Let's be realistic.

It isn't all that great, actually. Really cheesy and very predicable of how certain scenes are gonna turn play out. However, I guess that's the charm of it all, because I would consider this one of my guilty pleasures.

I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

The movie's not perfect, but it sticks the landing of its message. It was engaging - thrilling at times - and I personally thought it was a great time.

Having seen Time Trap (2017), and loving the premise while also liking the kitschy follow-through, as well as enjoying some vibrance of that cast, I decided to look into his earlier offering, STRINGS. Another intriguing entry! Let's begin with the PLOT: Decided loser Billy happens upon the business card of an "experimental therapist" who promises to completely change Billy's life. Point 1: Billy is fairly likeable from the start so we root for him, even if only moderately. His girlfriend Chavine is also likeable even if demanding, and we discover much about why this is in the character build-up. We learn about their respective family upbringing and parental involvement, Chavine's mother intensely involved in her daughter's welfare while Billy's parents are at best detached. There is also alcoholism. But most salient is the death of their daughter, which causes Billy to emotionally wander aimlessly and fail to grow. This is displayed in a couple of good scenes, particularly when the club owner tells Billy he's essentially washed up as a musician and should consider being a sound and light man. Oof!Point 2: SPOILER: The manner by which Billy finds the business card is quite coincidental. Not a setup, just greatly fatalistic. Destiny. Not bad, but a bit heavy-handed.Point 3: SPOILER! The therapy is essentially to become a part of a rescue team for kidnapped children who are forced into child porn. I'm not sure if this is ALL the team does, because we see essentially one mission, but that one mission is quite the disgusting eye-opener, and forces us to again believe in Billy as a person with a worthwhile life-path. The problem, of course, is that he's also become a vigilante, a murderer, even if in the name of a justice which nearly everyone would or should agree. Not only is this a moral tension of the film (is there justified murder?) but there is the added element that once in the gang of mercenary rescuers, always in the gang, and there's no going back to the old life, that is, no "strings" can get in the way or pull you back. This particular element is done a bit poorly, even if it's the central theme. Why? The gang is small, from what I can gather, less than 10 members, and therefore to kill those who disobey the prime directive, so to speak, that is, to have no strings, not only whittles down your gang but also causes too many questions of self-survival, putting too much pressure on missions. In fact, the ending of the film justifies my complaint - SPOILER ALERT! - that Desky "falls out of a window" and everyone is set free. One might say it's the nature of that "business" that such things are doomed to eventually fall apart, and that's fine. It also climaxes as romantic rather than action, which is again fine, because this film is billed as Drama.One interesting and intelligent oddity of the plot is that Billy gets hurt during the raid (or second part of the raid, if you like) and Desky is convinced that rather than kill Billy for being a liability - SPOILER ALERT! - they will opt for plastic surgery to change his appearance and therefore keep on a quite valuable member (Billy does prove it!). Thus, actor Billy Harvey disappears mid-film for Christ Potter! It can't POSSIBLY be that Billy Harvey was removed from production and the writers merely rewrote the script to accommodate because the plot gets BETTER, much better, once the plastic surgery kicks in. Now it's eight years later and - SPOILER ALERT! - "Jimmy" (the new Billy) goes to visit Chavine secretly. This is the "string" he can't break, but we already know his pal and partner Karl visits HIS son, and not with plastic surgery either(!), so the tension of such visit is pretty broken by knowing Desky doesn't know everything. Which is nice, because I'm quite sick of omniscient leaders like Nick Fury.The remainder of the film requires many suspensions of disbelief, including how he gets a job in Chavine's piano shop, why she should have one, how he becomes close with this family, and especially with ther daughter Lily, who - BIG-TIME SPOILER! - is Billy and Chavine's second daughter!It does all work out in the end, with a few further suspensions of disbelief, including how Jimmy evades the wiping out of Chavine and her family and his own death. It's actually done pretty quietly, all things considered, keeping the melancholy tone of the film intact, which is a nice touch, after all.As for Chavine and Jimmy, I'm happy to report - SPOILER! - they keep it clean and do not engage in adulterous amorous reconstitution, leaving us with them both being worthy adults who have actually grown, and not stupid children who can't keep their hormones in check. Those who read my review and object to this morality, or my view of it - I wrote it especially for you, to teach you something. Not every reconnection of former flames must end with lovemaking, especially when it would destroy the family so carefully built, which is of course the main point of the film - GROW! Strings are not only wonderful things but they also can hold you back, and it's quite better that Jimmy and Chavine remain friends, even if Lily is their daughter.One further piece of trivia: the handsome and dramatic Chris Potter, who also wrote and performed some musical pieces for the film, has never done another film, and I can't find any further info on him! He's disappeared!

It was surprisingly well done.......Great Cast and acting along with obviously great direction.............and producing......and editing. I thoroughly enjoyed the movie! One of the best independent films I have had the pleasure of viewing! I expect to see this movie in the Theaters soon.......Congrats to all involved! Thanks for the great experience! Geez I cannot believe that this site requires you to write 10 lines for a review.....that is ridiculous......well .....here it goes...... I was so impressed with the movie that I wanted my son to view it also. He is quite the actor.......and I wanted him to see what a great independent film consisted of. This is honestly one of the best Independent Films I have viewed. I was very impressed!... Also, because my boyfriend.....Hector Luna is in the film industry i have the opportunity to view many different films! So, this film ranks at the top! Good luck with moving forward..............

I had the privilege of screening Strings as a volunteer at the Tulsa Film Festival earlier this year. I was absolutely blown away by every aspect of the film. The overall quality, writing, direction, acting and location selection were as good as any big budget Hollywood film. I was particularly impressed by the acting. Every cast member portrayed the emotion and depth of their character very well. The young actors were especially brilliant in their performances. Getting to hear the story of how Strings was made after the screening revealed what an amazing project the directors put together on an unbelievably small budget. I have become a big fan of Strings and hope to see it again very soon in wide release.

I have seen this movie twice with different people and all of us were mesmerized both times. I am always amazed at what comes from writer's minds, but this was an especially interesting idea and it really did make me thinks about the Strings in my life. I can't wait until it is in Theaters across the country. Billy Harvey reminded me of that old line "don't just act, stand there". He conveyed volumes with a look. Very impressive for a newcomer. I, too, would give this movie a Best Ensemble award. I wanted each and every one of them to win their particular fight. I also loved the music, particularly Billy's theme song. It was haunting. I was delighted when he won the award for Best Song. This is a very talented group of actors and I am hoping they get the recognition they deserve.