Bloomington (2010)

The story is a little flat is some areas but the chemistry between Jackie and Katherine is amazing! Could do without the motherly undertones in a few scenes. I found myself watching the movie over and over because of the relationship and chemistry the two have. I would love for the story to be developed more into a TV series. The movie was short and there wasn't much build up to the first hook up. I think there needs to be more character development. Definitely more scenes like the library scene! I think there needs to be more lesbian love stories on TV and the inappropriate relationship in this movie would make for an extremely captivating show.

I wanted to like this movie. However the chemistry between the actresses seemed non-existent.The storyline was lacking depth. The characters were lacking dimension. It all seemed very surface level and was a movie that lacked any real emotion, very contrived in certain parts. The acting was mediocre at best.It left you wanting...more. More depth, more emotion, something. I just didn't believe the two lead performances. Their connection didn't seem legitimate; I suppose that was the main issue, other than there not being any sort of plot development. It all felt very rushed and superficial.

It feels like there are many little parts missing in this movie.While the set up of a Student - Teacher relationship is nothing new, it still kinda works in this movie. While also adding the angle of exposure for the Student and not only the Teacher.-all the spoilers now-But that also makes the movie weird and questionable. The Drama between Jackie and her mother seems unnecessary, it doesn't really add to Jackie and Catherine meeting (beside that one scene where Catherine picked Jackie up for her family), it has nothing to do with the Problem (which would be Jackie going back to making movies), and nothing with them getting over it. Catherines background is just as random and was only useful for that one Date on her Birhtday. Or maybe to explain why they wanted to film in a nice big house?Then there is their whole relationship. The meeting phase and them "falling in love".. Just doesn't feel fluent. The first Kiss from Catherine comes way to early and before I could feel any kind of connection growing. Only to then lead to the first sex scene like 10 seconds later. The viewer (or I at least) couldn't see them bounding, but rather just got told, that its the next stage now.And just like the whole relationship feels like there are parts missing to make the story connect, there are single scenes being cut weirdly. When Jackie hands Catherine her resume (or what she was writing) to review it, Catherine hands it back immediately and points her to the last paragraph. (Superman reading speed?) On Catherines Birthday, both, Jackie and Catherine, take a piece of cake onto their plates, only to then have Jackie blindfold Catherine for her surprise. (She obviously ate the cake blindfolded while being driven to the airport!) Not that everything needs to be shown in a movie, a movie is only so long, but such scenes are weird and also describe how the whole plot seemed kinda off or stuttering.At first I thought 'the Problem' was too weak. Just because Jackie would have to film a little, there is no reason why the relationship between them would be in danger. Just skip a semester or go lighter for a while. But then it actually seemed rather realistic. A Problem many couples probably face all the time in the real world. A rather sudden unplanned long distance relationship and the fear to lose someone to a new circle of friends. Just a slight disturbance in their balance. Though, a Filmstar and a Professor are probably not that common and maybe not that easy for the viewer to put oneself into.But then the Film ended. Sure they had make-up sex so you know they still love each other. But I was waiting for an actual ending. Catherine emptying her office may points to her quitting her job so she can be with Jackie? But thats unreasonable I think and also just really vague. Not an open ending, for the viewer to decide what happened, but just abrupt.So overall I did like the story (or maybe I just like this kind of story) and the scenes that worked, were nice, but with all the bumpiness in between, the movie just doesn't feels that good and is kinda strange. Strange enough to make me write my first review on here, since I felt like I had to somehow/somewhere point out why this movie isn't that good.

This is a ho-hum movie, born out of a ho-hum script.Much has been said from the other reviewers who draw attention to the lack of realism in the characters, particularly their shifting from emotions so quickly and seemingly without justification to the lack of any chemistry between the leads, the lack of any erotic scenes, and the implausibility in the script. I'm saying I agree.What I object to is not the fact that they are lesbians, or that there is an age difference, but that the entire relationship between teacher and student barely causes a ripple. Sure we've seen those movies before and this isn't the focus of the film, but to not address it in some form is ridiculous. The first time they kiss is in the school grounds in broad daylight? No teacher would do that, no matter what she may have over her superior. There are many other examples of unrealistic situations. The mother character has not been fleshed out properly and jumps from one emotional extreme to the next, literally, in the next sentence. Her daughter Jackie clearly has mother issues, yet this is not explored either, especially in her relationship with Catherine (who at one point cuts up some food for Jackie during dinner like a child). What would possess Catherine to do this? Again, not explained.The couple breaking up is strange, particularly Catherine's attitude. I understand the immediate anger, but her sustained nastiness just doesn't sit right.Finally, I object to society's general hypocrisy when it comes to these types of films. I'm estimating that Jackie is about 17, and the teacher around her mid 30's. If the teacher were male and the student female, he would be deemed a pervert if not a pedophile. Yet here, it's all smooth sailing. You cannot make a film about a teacher having a relationship with a underage student and not address the moral dilemma's involved. To skirt around them insults the viewer. The leads do a competent job, particularly Allison McAtee as Catherine, but she and the LGBT community deserved a better script than this.