Transatlantic Coffee (2012) Reviews

• Just in case your expecting something.

  newmans2013-09-27

  What a terrible disappointment. What's with the high ratings and talk? Is everyone related to someone in the production company? It was slow and unfocused, I kept hoping for an ending that would explain what all the chatter about this was for, it didn't come. It was a cop out, out of someone's high school textbook, like "Here we are, now what do we do? Oh yes, end it with a psycho delusional thing." Did they even take Psychology 101 or step into therapy session? I don't think so. If you expect something from the 42% perfect ratings?, give me a break, sorry. Their last minute discovery outshines everyone else, Rachel Marie Lewis, should do well.

• A classic tale of boy meets girl, boy falls in love with girl....only the boy, is a 41 year old clown, the girl, a teenage stripper from London.

  rbecker-92012-02-14

  In this exploration of profound loneliness and loss, Erik Peter Carlson miraculously has made a life-affirming, even inspiring film. Seamless camera work, gorgeous art direction/cinematography and truly challenging scenes help to bring us deep into the mind of an eccentric man who chooses an eccentric way to heal from his extraordinary trauma. Carlson has made a movie that subtly captures the essence of what we all love about cinema...that singular carnival ride that transports us into someone else's life experience. My name is Randy Becker and I run NexTV Entertainment. We get thousands of submissions each year from emerging artists trying to make a mark on the list of significant industry players that we bring to our panels. TRANSATLANTIC COFFEE stands out not just because of the cohesive and compelling aesthetic or the challenging and topical subject matter, but because, at its core, it tells us a great story...one well worth experiencing. -Randy Becker NexTV Entertainment

• An indie gem

  daltonjames382012-02-21

  A dark and hypnotic drama that simultaneously explores the ecstasy of new found love and the wrenching pain of loss. Transatlantic teeters on the edge of a fever dream, but never falls off giving it a thrilling undercurrent, even when its pacing is deliberate and almost meditative. All of this while exhibiting an eroticism and honesty about sex that is all but nonexistent in mainstream American cinema. And I would be remiss if I didn't point out the beautiful and hardened lines of New York City serve as the perfect backdrop to the story. Transatlantic Coffee is another reminder that independent film is alive and well and worth finding.

• Erik Peter Carlon's "Transatlantic Coffee" is nothing shy of original

  paul-simmons272012-02-27

  It's a breath of fresh air to see a different approach from a young filmmaker. Carlson has made a movie that you'd not expect from a first time writer and director. It's put together with slow scenes, long takes and very few cut aways. It explores themes and ideas that I could easily see being cut away on the editing room floor if it was handled by a studio. Because of it's love budget roots, I can only believe that Carlson called the shots. There's no other way that many of these scenes would have ever made it otherwise. Studios are not this brave. Rachel Marie Lewis plays a young gal who comes to New York from London on a blind date to meet our main character, Alex, who is played by Kevin Pinassi. Both actors do a stellar job in creating the right atmosphere. The challenge for these actors clearly must've been Carlson's directing style. Scenes sometimes last for minutes on end without any cuts, creating an almost stage play feel. In fact, I could easily see this being adapted to an off Broadway play. One of my favorite things about this picture is the original score. Again, it is completely unexpected like everything else in the film. It's truly dreamy and assists the overall feel of the picture in conjunction with the photography, the performances and the writing. The film runs 104 minutes which seem to go by pretty quickly, with only a few times I feel it could've been a little faster paced, however, I think if this was the case, we would loose the character study that Carlson was trying to produce, and succeeded at accomplishing. The film reminded me very much of a European film, with it's massive amount of talking heads and simple, yet very effective direction. I also believe this was accompanied by the art direction and costume design, which made me feel I was watching something that was either a period piece or a French film from the 70's that slipped through my fingers. I really hope the film goes wide so others can experience this film. I believe that whether you like it or not, you'll walk away with something to talk about. It really sticks with you for days. I can't wait to see what these guys come up with next. A must see!

• It's Never What You Expect.

  pamela_russell62012-02-25

  It's very difficult to summarize what "Transatlantic Coffee" is all about. It's a very complex film that engages heavily on an intricate character. Let me just say this from the start - it is not for people wanting to see a sweet love story. End of story. I saw the film at a festival in New York after reading information on the film through the festival's web site. It seemed like a very odd story, which is something I'm always attracted to. I didn't have a date, so I went alone ...which probably ended up being a good thing. As I prepared for the movie to start, I realized I knew nothing about this film. This is rare for me, as I am a film review buff. I really didn't know if I was going to laugh, cry or be seriously depressed. The theater was pretty full, as I believe it was the first evening the film was screening at the fest. I wondered if any of these strangers around me knew anything I didn't about what we were all about to see. The lights went out ...then, all of the emotions mentioned above occurred, and then some. The film is slow paced, which I believe was done on purpose as it is driven primarily by Kevin Pinassi's performance as Alex. Let me tell you something, he is brilliant. I can't imagine anyone else playing that part after watching his performance. I was hoping he'd be available for a question and answer after the screening, but he wasn't. He knocked my socks off, and I have yet too find them. The mood of the film can only be described as creepy, dark and at times, very disturbing. This is accomplished by the amazing performances, the truly unique and unpredictable direction and writing of Erik Peter Carlson, and the dream-like cinematography through the film. Carlson has a way of making you feel the film will go in one direction, but like a sly magician, takes you somewhere you never knew existed. 90 minutes into Transatlantic, there were times where I was shocked, confused and sometimes appalled by what was shown on screen, but at the same time, I was completely involved. I had no idea whatsoever what was going to happen next. By the 90 minute mark, I said to myself "I like this film". Then came the final act, which was not only a huge surprise to me, but obviously to the rest of the audience as well. There were plenty of gasps and seat shifting. At this point, I said to myself "I really like this film." I can't remember another time where there was so much discomfort in a room full of people. The lights came up as the credits rolled ...and nobody moved. I don't think a single person left until the final credit faded off the screen. At this time, the woman next to me who was with a date, muffled, "Well, that was brilliant." There's a lot to watch and understand in Transatlantic Coffee for a picture with very few characters and settings. It's very vague (which will be annoying to some) and makes you work very hard in interpreting what you just watched. This surely will not be for everybody. Don't leave upset thinking you missed something that the others in the theater caught on to - you didn't. For the ones who liked it the first time around, I guarantee you'll want to see it again so you can pick up on the small pebbles Carlson tossed around, purposely making it the task of the audience to make their way home. Some will like this challenge, others simply will not. I did.