Movie Review: The Other Side of Paradise

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The Other Side of Paradise (2009)

At the heart of The Other Side of Paradise is the story of two longtime friends who are still trying to find that right moment to be more than just friends. It beats quite powerfully, but in the end it’s a healthy heart in an obese body. There’s just too much fat on this picture.

I’m generally a look-below-the-surface kind of guy when it comes to the indies that get sent my way. Justin Hilliard, however, proved he has the talent and ambition to create bigger, better pictures after his potent debut with the film Wednesday. The Other Side of Paradise is a nice transition from experimental indie filmmaking to more concentrated storytelling efforts. I liked it. I just wish I could say I loved it.

The film follows the free-spirited photographer Rose (Arianne Martin) on a trip to her gallery opening in Austin. Before she gets going, she picks up her friend Alex (John Elliot) from the Dallas airport. Alex just flew back from Spain, only without his girlfriend. Soon the pair find themselves reminiscing about the times that their families, friends, and significant others all thought the they were together. When Alex crashes at Rose’s apartment the night before the big road trip, the sexual tension quickly builds but it never has a chance to erupt.

That’s the first half-hour or so. The film gets messy from there. Rose, along with Alex, picks up here paroled brother Jamie (Frank Mosley) from prison and takes him with her and Alex to go see Dad (Jodie Moore). At their father’s house, the siblings learn of a startling family secret, which takes the trio on a detour before they make it to Austin. On the long road trip, there are games of truth or dare, run-ins with country folk, tough encounters with townie bartenders, and of course, a lot of flirting.

The Other Side of Paradise meanders quite a bit until its fulfilling conclusion, mixing quirky comic antics with dramatic moments. That’s all well and good, but it could have used some creative cutting to remove the family-centric plot lines, including the third-wheel brother character. There are a few points in the film where Jamie is completely left out of the action, giving Rose and Alex a chance to find their footing on the rocky path to a serious relationship. If only he was left out of the film completely.

In an interview, Hilliard said that much of the film is based on the real-life events surrounding his relationship with wife, lead actress, and co-writer Martin. I don’t know if staying loyal to those events affected the storytelling, be it with Jamie’s presence or the equally unnecessary family secret subplot, but so much of the film distracts from the core love story it comes close to undoing the work that’s done to make us care about Rose and Alex.

But we still care. From beginning to end, we want Rose and Alex to be together in the way they were meant to be. The film succeeds admirably in creating a connection so palpable that we are yanked right back into Rose and Alex’s story once we realize it’s still going on. Martin is a tremendous screen presence, giving nuance to a character that easily could have been too light-hearted or too serious. Likewise, Elliot has a down-to-earth quality that makes his character lovable despite Alex’s mistakes.

Neither the actors or Hilliard compromise when it comes to examining the complexities of the Rose-Alex relationship. For that they should be lauded. With a little more focus on the next project, and I’m sure there will be a next project, Hilliard could easily be called up to the majors. The Other Side of Paradise just isn’t the film to do it.

More at TheOtherSideOfParadiseMovie.com.