Echo Park (2014)

I just watched Echo Park on Netflix, it touch me in so many ways.This movie was incredibly faithful to the pulse of our community. I lived in Echo Park for many years, and also in the nearby Silverlake area; there is no doubt that writer Amanda Marsalis and director Catalina Aguilar Mastretta understood exactly how special it was, and is, to belong to such culturally rich communities.The cast was equally incredible, especially Mamie Gummer, who I dare say is another the Meryl Streep in the making! I have a root connection to Echo Park, growing up on Echo Park Avenue. My grandparents lived at 1513-1/2, literally just a couple of doors down from Elias' gallery showing.Connection or not, I'm a fan of this movie, pure and simple. Hats off to the entire Echo Park team.

This very special movie is built around the tensions that develop among lovers and close friends, as a result of different needs and, specifically, different takes on what love is.All the main characters are sympathetic, and the choices they make--even when you figure they might be making a mistake--are understandable and defensible. No one does anything really stupid, but what they do is enough to create the tensions that drive the plot. The actors bring keen sensitivity to this very human, tender film. The director must be in love with Los Angeles, because the shots around town are among the most gorgeous you're likely to have seen.

Minor spoilers -- I hadn't seen Helen Slater in anything since the 1980s... i LOVED Ruthless People and Secret of My Success. Echo Park stars Mamie Gummer and Anthony Okungbower. E.P. begins with Sophie and Alex meeting up to discuss buying a couch. Lots of outdoor Los Angeles scenery. This also moves at a "relaxed" pace; a study in relationships. Alex is trying to sell his house and move, but some wrenches (and Sophie's ex) fall into the works, so we will see how that affects Sophie and Alex. This one appears to have hit a couple of film festivals, then straight to Netflix ? There is ONE patch right in the middle where you have to crank up the volume to hear anything. Microphone placement issue (?) when they are walking down the street. Cute story. Nothing big or earthshaking here, but it's an interesting study of relationship-timing. Friendships too. Beginnings, endings, it's all about timing. VERY predictable, but cute. Written by Catalina Mastretta, who has been in the biz for ten years. Directed by Amanda Marsalis, the first and only project for her so far.

First off, it's always nice to see a film about L.A. that looks like it is set in L.A. -- especially when it doesn't feature celebrities that take you out of the illusion.It's also nice to see a well-written, mature film about adults that doesn't resort to clichés or sensationalism (excessive sex, violence, cursing, etc) to tell it's story. This is a story about friendships and choices, and discovering what is real in life.As someone who has visited Echo Park many times in the past, this movie feels like a true L.A. story: these are the kinds of movies I'd like to see made more often, whether about Los Angeles specifically, or about relationships in general.