Expiration Date (2006)

I so appreciated not being taken out of the movie by messing with the geography like in Sleepless in Seattle where Tom Hanks gets in a rowboat on Lake Union then a few minutes later he puts ashore in Puget Sound. Or in Feast of Love having Reed College be Portland State University.I saw this film at the Native American Film Festival at the Swinomish Community Center. A classmate of ours in Anacortes, his family owned a dairy in my high school years. Guess what? We used to "drag the gut" in that milk truck. Those milk trucks were very funny.My father, his sister and brother all died young. I had just come up to the age my father was when he died. Then I saw this film. Yes, you think about that. Much rang true in this film. A further truth is in my high school a brother and sister in separate accidents were killed by trucks. Had either one of them had a child, you bet that child approaching their age of death would be keeping an anxious eye on trucks.When you face that moment of truth when you look death in the eye what saves you are your roots; your spiritual roots. The native spirit is very strong. In my times of trouble I have been blessed with that spirit showing up in many forms. When Robert danced; a powerful spirit moment was in play. It was thrilling.Nice ensemble performance, it was a kick to see David Keith. It was a fun romp. Hearing Robert Guthrie and Rick Stevenson speak added to the fun of seeing the film.

I saw this film at the 5th Annual Native American Film Festival in Keene, NH. Before seeing this extraordinarily well written, directed and produced feature, I saw two shorts that really opened my eyes to the difficult circumstances for many of our Native American citizens today.Prior to the film presentations, I had an opportunity to visit with some local craftsmen at the festival who demonstrated how to pound ash wood to make strips for baskets. There was also a handmade canoe on display that was truly a work of art. I try to make it to at least one pow-wow a year. As always, everyone at the festival was extremely gracious and their humor should be considered a national asset.I've read some of the other comments here and find it difficult to accept that anyone didn't absolutely love this movie. The story within a story concept was done to perfection. If you've never been to the Northwest US, you'll want to go after seeing this film. Every character is so valuably portrayed that I could completely step out of my life and join the story in my mind.I went to the film festival alone because I didn't have anyone to go with me. By the time I left, I didn't feel alone any more. Please let me know how I can get copies of the DVD for myself and to give as gifts. I've recommended this movie to my family, friends and everybody who serves me a cappuccino!

This quirky romantic comedy is the story of Seattle resident Charlie Silvercloud (Robert A. Guthrie), a man destined to die on his twenty-fifth birthday like his father and his father's father. Both were killed by milk trucks. We meet Charlie eight days before his demise as he is trying to get his affairs in order. He breaks up with his girlfriend, purchases a funeral plot, cancels his cable, and tries to spend some quality time with his quirky mother (Dee Wallace Stone).While prepping for death he meets Bessie (Sascha Knopf), a quirky, carefree spirit with a dark secret. Though he wants to enter the afterlife with no attachments, he finds himself falling for Bessie. We also get to spend time at Charlie's job--a coffee shop--where he is hounded by his quirky boss and quirky ex-girlfriend. In this film there are no quirks left unturned including Charlie's portly boss who will only marry a woman who knows the lyrics to every Jimi Hendrix song, including the bootlegs. (Are the lyrics that much different on the bootlegged tapes?) The movie is obviously a labor of love, but it is too quirky by half. Robert A. Guthrie is not charismatic enough to carry the film and Sascha Knopf as the quirky love interest is trying too hard. Unfortunately, the movie is also filmed in DV which is the wrong choice for many films. For claustrophobic tales, horror movies, and documentaries, DV can be a great choice. But this comedy needs air--room to breath. As quirky as this movie is, it needs sharp edges and a hyper-real presentation. DV, though, stifles the comedy and places the film firmly in our mundane universe. DV uglifies and adds authenticity to a film, which is the just the opposite of what this comedy needs.The comedy also carries a message about not forgetting your ancestry. Charlie's father and grandfather ran away from their roots and--given the movie's conclusion--we know this is what led to their deaths. Will Charlie embrace his heritage and be saved from the sins of his fathers? The message feels shoehorned into the movie which is unfortunate because it seems to be the major point of the film.Dee Wallace Stone gives an exuberant performance and it's always fun to see David Keith--as a quirky café customer--on the big screen, but the movie never gels. A misfire.Read more at http://solipsisticblog.blogspot.com/.

I heard Rick on a local radio station last week talking about the films' plot and that it was shot entirely in Seattle. It intrigued me. After making sure I was not going to see rated "R" fare, I traveled from Federal Way last night to the Egyptian Theater. I was pleasantly entertained and would not not hesitate to have my wife and teenagers see the film.It was also good to see some actors/actresses I recognized; Dee Wallace Stone, David Keith, Nakota Larance...Rick and company: Thank you for a truly enjoyable experience. I especially enjoyed the Native American scenes.