SNAPSHOT
WISH I WAS HERE tells the story of Aidan Bloom, a struggling actor, husband and dad who at 35 is still trying to find his true place in life. He and his wife are barely getting by financially, and Aidan passes his time fantasising about being the futuristic Space Knight he always dreamed he’d be as a little kid.When his ailing father can no longer afford to pay for private school for his two kids, and with the only available public school on its last legs, Aidan reluctantly agrees to attempt to home-school them. The result is chaos, until Aidan decides to scrap the traditional academic curriculum and come up with his own. Through teaching them about life his way, he gradually discovers the parts of himself he couldn’t find. (synopsis via heyuguys.co.uk)
So let’s just say you’re Zach Braff, Twitter user extraordinaire, one time star of the much revered and extremely funny nine season sitcom Scrubs, and you decide that your creative muse is calling for another indie movie, borne of your writing (with brother Adam) and directing, to be made?
But this follow-up to the ineffably wonderful Garden State (2004), one of the most heartfelt and winningly original movies I’ve ever seen with one of the best soundtracks of all time (yes I’m a fan) , Wish I Was Here is a potential victim of the modern Hollywood mindset which only rewards films that are a “sure thing” with the necessary funding to get made.
So with all the money to bring what I am sure will be another emotionally resonant journey into the sublime delights of being alive, no matter how flawed or challenged that may be, into being going to the umpteenth remark of Spiderman (even if it is good which does look likely), what’s an aspiring filmmaker to do?
Why fund it via crowdfunding site Kickstarter of course, which Braff duly does, with 46,520 backers handing him $US3,105,473 (far in excess of the original goal of $2 million) to get his new project made and into cinemas.
Not without some controversy naturally since this very successful crowdfunding campaign was followed, less than a month after its completion, by the addition of some traditional funding, raising cries that he didn’t need the money from his army of fans after all.
And the ire of some disgruntled backers, not hard in this age of rage entitlement (most commonly expressed through social media), was stoked once again when the film sold at Sundance this year, where it premiered, for $US2.75 million to Focus Features, which will be releasing the film worldwide.
Leaving aside whether this vociferous protest is justified or not – Kickstarter is prevented from selling equity into the projects it is used to fund by US federal laws which means Braff is doing nothing wrong by profiting from it; as one analyst argued, you’re helping it get made, not taking a stake in its ownership – it got the movie made, with Braff’s artistic vision intact, which if the trailer is any guide, is a fine one indeed.
With Braff in the lead role as Adrian Bloom, struggling actor and existentially stressed family man, and a host of gifted actors in the other roles – think Kate Hudson, Donald Faison (his cast mate from Scrubs), Josh Gad, Parsons (The Big Bang Theory), Ashley Greene, Mandy Patinkin, Jim and Phill Lewis – and producers Michael Shamberg (who worked with him on Garden State) and Tracey Sher on board, Wish I Was Here is the end result of a considerable amount of impressive talent at work.
And it looks to have struck the right note between moving and heartfelt, and insufferably twee and diabetes-inducingly sentimental, which is always heartening since no one likes to be emotionally manipulated when they’re watching any film.
Thanks to its premiere at Sundance, we have some idea of what the film is like beyond its admittedly perfectly poised trailer with Peter Sciretta of Slash Film, who has reviewed the movie, noting that Wish I Was Here, though a more “mature” effort than Garden State, “still feels very much like a song”.
Which is a great way of describing the film since Braff has a knack for drawing together amazing artists with just the right songs to provide the soundtrack for his films with Garden State‘s collection of tunes featuring The Shins (who broke out on the basis of their inclusion on the movie’s album), Nick Drake, and Iron& Wine being so successful that it led SPIN to include it on a list of 40 Movie Soundtracks that Changed Alternative Music.
The soundtrack for Wish I Was Here is equally as impressive, notes SPIN’s Kyle McGovern in an article justifiably entitled Zach Braff’s New Soundtrack Will Probably Change Your Life, with songs by, of course, The Shins, Bon Iver and a collaborative effort by Coldplay’s Chris Martin and and Cat Power (aka Chan Marshall).
Great trailer, wonderful music, and extremely positive early reviews – Zach Braff’s Wish I was here looks to have it all in one very appealing indie movie package, making it arguably one of the must see movies of the year.
After all, there’s a very good chance it may just change your life.
Wish I Was Here opens in USA in limited release (opening wider in later weeks) on July 18 with UK getting their first chance to see it on September 19. No word on an Australian release date just yet.