Waking Madison

Waking Madison_720p(480P)

They say Brooks locked herself 30 days to feel and write the script. I don't know why - the script was already written!"Dedales" written by Renè Manzor. Brooks only removed the story of the multiple personality out of the crime story context. She replaced Dr. Brennac - male therapist to Dr. Barnes - female therapist. These parts which aren't copied are clichè-ridden. The only thing which is really great is the soundtrack, the music by Olivia d'Abo. This movie wasn't worth to wait for. If you watch both movies you'll see the amount Brooks really had on "Waking Madison". We have the chess-playing-scene, the painter became in the interested in painting, the hirer became sexualized, the aggressive personality, the room the kid was imprisoned looks pretty identic, the camcorders, the couch-scene, the metro became a streetcar, there is the clock...camera effects,... If I really wanna tell a story about multiple personality there is no need to copy so much similar/identic basics of another movie about multiple personality. There are so much stories to tell about mp. I just have to research and to talk and not just to watch another movie. Actually that's too easy, that's too simple, that's a shame - and it doesn't work! Brooks is not a serious writer to me.

Waking Madison is an intense movie with great acting performances and an excellent scenario that keeps the suspense at its peak till the end. This movie is about the confusion that dwells in the mind of a woman suffering from multiple personality disorder. You will find yourself lost in a heavy and disturbing atmosphere. After you finish watching, you will ask yourself: "What was real in that story?" and that's a positive point, a proof that Katherine Brooks has reached her goal with a nonlinear storytelling that will leave you as confused as the main character. Although there are a few hints here and there, the ending comes quite unexpected. The music serves the movie well with an original score dark at times, airy and atmospheric at others, and smartly chosen additional songs that reflect Madison's memories or despair. There should be more movies of this quality. A must see.

source: Waking Madison

Everything about this film is simply exquisite. Katherine has done a brilliant job of addressing the delicate and not so talked about topic of mental illness in a way that takes you on a beautiful journey of self discovery. There are a lot of films about mental illness, many try to address the topic...and those just brush the surface. None even compare to this movie. There were so many things that I loved about this film, the storyline, the shots are stunning, the acting is truthful, raw and very real. I haven't seen a film this good in a very long time, it was refreshing to see and visually compelling as well. A definite must see!

Katherine Brooks, of reality television and Loving Annabelle fame, has once again proved why she is the best at what she does. Waking Madison is quite obviously a detailed, clear, and authentic representation of DID. One need not be a mental medical professional to understand the nuances of this disorder thanks to the superior research done by this award-winning filmmaker. However, those that are well-seasoned in the matters of DID can attest to Brooks' realistic portrayal through her protagonist Madison Walker (Sarah Roemer). Madison, with the help of Dr. Barnes (the stunning Elisabeth Shue) works to overcome her mind and reassemble the pieces of her life torn a part. Rounding out this well-chosen cast, Erin Kelly (Loving Annabelle), albeit in a part short and sweet, does not disappoint in her role as the sexy rebel, Grace. Most importantly Brooks demonstrates her mastery of character relationships, only this time between doctor and patient, as well as the relationships we all find within ourselves. Finally, Brooks solidifies her reputation regarding her wide-range of genre talent, branching outside the Gay and Lesbian category and emerging on the scene as a brilliant writer of psycho-drama.

Katherine Brooks really outdid herself with this one, in my opinion. Her last film, "Loving Annabelle" is, I believe, the highest grossing LGBT- themed movie to date (and one of my favorite films). So I went into watching this one with very high expectations. I was NOT disappointed. Intense, well-written, great cinematography, and an exceptional cast. This film could easily be compared to Black Swan with it's psychological twists and turns. I love these kinds of movies, watch them all the time....and the ending still floored me. Sarah Roemer and Elizabeth Shue both turned in moving and believable performances. The supporting cast was also amazing. Only wish there had been more with Erin Kelly and Frances Conroy. This is one of those movies I can't wait to watch again to catch all the nuances I missed the first time! I will certainly be recommending this one to all my friends.

By far this is the best movie I have seen all year. Katherine Brooks, an accomplished director in various genres, has developed a thought provoking, mind bending movie that both provides insight and sympathy for mental illness and those feeling they have no choice but to turn towards suicide. Her screen writing and directing has once again blown me away, left me speechless and wanting to see her movie again and again. Set in New Orleans, the film revolves around the main character, Madison Walker, who is struggling with her inner demons when she takes a chance to find herself by shutting the world out and nailing her apartment door closed for 30 days to discover what her life is all about, why she has been on medications since childhood and ultimately find herself. All in all, Katherine has successfully created a cinematic dramatic delight that will make you question your perceptions of what is real and what is in our heads. The film spoke to me on so many levels, having dealt with these issues in many forms in my life, and didn't sugar coat, make light or poke fun at the subject matter but instead provided raw insight and understanding of what many people struggle with on a daily basis. There are many aspects of this movie that will give you a deja vu felling from the previous scenes and some things you will only come to understand at the conclusion of the film, almost like a David Lynch movie but one that you can actually understand.

Waking Madison (2010) The movie world is filled with talents coming from nowhere and making a splash. Director Katherine Brooks is not one of them. Her resume of MTV compilations and other professional jobs doesn't even quite prepare you for the badly worked clichés, uninspired acting, and amateurish writing here. The reason it comes to mind here (and not all the other mediocre movies out there) is that Brooks is both director and writer here, as if she was really sure of herself. The idea isn't bad in itself. A young woman (played by Sarah Roemer) faces her multiple personality disorders in a period of high drama crisis. And the movie manifests this for the viewer in an unexpected way. When this "trick" first becomes clear (and I'll give no hints here) it's fascinating, the one minute of actual fascination you can expect. When the trick gets played a second time it's pure sensationalism, or just lack of inspiration. Another problem is Elizabeth Shue's performance as the leading psychologist, which at first I blamed on her. She's bland and unconvincing, even after the final twist when you might reevaluate what her purpose was all along. Now I lay some blame at the director's feet. There are some nice grungy set designs, the music plays well into the mood, the photography is decent, the layering of video within the larger photography is interesting, and so on. I mean, it has the bones of a decent movie. It reminds you that writing comes first (the idea, and the dialog) and then acting and directing (hand in hand) are critical. Who is this Sarah Roemer? A really promising actress with a terrible agent. The movies she has been in are rotten rotten rotten. So it's hard to see the energy she keeps just under the surface throughout. Likewise for two other secondary young women who play with intensity worthy of a spooky movie about mental disturbances: Imogen Poots (who was in the interesting "Solitary Man" with Michael Douglas) and Taryn Manning (who seems to have Roemer's same agent, or the same kind of agent). So? What to do? Skip this one. There are many better low budget or low quality psycho flicks with better edges and surprises.

I have been a fan of Katherine Brooks for a long time so I went into "Waking Madison" with relatively high expectations and was without a doubt NOT disappointed. This film surpassed any and all expectations I had. It was a very riveting story about a topic most people would be afraid to address. The settings and special effects are amazing. Perfect blend of music for the scenes. Definitely a twist at the end that I didn't see coming. Katherine has a way of drawing the audience in. However she is just as capable at keeping them in suspense and interested throughout the entire movie. "Waking Madison" is another example of the talent that Kat possesses. She is a very inspiring woman and artist. This film must be added to Katherine's extreme success and with what she has accomplished in this film, I can't wait to see what she has in store for us next!!!