Una Great Movie

source: Una Great Movie

Una Great Movie, the touching, smart story of a movie in a movie, is all about trying to achieve your dreams in the face of countless setbacks. Set on a beautiful island in Mexico and in L. A., it combines a satirical look at the biases of the film business with a playful, enchanting and stereotype-busting story of two black women friends seeking love and making friends on a trip to Mexico. Great acting & writing, charming characters, beautiful shots and scenery, and lovely music combine to make Una Great Movie a film to savor, remember and rewatch (which I did).

Love the movie and the story. Such a fun time and a cleaver way of filmmaking. Sometimes movies surprise you and this one for sure did with the quality of how the story was told and portrayed by the characters. My whole family enjoyed it and can't wait to see more movies from this director. I was particularly surprised by the non-actors, they did an amazing job. The back-and-forth between the story and the filmmaker was very clever and made me think a lot about how movies are made (super funny also). I encourage everyone to take a look at this film. It is funny! Congratulations to all cast and crew!

I was so excited to see this film and was not disappointed. I followed Producer/Director/Actor Jennifer Sharp's journey as she struggled to make her passion project with her own money. And being told by the industry that the film wouldn't sell because it didn't fit into convenient Hollywood genres. But the strength of the film is just that - it's bold, authentic, heartwarming and real. The film follows a Zoe (JoNell Kennedy), a Black woman screenwriter who struggles to believe her film can be made in an industry with no real interest in diversity. She is barraged with advice from various experts and industry professionals on how to change the script to make it appealing and 'marketable'. Sadly, this often translates to 'whiter' and more formulaic. Meanwhile we see the movie play out, the story of a Susan, a Black woman who travels to a Mexican coastal village to visit, Luis, her long lost lover. The chemistry between Susan (Numa Perrier) and Luis (Jose Casasus) is lovely as they revisit their romance through the bittersweet lens of time and regret. Sharp, who also plays the role of Susan's friend Jenny, used locals she had developed relationships with as extras in the film and their performances provide an authentic, wonderful and delightful layering to the film. In the end, it's a film about people, their hopes and dreams and the things they do to survive living in a world that is often harsh and brutal. Go see this film. It's as un-Hollywood as it gets and you will really enjoy it.

A movie that is rich in the full continuum of diversity that I found funny, touching and very well acted. Touched with a bit of satire and humor, the story is a good one bolstered by good direction. Funny but gives you enough to think about after the credits I would recommend.

I'm sorry. I'll give three stars for effort at least. As usual, the stupidlly high ratings are probably from production and lackeys. Of course if you're just the regular movie goer looking for something to watch, ymmv.. What follows is just my opinion. I get indie filmmakers pour their hearts and souls into these things. Unlike a songwriter or painter who can produce art on their own for virtually zero expense after even the most minimal layout for gear and materials , making films requires huge amounts of cash, equipment and the reliance on many many others to make it happen. Yet after all that time, money and effort, chances are you've produced a stinker. I was going to bail five minutes into this.... because that's all I've ever needed to size up film..... but gave it a chance though finally had to quit after about a half hour. Problem with 98% indie produtions is that they reek of indie production. Big part of it is the awful, stiff, amteurish acting. Then there's that stinko script and directing. Even when photography itself is mechanically competent, the entire feel is off compared to the standard big name studio production. That's this that kind of movie.. Any discussion about the story itself is kind of pointless.

What an original, imaginative piece. Beautifully shot, an homage to a small Mexican village and the people who live there, some wonderful actors and all of it ably crafted by Jennifer Sharp, who brings into focus the many factors that exist in bringing one's dream, in this case a script to fruition on the big screen. There's also a case to be made to follow your truth and be strong enough not to listen to every Tom, Dick, or Harriet's opinions.

If you're looking for a straight Hollywood movie, go look somewhere else, but if you enjoy a smart story about how smart stories evolve or what gets in their way, you've come to the right place. Writer/Director Jennifer Sharp takes us on two different journeys: One of her protagonist to Mexico in search of new purpose and direction and one of a writer in, well, search of new purpose and direction who is writing that story and getting a lot of not always quite so helpful comments on the way on how to give her movie a "broader appeal". The result is a sweet story of a woman trying to find her destiny in a beautifully shot but not superficially picturesque Mexico and a writer desperate to successfully navigate through Hollywood's maelstrom without going under.

This movie is super creative and funny! The story makes fun of how stereotypical Hollywood and its executives can be, all while existing as its own unique film with a diverse cast. Well worth watching! Great work from Jennifer Sharp and the whole cast & crew.

Trailer—Una Great Movie