Very ingenious and hypnotic the movie 1/1 (One Over One) has arrived on Blu-ray/DVD and VOD for home viewing. The film takes a different tack with its presentation using photographs, art and “home video” as a way of taking you back in the life of a teen turned twenty. A coming of age story that deals with circumstances born in the past that guide her choices and decisions. Along with the use of the unusual film style, a techno soundtrack works most of the movies entrancing magic.
Just turning 20 we find Lissa (Lindsey Shaw) thinking of her past in a dream sequence montage of quick memories. Switching to the entrance of a doctor’s office she starts to think back on a specific time while putting the town she lives in into perspective. Pacing outside the office she seems nervous and a bit upset. As she takes her seat in the doctor’s office she reveals the last two years of her life through her thoughts.
Using a diary she has used over the years she relives her past as we watch her with her boyfriend Daniel (Leland Alexander Wheeler), her mother Joan (Dendrie Taylor) and father Robert (Judd Nelson) steer her life to her present point of time. So begins a tale filled with doubt, first sex and a clouded future that involves making critical choices.
Director and writer Jeremy Phillips moves his film along at a fast pace bringing up a lot of teen angst, past troubles and a heartbreaking family incident that has altered Lissa’s life. His use of “old photos and video” gives the film a feel of the teen’s dull and boring life in the small town and her reckless way of dealing with it. It could be a story easily told of other teens who have been drawn into situations like Lissa’s. Yet, the way Phillips tells it with a lot of drama in dialogue, visuals and a soundtrack that penetrates one’s brain, makes this film unique.
The acting by Lindsey Shaw is very good giving a performance that chills showing her character’s pent up desires and reckless emotions. Her Lissa manipulates each of the other cast member’s roles from getting Daniel to take her to a wild party, making out with his sister Aimee (Danna Maret) and experimenting with drugs. The angst goes on with her parents, work and irresponsible choices
SPECIAL BONUS FEATURES:
“An unreleased Liars track (Blu-Ray exclusive) called “Drawls” with outtake footage” the soundtrack with shots taken from the film and also outake footage montage. Watch it after you have seen the film for some cool photos, special effects, artwork and more that are displayed to the music. Includes spoilers.
“Storyboard-to-film comparison” Shows how they meld the film to the drawings they made prior to filming. Music in the background gives it an eerie feel.
1/1 has not been rated by the MPAA but contains sex/nudity, drug use, language, and violence/suicide. While the editing may be a bit unusual and the soundtrack depressing and irritating at times, writer Jeremy Philips gets his point across. The message; that the anxiety of teens witnessed in past generations, don’t change that much at all.
FINAL ANALYSIS: An electrifying coming of age story for today’s world. (3.5 out of 5 Stars)
Additional Film Information:
Cast: Lindsey Shaw, Judd Nelson, Dendrie Taylor, Leland Alexander Wheeler, James Engel, Danna Maret
Directed and written by: Jeremy Phillips
Genre: Drama
MPAA Rating: Not Rated, Contains sex/nudity, language, drug use, violence/suicide
Running Time: 1 hr. 25 min.
Video Release Date: July 17, 2018
Language: English
Reviewed Format: Blu-ray
Distributed by: Gravitas Ventures
Released in: VOD, Blu-ray and DVD
Writer, critic, film editor John Delia, Sr. has been on all sides of the movie business from publications to film making. He has worked as a film critic with ACED Magazine for more than 20 years and other publications for a total of 40 years. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Florida. John is a member of the Southeastern Film Critics Association and Critics Association of Central Florida Send John a message at jdelia@acedmagazine.com
