Easier with Practice (2009)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Director:

Kyle Patrick Alvarez

Writers:

Kyle Patrick Alvarez (screenplay)
Davy Rothbart (story)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

In an effort to promote his unpublished novel, Davy Mitchell sets out on a road trip with his younger brother...

Awards:

2 wins

Cast

Brian Geraghty	...	Davy Mitchell
Kel O'Neill	...	Sean Mitchell
Marguerite Moreau	...	Samantha
Jeanette Brox	...	Sarah
Jenna Gavigan	...	Josie
Katie Aselton	...	Nicole (as Kathryn Aselton)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Lucas CorVatta	...	Waiter
Jamie Haqqani	...	Club patron Executive
Allison Hensel	...	Bartender
Tracey Horsley	...	Hostess
Danielle Lozeau	...	Waitress
Lauren Petzke	...	Blonde Woman

Runtime:

USA:100 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Filming Locations:

Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA

Company:

Forty Second Productions

Definitely worth seeing!

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

Davy Mitchell (Brian Geraghty) is on the road doing readings at small book stores (one of them is named just "Books") of his short stories collection. Tagging along is his younger brother, Sean (Kel O'Neill), who has no problem picking up on Davy's leftovers whether it be pie or the girls he doesn't close the deal with, despite the girlfriend he has back home. One night in a motel room alone though, the phone rings and a sexy voice on the other end coaxes Davy (none too hard) into phone sex, presented in one extended shot. With no means to call back this Nicole on her private number, Davy is forced into a waiting game. Surprisingly though she calls back. And often. Intimate nights become intimacy as the pair open up to one another; Nicole (phone-cheating on her own boyfriend) is happy just to have a guy who listens. As Davy gets closer to home though the more he wants the other senses to manifest in their relationship, starting with just seeing each other. But Nicole prefers things the way they are. What's a guy to do? Brian Geraghty is a face you may remember seeing in films like Jarhead, We Are Marshall and hopefully will in Kathryn Bigelow's excellent Iraq war thriller, The Hurt Locker. As Davy though, Geraghty really breaks through with a quietly, heartbreaking portrayal of a shy guy unsure of the direction his life is supposed to be taking. With little success as a writer and only a few ladies under his stud belt, it's easy to accept Nicole as that once-in-a-lifetime gift so we feel his anguish in not being able to at least get that hug we know he needs.

'Easier With Practice' is a wonderful little film written and directed by Kyle Patrick Alvarez, based on a GQ article by Davy Rothbart. Brian Geraghty plays Davy Mitchell, a writer who works as a temp to pay the bills. Davy and his brother Sean (Kel O'Neill) set out on a book tour across the country together in Sean's old POS station wagon to promote Davy's book. During their journey from town to town, Sean spends his free time in the bars and picking up chicks while Davy, exhausted from the weeks of traveling and living off of PB&J sandwiches, spends most of his free time in hotel rooms, bored and lonely.

Kyle Patrick Alvarez is said to be quite the indie music enthusiast and it shows, having meticulously selected and placed an absolutely perfect soundtrack into his film. The songs were carefully chosen and used not just to fill silent space, but to accentuate a scene or emotion and further move the story along in a constructive fashion. The soundtrack to 'Easier With Practice' reads like a pop fans worst nightmare, featuring indie musicians and bands unknown to many like Emily Easterly, Source Victoria, Deer Tick and Grizzly Bear, not to mention the other 10 or more bands with licenced music featured on the theatrical playlist.

This is a film definitely worth seeing. It's smart, just funny enough as not to get in the way of the great story and the twist at the end packs a punch.