 23rd, 2021

**Until we can all head back into the theaters our “COVID Reel Value” will be similar to how you rate a film on digital platforms - 👍 (Like), 👌 (It’s just okay), or 👎 (Dislike)

Reviewed by Joseph B Mauceri

#film review #movie review #here after #hereaftermovie #vertical entertainment #harry greenberger #christina ricci #andy karl #nora arnezeder #michael rispoli #fantasy #afterlife #angles #spirits #joseph mauceri #joseph b mauceri

1 note · View note