Point of View (2001) (V)

User Rating:

5.6/10   

Director:

David Wheeler

Writer:

David Wheeler (written by)

Genre:

Drama | Mystery | Romance | Thriller

Tagline:

Get involved. Go deep. After all, it's your point of view.

Plot:

One of the first interactive movie made for the DVD format, Point of View asks the viewer to guide the...

Plot Keywords:

Interactive | Nightclub | Model | Full Motion Video | Stalker

Cast

Stefanie von Pfetten	...	Jane Bole (as Stefanie Von Pfetten)
Chris Bradford	...	Frank
Christopher Shyer	...	Det. Edwards
Sarah Rodgers	...	Mary
Paul Jarrett	...	Peter
Larry Musser	...	Mr. Barnes
Samantha Crew	...	Carol
James Bamford	...	NY Photohrapher
Payton Rule	...	Musician in Club
Jefreejon	...	Musician in Club

Also Known As:

P.O.V. (Canada: English title) (short title)
Point of View: An Interactive Movie (USA) (DVD title)

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Filming Locations:

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Company:

Digital Circus Entertainment Inc.

Quotes:

Frank: How would you feel if (pause)? Let me give you the inventory: you wake up in somebody's apartment; you've been whacked in the head; you can hardly walk; there are erotic paintings of you all over the place; and the individual who created this "Alice in Wonderland" nightmare, is about the most attractive and appealing person you've ever met?

Movie Connections:

Follows Tender Loving Care (1997) (V)

Soundtrack:

Song for You

interesting but not inspired

Point of View is a unique viewing experience, no doubt of that, but as an experiment it's only partially successful. The film is meant to be "interactive," and your reactions to what's happening on screen will change the course of the storyline. But as games go it's not deeply involving because your role is very passive - for the most part, you sit back and watch the story unfold without ever feeling like you're in the thick of it.

This format could be great, though. I'm a big fan of David Wheeler's earlier project Tender Loving Care, which had a more charged storyline and better actors. The presence of John Hurt gave TLC an aura of class that Point of View lacks. POV's cast of Canadian unknowns is okay, but nothing to write home about. Also, TLC allowed viewers to explore a detailed virtual environment in-between scenes of the movie; there is no such feature here so, again, it's not as involving as it could be.

But the storyline is pretty interesting, and for a low-budget production the photography is good. The locations are well-chosen; Canadian cities always look so clean, don't they?

Unfortunately the music score is pretty cheesy and very intrusive. The soundtrack is so loud, it distracts from the action on screen, and I'm not sure it really fits the mood of the movie.

Still, this might tickle your fancy if you're in the mood for something different. Just grab Tender Loving Care instead if you can find it.

6/10