Two by Chris M. Rutledge -TROMBONE JONES and DATE NIGHTS

TROMBONE JONES
This is the story of a returning soldier who is unable to get a job. Picking up the trombone he manages to teach himself how to play and ends up going from street corners to concert halls.

Shot as silent film with a synced sound track (there is a reason for it that I can’t tell you in this review) this is a largely moving tale about what it’s like to be a returning vet and the struggles one faces.  I really liked much of the film.

My one quibble with the film, and it’s one that I’ve been rolling over in my mind for several days now, is the ending. While it isn’t bad, and while it absolutely works, I’m not sure how I feel about it. Normally I would let it go and not say anything but the film builds to it and I’m sure how I feel. The problem is that I can’t say anything  about what it is since the whole film hinges on it it. Its not that I don’t dislike it, I’m just not sure I like it enough.

Which is actually a kind of rave for the film because it’s a film that very seriously is challenging my thoughts, and expectations. I couldn’t just watch the film and move on I had to wrestle with it over several days and revisit it. I don’t always do that and any film that I look at multiple times, as I did with TROMBONE JONES is special.

If you want a film that will make you think and wrestle with it beyond just watching it and moving on, try TROMBONE JONES (which is on Apple TV)

DATE NIGHTS
Mike and Lynn have their weekly date night,

Sweet little film about a relationship that seems is beautifully put together. It’s a film that is really good, but kind of hard to discuss since there is a moment where the film shifts and suddenly you see what you’ve seen before takes on a new meaning.  I am being cagey with what I’m saying on purpose since something I read before hand said too much. As a result the film didn’t have the punch in the chest quality it might have had I gone in totally blind.

Lack of discussion aside, this film kicks ass and you need to take the time and search it out. (It will be released around Valentine’s Day, which is absolutely the perfect choice)