Wake (2003)

Director:

Roy Finch

Writer:

Roy Finch (writer)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Are you ready to pray?

Plot:

In the film, "Wake", the fateful reunion of four brothers quickly dissolves into a night of drinking...

Awards:

3 wins

Cast

Blake Gibbons	...	Raymond Riven
Gale Harold	...	Kyle Riven
John Winthrop Philbrick	...	Jack Riven
Dihlon McManne	...	Sebastian Riven
Martin Landau	...	Older Sebastian Riven
Muriel Kenderdine	...	Mother
Dusty Paik	...	April
Rainer Judd	...	Dusty
Robert Witham	...	Police Officer
Judy Griffith	...	Bartender
Charles Kozlosky	...	Bartender
Melissa Henderson	...	Billy Budd's Bar Patron
Marta Kozlosky	...	Billy Budd's Bar Patron
Eric Matheson	...	Billy Budd's Bar Patron
John Ring	...	Billy Budd's Bar Patron

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Filming Locations:

Bath, Maine, USA

Company:

Fictionworks Production

Movie Connections:

References Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers (1993) (VG)

Good Things Come to Those Who Wait.....

The release of this movie was a source of great anticipation for me. For one reason or another I wouldn't make any of the screening for Wake over the last year, so for me by the time I saw Wake I walked out thinking that the phrase "Good Things Come to Those Who Wait" to be very true.

As I think most people would agree, (at least those that go to a movie to actually WATCH the film) Wake is a haunting film to say the least. If you are tired of the mindless, the fluff, the unsubstantial flick that Hollywood tends force feed us, then give this brilliant indy film your $10 bucks. Wake is just extraordinary. Everything from the depth of the storyline, to the interactions between the 4 brothers, to the intimate setting and the inviting yet foretelling music, Wake offers a true movie experience. You get sucked in and taken to places in your own mind that maybe you didn't want to go. But isn't that what movies are meant to do.

Enlighten, entertain, engage you... Well Wake does all of that. But above and beyond all else it was the acting and the depth of the story that got me back into the theater a second time. I knew there was something I missed the first time around and just needed to make sure that I got it all.

The acting is just magic. Gale Harold's acting talent was no great surprise. His talent, his dedication, his willingness to take on the dark, the doomed, the distraught character of Kyle goes along with what I have long believed about Gale Harold... He takes risks in the hopes of growing professionally and perhaps personally as well. Well I hope this role did that for him, because it shows in his performance. For the sake of not getting to flowery ... Gale Harold was magical as Kyle. And for that we all owe a ton of gratitude to one Susie Landau Finch and one Henry LeRoy Finch for convincing Mr. Harold to try his hand at acting and for creating the opportunity to play Kyle ... respectively. I was not familiar with Blake Gibbons until last Friday, but now I wonder why. He is a phenomenal actor who nailed the role of Roy. What I found most remarkable was his ability to go inside himself, deeply enough to bring about this performance. Roy is a character that can be a self-centered prick on one hand, yet clearly loving and caring on another. It is almost as if he battles between the two simultaneously in each scene.

There isn't enough to be said for Henry LeRoy Finch. Its simple really, if it wasn't for his brilliance, dedication, guts and obvious talent, Wake would not be.