picassovegas-912-724150
The way this movie starts it made me think it was a comedy. The lead ladies are actually quite funny. In the films set-up parts of the film the girls were like real friends just talk trash, which was very funny. This film got a low score but I don't think it deserves. This film is a fun ride and definitely and original script and well written and I liked the rich ending. Well done film, and just be open and I think you will enjoy the ride.
WhySoSeriousssss
All of the positive reviews must be friends of the filmmaker because this movie is a pile of bat guano. Predictable story, horrible photography, sloppy nonsensical editing and it has some of the worst acting/writing I've ever been subjected to sit through. It feels like the first feature of a film school graduate. After doing a little research and finding out who this filmmaker is, it's no wonder he'd produce something so tasteless and pathetic. He's got 4 features to his name and this is the first one released. Good job! You're winning at your career!I expect literal SH*T like this from young filmmakers. Not men who look like they are a Fred Dursts older brother.
Harold-10
Well, it LOOKS like a good movie.... but it is not. It has well-composed shots and decent lighting, which many of low-budget films do not. Unfortunately, it fails on many levels.The initial problem of the film is the premise that kicks the movie into gear. The reason for the characters to NOT call the police is such a poor and implausible one that you cannot get past it. From here on, the actions of the characters in such a dire situation makes even less and less sense. This isn't to say that the writing is all bad, because the dialogue is decent at times. It's just that the plot involves too many people not doing the easiest and most logical thing. By the end, you just cannot wait for the credits. I know that is normal for a horror film, but this is even more askew than should be tolerated by even the most fervent followers of the genre.As for the acting, a couple of people in this film did a fine job. The others, however... not so much.All that being said, I do think that Thomas L. Phillips, the director, did a fine job and as he works more and more behind the camera, I think he will continue to improve. Thomas L. Phillips, the writer, however, should have given this script to someone outside his circle to read it over and give notes and suggestions... maybe even giving a re-write or co-write, before sending it to production. That could have saved the plot from being the disjointed mess it is.
filmbizarro
If you've missed our love for Thomas L. Phillips's "Special Dead", then you've either not paid attention, or you started visiting out site recently. It's a bit of a favorite over here, especially when it comes to mid-to-late 00's zombie flicks and onwards. Phillips has since made a couple of other movies that have gone unnoticed by us (perhaps due to the genres), but with "Quite a Conundrum" it was Phillips himself who crawled out of the whole and made us aware of it. Free from the splattery handicap violence and zombies, "Quite a Conundrum" offers just as many strong flavors but in a different way.The movie is set in the house of two sisters (or rather, their parents). The sisters are Mimi and Kylene. Where Mimi, the older one, is a slutty party girl, Kylene is young, reasonable and prefers taking it slow. Mimi's friend Tabitha is about on the same page as Mimi, where it's all about having fun (and embarrassing Kylene). Earlier that day, Mimi slept with a fat, old man who works with her dad and quite ruthlessly called him a loser. Later that night, she's invited to the friend of Tabitha's boyfriend, and joining the party is Kylene's Christian born boyfriend Harris. Many names, I know, but bare with me. When the girls and guys are in the midst of their party that night, the old man returns. And he wants an apology from Mini. One that he's not getting, which leads to him shooting himself then and there. Enter chaos, angst, curiosity, wackiness, twists and simple, mindless entertainment - the main things "Quite a Conundrum" has to offer.You see, the plot in "Quite a Conundrum" is one of the things that I am split about. It does quite push itself away from logic (let's just say it's a night of TOTAL bad luck). It trips itself over now and then, but somehow it's fine. "Quite a Conundrum" is wacked out enough, with eccentric personalities leading the way, that even though it tackles certain plot points in a strange way, by the end of it all we're enjoying the ride. The ending is hard to explain without spoiling it, but it was really fantastic. It brings out an emotion that the rest of the movie lacked: it spent its time being witty and crude without much remorse, and the finale goes the opposite direction. It snaps us back to reality (even though the movie didn't venture far from it to begin with) by being extremely, almost over-the-top, emotional over a past action. It really struck a chord with me, filling me with an emptiness that lingered through the end credits. I don't know what Thomas L. Phillips' plans with the ending were, but I found that to be the part that made the entire movie worth it.The acting in the movie is hard to judge. The characters are supposed to be a bit "too much" and that's hard to handle. But sometimes I think it's also in the hands of the actors. There are a few moments that just don't work. The characters get annoying, babbly and a bit too hip. Most of the time it's good, though, and I especially fell for Erin Cline (who I also referred to as cute in my review of "Date Night" - I'll stand by that here as well). Her quirkiness fits perfectly, where some other actors' might not. She has her lows too, but the majority of the film is held up nicely much because of her and Emily Rogers. Emily Rogers plays Kylene and she works as a steady rock to hold while things get messy around her. Her character is not free from change, but she handles them perfectly. I'm not discrediting any of the actors in particular, they all have their ups and downs here."Quite a Conundrum" won't please everyone, but those who do enjoy it might be finding their future cult classic. Without being very close to either, it's taking large pieces of great variety: plot reminiscent of "Very Bad Things", indie film chatting like "Clerks", twists-and-turns like "Scream" and an ending like an art-house movie. I'm aware that another review brought up both "Clerks" and "Scream", I'm not trying to steal here - it's actually the closest you can describe it as, while it still remains vastly different. No doubt, Phillips' has matured since the fun "Special Dead" but has not left his indie ways. It's not without some big flaws, but it won me over completely.More reviews at FilmBizarro.com
