Her Name Is Carla (2005)

Bad excuse for a Lifetime movie--and that's really saying something

This is a singularly unpleasant, disjointed, cruel, and pointless film.

None of the characters are likeable or deserving of attention in the slightest.

The plot goes something like this: a couple show up at another couple's boathouse and are oddly insistent on getting involved with their lives. They appear to be two middle class, bourgeois people like the two they are essentially stalking. Julian Sands plays Bill, a former rapist--I guess? (the film never makes it clear whether he did or did not commit the crime he is accused of), and he is forced to remember his crime (which he never does, so did or did he not do it?) by a very drawn out kind of sensual attack by Julian Nicholson's character and her brother, Jack, who is definitely not what he seems.

The ending is depressing and nasty. Nicholson does not seem to mind that her brother met a gruesome ending while trying to obtain revenge for her. This fits in with the general man-hating theme of the entire film.

A good parallel would be; this is like David Lynch trying to remake "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" while smoking coffee beans and stalking Laura Dern. Bad. September 12, 2008

85 Minutes I'll never get back.

Being a big fan of both Julian Sands and Julianne Nicholson I gave this DVD a try. Don't waste your time. The story was not developed enough from the beginning to even remotely understand what was going on with the characters. Furthermore, none of the characters were likable or believable. The previous scenes did not fully portray what the premise of the story was supposed to be, nor did the characters convince me of their part in it.

A short synopsis (without spoiling it too much for those who still want to watch it) is: A wife, without first discussing it with her husband, invites two strangers claiming to be married to stay at their house overnight. The husband, not wanting to openly counteract his wife's decision, agrees. The strangers then begin a bizarre series of events leading to a climactic end which involves the death of two of the four characters and an unbelievable story of rape (or mistaken identity depending on how you interpret it.) Then, for added confusion, a real or unreal child (once again depending on how you interpret it) is thrown into the story I'm assuming to explain past events or the ending of the film.

Technical stuff: For those of you, like me, who hate the way some new films are being made, watch out. This film looks as though it was filmed with a home digital camera. The lighting is not very good and the editing looks pieced together. Also, for all you "Directors" out there, please tell your camera operators to stop shaking the camera so much, it's making me nauseous.

NUDITY Alert (Like it or hate it): Both the female leads (Julianne Nicholson & Mina Badie) appear nude in this film. January 26, 2008

What is her name?

You will be asking yourself this by the end of the movie. In fact, you will be asking yourself why you bothered to watch the movie. Poor Julian Sands. We needed to see more of him. Max Beesley was quite good, but not enough of him either. Julianne Nicholson couldn't have been frumpier, more unkempt or unattractive if she'd had the House of Wax make-up crew all to herself. Most of the film made no sense, and the central characters lacked any kind of common sense. Jessica Fletcher would have a field day with this group. In fact, the setting might actually be Cabot Cove! It's anyone's guess. March 1, 2007

Julianne Nicholson fans

For JN fans, this is a no-brainer. One of her few leads (Tully being another, and the Married couple where she wants to play around, another). Our freckled girl (totally without makeup this time) bares nearly all, flirts charmingly, and is generally the adorable girl-next-door. Our Spanish and Italian friends go ape overthe freckles. The indie producers obviously realize they are onto a good thing with JN, exactly as with Love Hewitt.
A married couple residing in a beach house on an Island, invites another couple, casually met, to stay the night.
It would be wrong to reveal the plot; the atmosphere is exactly like a French film viewed at one of those Art Cinemas. (One in particular comes to mind) - the slow pace, etc. Camera work is interesting, but I'm no expert.
If you have no regard for JN, I wouldn't bother. If you do, the DVD price will probably come down in the next few months, if you can wait. January 24, 2006

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