The film was still a fun one that will make you laugh and have you leaving the theater feeling like you just stole something valuable and got away with it.

an ambitious but ultimately ineffective debut endeavor.

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

Great story, amazing characters, superb action, enthralling cinematography. Yes, this is something I am glad I spent money on.

How does one review such a clichéd, though somewhat enjoyable indie film as Goats?While it wasn't the worst (absolutely labeled as an independent film and certainly not a mainstream) film, it was so by the numbers for this kind of film, it wasn't the standout I thought it would be. And that said, still, it has enough to carry me through to the ending.Poor Arizona. That's where I currently reside. We cannot get a break. This movie begins and centers around Arizona, specifically somewhere near Tucson, two hours south of me. It has a boy, well, young man, Ellis, who takes care of his hippie mother and is best buds with bud-producing Goat Man – not his real name, but since he's always around the animals he hates, it's been granted to him.Ellis needs to go to prep school – the same one his divorced father went to. And that's far away. Will his Stuck-in-the-60s mother (the always lovely, but never gets the full recognition as she should: Vera Farmiga) survive without her son? Will he get into trouble in school? Will his father reunite with him and if so, will it better him?The movie does play out in the A-B-C's of Independent Film, but again, there's enough interesting dialogue and characters to move the goats from one side of the script to the next. So, I mildly recommend it with the reservation that I challenge film students to expand on the clichéd tactics of hundreds of movies before them.

So so film has a really strong performance from "Modern Family's" Ty Burrell to recommend it for but sadly not much else to really separate it from the pack of the other high school kid comes of age in boarding school films out there. Film's trailer promises a wacky comedy about a hippie like guy with a lot of goats and a lot of life lessons to impart but the film really more or less uses him as set dressing...which is a shame because David Duchovny is clearly having a good time and is quite game for whatever the script wants to throw at him and indeed he seems so ready for wackiness that we all but laugh the first time we see him because it looks for all the world that his character is going to be the real star of this movie and a real laugh getter--but aside from having him duel with ex Weeds star Justin Kirk for the affections of a rather over the top Vera Farmiga the screenplay either can't or won't let Goat Man do much of anything else. The film's center is "The Good Wife" son Graham Phillips as a kid raised in the desert and finding his way in this boarding school--and befriending his roommate and finding a young woman and etc. The film's real star should've been Goat Man. I'm not saying that the film is lousy or even boring although it has some boring stretches, but its kind of slight, when the elements were clearly here for something really vivid and memorable. The film even has characters that it clearly doesn't know what to do with besides Goat Man and the crazy new age mom and the obnoxious boyfriend---there's also the tough chick who threatens to beat up Phillips at the beginning of the film, lives in the desert with Phillips and Goat Man and everyone and is taken under Vera famiga's wing in the middle of the film, but the film never gives her anything to do there's also Keri Russell (forever Felicity to me) who's character is given somewhat of a build-up but then once she gets introduced she's given nothing to do and is all but forgotten about from the rest of the film as well, which brings me back to Ty Burrell. He plays the much much hated father of Phillips' character. Vera Farmiga whom vastly overplays the new agey mother of Phillips' character (and is bravely unsympathetic here--meaning her character is very unlikable) has spent a good amount of her screen time bashing her ex-husband so when he finally shows up played by the dad from Modern Family--we're all ready to pretty much hate him--but the strong somewhat no nonsense portrayal by Burrell actually makes him the most likable character (not to mention the most level headed) in the entire movie. I thought his presence actually served to anchor the entire film itself--and his presence as a supporting character really served to help ground the whole movie itself into a reality that it was sorely lacking otherwise. Oh again its not that its a bad movie per se--but it should've been a lot better then it was.

all the performances in this film were top notch. i feel that the actors truly benefited from having a director that was sympathetic to their craft. they all took risks that payed off, but sadly seem to be under rated or under appreciated. can't figure that out. i watched this film because of David Duchovny, but what surprised me was that the rest of the cast all came together to make this film work. David is a pot smoking, goat bleating, impulse driven, goat herder, and an absolute blast to hang out with. i wish he lived in my pool house when i was growing up. this film is thoughtful and well crafted. music was rad as well. the desert was beautifully photographed, and an excellent backdrop to play against the sterile east coast.it's simple. go see this film. you won't be disappointed.

Loved the film-subtle and touching with some laugh out loud moments. Fortunate to see it at the Tucson Sundance showing. Filmed on location here so there was great audience engagement at the sold out showing. So interesting to hear the Q and A with the writer and director and producers after the film. The story was very personal to the director and mirrored his upbringing in many ways. He and the writer were simpatico about the script and vision of the film. Producers also seems very attached and committed to the story. Well-cast and well written. Graham Phillips makes an impressive transition to film and captures Ellis with perfect reserve. David Ducovny was born to play Goat Man. Even the goats were superbly cast. Beautifully filmed and directed. Hope it makes it to the big screen. It's a treasure of an Indie that deserves wide distribution.