Timbertown

In the Ohio River region of southern Indiana, three people's lives intersect after the death of a hypocritical pastor: A hardworking logger from a struggling family, a Department of Natural Resources officer looking for more action and a grieving widow. "Timbertown" (2019) is a psychological crime drama Indie reminiscent of the tone of "Winter's Bone" (2010), albeit not as dismal due to its inherent spirituality linked to the book of Ecclesiastes. There are even flashes of low-key humor. Similar flicks include "The River King" (2005), "Snow Angels" (2007), "Frozen River" (2008), "The Drowning" (2016) and, in some ways, "Rust Creek" (2018). Such movies deal with the mundaneness of life in rural areas of the Midwest or Eastern America with usually a crime element; but they all depict the tedium of everyday life and the testing of character in one hardship or another. I point this out because some viewers might not appreciate the realistic, even tedious portrayal of everyday life. This one's refreshing because, while it honestly illustrates the challenges of life that we can all relate to-providing for your family, seeking respect or love, the pursuit of meaning, grief, the burden of guilt and need for redemption-it never descends into unrelenting bleakness, like "Winter's Bone" and bits of "Snow Angels." There's an artistic flashback sequence in the second half that's done to classical music with no dialogue whatsoever. Although it's arguably overlong, it's well done and I didn't have a problem with it. The sequence is creative and smacks of originality, but I couldn't help think of bits in "2001: A Space Odyssey" and "Watchmen," although in those movies the sequences aren't flashbacks and they're shorter. The film runs 1 hours, 30 minutes, and was shot in southern Indiana not too far from the Ohio River and, specifically, Washington County (which is a 20-25 minute drive from Louisville, Kentucky, to the southeast). GRADE: A-/B+

From the ecclesiastical transient to the symbolic four seasons, there is a genius to Timbertown. Though I think parts of the film will be a little slow for some people I think the film is well done. I loved what they were trying to do with the four seasons part, but it was too long. It would have been more effective if it was shorter. The characters are eccentric but not overdone. I especially liked the contrast between the transient and DNR officer Pearson. Cory Kays was excellent and could have had more screen time. All and all a solid indie film that might not be for everyone, but those who get it will get it.

I probably initially chose this movie bc I'm a tree trimmer\remover so I definitely appreciated the beautiful felling scenes and how everything was very realistic as far as lumberjacking. The story took some time to develop because it takes time to properly develop the main characters of a good movie. I loved the rambling homeless guy because he spoke the truth like you'd expect to hear in church, opposite of what you get in the media anymore. I loved all the characters and how all my questions get answered in the end by the homeless wise guy. It's also cool to learn that the director plays the lumberjack.

It's horrible. I only watched about fifteen minutes and had to call it quits. The two guys in the gas station was the final straw. They were eating scrambled eggs........in a gas station. Notice the line about "blue blazes." That doesn't make any sense!

Okay, so it's probably never won an Oscar, but any indie film that can combine Shakespeare with murder, logging and rambunctious rednecks deserves a few minutes of your time. If you never spent time in Poedunk, America, you might enjoy it for the Lampoon, but those with relatives in far away places like Timbertown will find much cause to nod smile and chuckle. It's funny 'cause it's true! Insight and wisdom? Sure, served up like premium beef ground into cheeseburgers! Solid cast. Captivating dialog. Fine cinematography. This film is definitely worth your time (even though they ain't got no marijuana)!

Decided to watch despite the reviews. I personally liked the sound track, and found Timbertown a good watch. It's slow paced and shot in stark realism similar to Joe, Winter's Bone, and Simple Plan. It is a Christian movie, and that fact is not hidden- the movie is based on the Biblical book of Ecclesiastes. The movie is sort of in segments, the second being set to Vivaldi's Four Seasons. I thought it was well done. Yes there are a couple of oddball scenes, like the incredibly moronic punk kids at the diner and the breastfeeding hillbillies, but who doesn't like quirky characters.

The movie started out pretty good. A little slow but the dialogue was good. I really enjoyed the character of the officer - his philosophical, Shakespeare quoting personality was quite fun. But, the movie totally lost its way when it came to the couple meeting and falling in love. For some reason, the filmmakers decided viewers didn't need to hear dialogue between them and chose to just have violin music as the background of their entire story. You get the gist of their story but miss out on the way they speak and interact with each other. So, it feels like an entirely different movie that what it was in the beginning. And the movie kind of rambles along to the end. It is a shock to see how the pastor is really killed. I mean jaw-dropping, but the movie just feels kind of lost after this. Like they're not sure how to finish it up. The majority of the actors were good, characters likeable (except the victim who is really despicable) the cinematography is good, too. But the way the story is put together is convoluted. Sad because it could have been really good.

This movie was disappointing. The first two chapters were interesting, but it feel apart at the start of the third chapter, as it became something of a musical number that got annoying rather quickly. The audio in this movie was horrible, as it was hard to hear the characters speak clearly in large portions. I gave it a 5, just because some comedic bits I found myself laughing at, like the gas station and the part where this woman is breastfeeding her baby and because the logging scenes were well thought out.

I don't usually write reviews, but I had to make an exception for this piece of crap. It looked really promising in the beginning; I like movies about the outdoors, nature, farming, wilderness exploration, etc.,and the photography was good. But it turned out to be an evangelical Christian movie that looked like it was produced by an undergraduate film school class. The classical (public domain) music was a testament to how low budget it was. And I laughed out loud at the scene where a non-drinking woman downs a whole bottle of vodka, and is perfectly fine then next day (clinically, she would be be dead, or close to it). And she is only Black person in town, of course. In the end, everybody finds Jesus. WTF????

I couldnt understand nor hear the beginning words that were spoken!! And it was slow..slow slow dialect!! The actors were like first time acting or something!! Sorry..not sorry!!