I will admit, having went to school with the creative mind behind the entire film (whom starred in it as well) I did my best to go in with a clean slate and not let my anticipation and discussions on the film with Jordan Hodges skew my thoughts at all. With that disclaimer of sorts let me dive into what I thought of Sand Castles...warning may contain what some consider spoilers.
Primary Cast & Crew
Jordan Hodges --- as Noah Daly
Anne Winters --- as Lauren Daly
Randy Spence --- as Tommy Daly
Saxon Trainer --- as Marie Daly
Daniella Grace --- as Alison Paige
Scott Jemison --- as Detective Cloud
Clint Howard --- as Todd Carlson
Clenét Verdi-Rose --- Director
Chris Nickin --- Producer
Jordan Hodges --- Screenwriter & Producer
The Story
A gritty and intricate tale around the cornfields of small-town Indiana. Noah and his poverty-stricken family wrestle with the mysterious return of his now mute sister Lauren, who was kidnapped and held captive for over a decade.
~sandcastlesfilm.com
Some films are predictable. Some films glaze over the top of hard topics. Some films make difficult situations seem clean and smooth. Some films refuse to expose the harsh realities of life. Some films lose sight of honesty. Some films...are not Sand Castles.
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| Tommy, Noah & Marie Daly |
It's true, perhaps knowing how long Jordan worked on this script I went in expecting or almost searching for the layers in the movie, but that is how I am - I appreciate stories with depth and layers which the more they get peeled back the harder it is to remove ourselves from the story. Sand Castles story is just that. It's a story of anger, hopelessness, vengeance-but also-family, hope, honesty and love...all ingeniously delivered in a way that keeps your attention the whole way through.
For that ability I must give a most notable nod to Jordan for writing it, Clenét Verdi-Rose for directing it and Chris Nickin (and Jordan) for producing it. The ability to capture such realism, authenticity and true feelings one would expect to witness in real life is not something so easily accomplished. Hollywood fails at this far too often feeling they must always do the cookie cutter films or picture perfect endings to films they forget life is harsh, honest and real at times and Sand Castles captures this aspect we all know so well.
I am a huge fan of symbolism and meaning of things and I must admit the title Sand Castles is just simply awesome. Some who view it may feel it is merely a gesture to the castle young Noah Daly and his sister are playing around the day his sister is kidnapped...but in my opinion it plays a much bigger symbolism. Sand is not meant to be built into something and takes water and lots of time to be able to craft it into something...but in one swift moment wind, rain or a wave can wash it all away. Such a beautiful way of representing what the film portrays, which in many ways is the glory days and dark days a family can go through.
The Acting
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| Jordan Hodges as Noah Daly |
Everyone is always quick to point to the acting for whether a film fails or not, and while it is true bad acting can override a good script I feel that an amazing script can transcend nearly any kind of casting. The good news is the cast of Sand Castles did the script and story justice...and then some. The mind behind the script, Jordan Hodges, took the lead and not surprisingly did so masterfully. Now I did get a sense of lines being forced or almost contrived early in the film from his character but I feel that was for two reasons, neither point to bad acting at all though.
#1- I think it took a moment for my mind to wrap up in the story and not be watching someone I know on the big screen.
#2 - As the movie unwound its layers more and more you began to see Noah's character and what he was internally dealing with, causing him to at times seem distant, detached or "forced".
So when you see it if you get the same feeling, keep watching and you will quickly realize it wasn't bad acting it actually was great acting...we are too used to the smoothness of movies in the industry where there is a fear to show genuine real to life type actions. Not every person in this life are smooth or fluid with their emotions or words...Noah (Jordan Hodges) is a prime example of this. Jordan has received the nod for Best Actor in a Leading Role from various film festivals for his portrayal of Noah Daly.
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| Lauren Daly left at the local diner. |
For me though the acting done by Anne Winters was what caught my eye and wrapped me into the story's depths the most. As you will see Anne's character, Lauren Daly, is mute for a large majority of the film...so voice inflection, word choice and volume were not something she could utilize to construct a believable character for the audience, however from the opening scene Lauren's character is believable and drags you into the story no matter how detached from it you may be. Anne truly had to act through every eye movement, hand position, stance and posture she displayed to portray the injured character she played.
