Gripping story with well-crafted characters
... View MoreExcellent, a Must See
... View MoreIt’s fine. It's literally the definition of a fine movie. You’ve seen it before, you know every beat and outcome before the characters even do. Only question is how much escapism you’re looking for.
... View MoreThere's a more than satisfactory amount of boom-boom in the movie's trim running time.
... View MoreI happened to enjoy this flick. Although the plot-line was somewhat predictable, it's still good for some laughs. Tom is probably one of the best actors in his time and I think the character he had to portray in this movie fit him perfectly. Some may say that the movie looks like it was recorded from a TV show but come on, not every film maker can get the funding that some movies like Titanic and Troy and Lord of The Rings got. I think that we are all too used to the exaggeration of love. Chick flicks like "Serendipity" (I still love that movie but it's true) and adaptations of different Shakespeare pieces like "10 Things I Hate About You"... while they're excellent movies, their portrayal of love is mostly fictitious. I think this movie is somewhat refreshing. It simplifies the matter of love. Love can be too complicated some times and these fictitious movies fuel that complication. Sometimes you just need to sit back, relax and enjoy a movie that's simple. I think that is exactly what Alchemy is.
... View MoreI have to say up front that I'm a big fan of both Tom Cavanagh and Sarah Chalke, but I hadn't heard of this film until I ran across it in the Indy film section my local video store.This was a delightful film. So many recent romantic comedies that I've seen are so completely lifeless - the cast doesn't seem to be having fun with each other. The exact opposite is true here.The two leads are at the top of their game, and though the script is a tad formulaic, the acting more than makes up for it. Tom Cavanagh has the approach of a Jimmy Stewart or a Tom Hanks. And Sarah Chalke has the kooky klutziness of a Doris Day or a Kate Hepburn. Well, maybe that's overstating it a bit, but give this film another 40 or 50 years, and I'm betting it will be remembered fondly. Great supporting cast too, they really gave the film some weight. Here's to independent comedies. Definitely worth a viewing
... View MoreJust returned from the Annapolis Film Festival and I came here to comment on ALCHEMY, the opening night film that seemed to go over really well at the Festival. As I got to IMDb, I was surprised to see so many bad reviews, however, I think most people judge things much too harshly these days. After all, this is a romantic comedy, not exactly a genre meant to break new ground in film. But rather, one that is purely meant to entertain.And, IMHO, this film does just that. It entertains. It's a cute, funny movie, and worth seeing. Heck, it's worth seeing if only for the performance of Sarah Chalke, who brought a realism and believability to the romance. See the film, and you WILL know what I mean.So often, in lower budget films the acting can be a major weakness, but here, it's a major strength. And in my opinion, none was better than Chalke, who I couldn't quite place where I recognized her from. There was a Q&A afterward, and the director reminded me that Miss Chalke is on SCRUBS. Overall, I really enjoyed this romantic comedy, so much so, that I will be looking for it again on ABC Family Channel.After all, it does what it's supposed to do: entertain the viewer!
... View MoreAttended the world premier at Tribeca Film Festival, what a great event for Downtown NYC. Sarah Chalke is fantastic as female lead in this movie, perfect casting. The story is sweet, the dialog is fast and witty without going over the top into NY sarcasm. Tom Cavanaugh does a wonderful job as the lead. The the supporting cast is excellent. Ileana Douglas, Celeste Holm, James Barbour are all great. Nadia Dajani's performance will be talked about by everyone as the quick comeback, cynical, heart of gold editor.The audience was treated to several belly laughs, not easy to do with a NYC audience. The various locations around NYC gave the movie a terrific backdrop for a story that can't be told without great acting and well written script. There are so many good lines in this movie that anybody who sees it will be repeating for years.Overall, an excellent and very well done movie with terrific music to boot. A little surprised that it was an independent film.
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