Alan is a musician who leaves a busted-up band for New York, and a new musical voyage. He tries to stay focused and fends off all manner of distractions, including the attraction to his good friend's girlfriend.
The film's mood and style are pitched somewhere between '60s American indie and French New Wave and, as you watch these people, they seem painfully, amusingly on-target.
– Michael Wilmington,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Nov 2006
rotten:
Shooting in black-and-white 16mm, Bujalski nods to the pre-Sundance personal cinema of the '50s and '60s. His little circle of pals, though, offers little to outsiders looking in.
– Bill Stamets,
Chicago Sun-Times,
10 Nov 2006
fresh:
Alan, Lawrence and Ellie, intersecting here and there with a circle of acquaintances and strangers, insinuate themselves into the viewer's heart like good friends.
– Steven Rea,
Philadelphia Inquirer,
24 Nov 2006
rotten:
Just because it's like real life doesn't mean it's inherently interesting.
– Ted Fry,
Seattle Times,
8 Dec 2006
fresh:
Despite their lackadaisical impression, the pictures are quite tightly structured: each scene covers emotional and narrative distance. Funny, forgiving, credible and deft, they offer much to appreciate.