I thought Maxon Trainer did a bang up job of making her character both hated for her alcoholism but drew sympathy from the audience as a mother who could not cope with tragedy in a healthy way...the ability to deliver a character audience both hate and love is worthy of high praise justly so seeing as how she has received nominations for Best Actress in a Supporting Role by various film festivals.
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| Randy Spence as Tommy Daly |
While I won't go into detail for the others I did feel Randy Spence captured the character of Tommy Daly wonderfully, I was disgusted and drawn to him at the same time. Daniella Grace portrayal of Alison Paige is in my opinion one of the best cast roles in the movie and fit together perfectly. Scott Jemison as Detective Cloud nailed it and the Clint Howard's supporting role as the mechanic Todd Carlson was perfect!
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| Clint Howard as Todd Carlson captured by the talented Ryan Hodges |
The Negative
Yes, I know how can there be a full section for negative things about Sand Castles after all that I have shared here? Well, the few things I am about to say is more about my personal views on things than stating the movie was lacking let me make that clear. I do feel the intentions of the the story and portrayal of it were done masterfully however there are a few things you should be aware of.
If you, like myself, are a Christian whose religious views make up who you are and how you handle things just know this film will depict in some ways how your life could look, if you do not rely on God through tough times. Saxon Trainer's character, Marie (mother) Daly shows what going to the bottle instead of God can do...Tommy Daly what can happen should you go to drugs or entrench yourself in vengeance...Mr. Daly what can happen should you simply lose all hope. The movie captures real life things that can cause someone to lose footing, perhaps in a way that is so brutally honest everything in the movie does point you to the fact none of these things are the answer...so what is?
In the movie the undeniable love that Noah has for his whole family is the crucial cog that keeps the family alive...to which I would simply say, "We love because he first loved us" -1 John 4:19. So is it a negative that God is not brought into the picture...to some yes, however at the same moment I feel God was in a way present. The reliance on love in the movie depicts something [love] which only exists because He first loved us. Love is not man made but God made so in that sense the movie does depict God just perhaps not in the most transparent of ways as some of us like to see.
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| Another shot from Sand Castles |
I love family friendly films, this however as mentioned is something which is raw, gritty and honest. Somethings in life are not pretty, subtle or pleasant so in capturing those things obviously it is not a film you should take your young children too, and perhaps even screen first for children middle-school or higher depending on your personal opinions.
Also the auditory sex (nothing shown) with Tommy Daly was not necessary to develop his character, the same thing could have been accomplished with simply implying the sex had occurred.
So were those true negatives...no...but still worth pointing out.
In Closing
The film simply put is honest and great.
The script was mastered by the actors/actresses, producers, directors and anyone else who had a hand in its inception, development and delivery. It was utterly refreshing to have a film not be predictable, not wrapped up with a pretty little bow and carry that authentic feeling Hollywood so often fails at creating (because it can't be artificially created).
Throughout my viewing and then thinking on the film I could not help but think some messages I shared with Jordan a while back in which he shared the following statement:
...I can honestly say I am living my dream by now, I am not where I want to be professionally, not by a long shot. But I am happy, I feel like I am on the path God wants me on -- I don't know how -- but maybe that's how God talks to ya, what we call our "gut feeling".
Brother, no matter where your road leads you to, Sand Castles was something amazing which will last a lifetime...and that "gut feeling" you sense may be God talking to you - do not stop listening to it. Always keep your nose to the grindstone but a keen ear open for God, you never know what He may want you to do next. Just stay humble and grounded and I have a feeling this is just the beginning of your journey!
Last but not least....make sure to stay/watch through the credits...just sayin'.
**I will also acknowledge that I am not a professional writer or reviewer of films...so take my thoughts for what they are: simply a man sharing his thoughts is all.
