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Skills Like This

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Skills Like This (2009)

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Reviews Counted:26

Fresh:15

Rotten:11

Average Rating:5.8/10

Consensus: Though Skills Like This has little to distinguish, director Monty Miranda shows flashes of wit and talent.

Rated: Not Rated

Runtime: 88 mins

Genre: Comedies

Theatrical Release:Mar 20, 2009 Limited

Synopsis: An indie festival-circuit favorite, SKILLS LIKE THIS follows struggling writer Max (Spencer Berger) into a life of crime. He finds robbery to be his true calling after his play, THE ONION DANCE,... An indie festival-circuit favorite, SKILLS LIKE THIS follows struggling writer Max (Spencer Berger) into a life of crime. He finds robbery to be his true calling after his play, THE ONION DANCE, not only bombs, it puts his investor grandfather in the hospital. On a whim, he robs a bank and miraculously gets away with it. Everything seems predetermined that he should enter a life of crime (he gives the money away, Robin Hood-style), but then romance blooms with the cute bank teller (Kerry Knuppe) he robbed, and she tries to talk him into going straight. Meanwhile, his two aiding and abetting buddies have differing views on this newfound profession: the one who actually has a life, David (Gabriel Tigerman), is nervous about the risks, while the loud-mouthed lout in the bunch, Tommy (Brian D. Phelan), is impressed enough to think about actually getting a job. In director Monty Miranda's hands, the Denver locale blossoms into slacker heaven, with local indie-rock bands livening up the soundtrack and flashy editing recalling films like SNATCH and GOODFELLAS. Co-screenwriters and stars Berger and Tigerman imbue the film with just enough raunch and rolling-on-the-floor moments to keep the party alive, but not enough to sabotage the more serious elements, like Berger and Knuppe's genuinely touching onscreen chemistry. [More]

Starring: Spencer Berger, Gabriel Tigerman, Brian D. Phelan, Kerry Knuppe

Starring: Spencer Berger, Gabriel Tigerman, Brian D. Phelan, Kerry Knuppe, Ned Bellamy, Marta Martin, Jennifer Batter

Director: Monty Miranda

Director: Monty Miranda
Screenwriter: Spencer Berger
Story: Spencer Berger, Gabriel Tigerman
Producer: Donna Dewey, Tim Gray, Brian D. Phelan, Paul Aaron, Rock Obenchain
Composer: Andy Monley
Studio: Shadow Distribution

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Release:

Sep 29, 2009

[DVD Details]
 
 

DVD Features:

  • Region 1
  • Keep Case
  • Full Frame - 1.33
 
 
 
 

Reviews for Skills Like This

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1 - 20 (sorted by source)
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The casting is unique, the acting able, and the camera work expert.

Full Review Source: Austin Chronicle | comment Comment
03/30/09
Joe O'Connell
Joe O'Connell
Austin Chronicle

It almost works, too, though ultimately this visually splendid but sluggish story of a twentysomething would-be writer and his impulsive, overnight career as a bank and convenience-store robber takes the money and runs nowhere.

Full Review Source: Austin Chronicle | comment Comment
04/17/09
Marc Savlov
Marc Savlov
Austin Chronicle

The movie devolves into a series of increasingly pat, ill-thought-out setpieces, presided over by a hero who can’t really sell sincerity while he’s sporting three-day stubble and a massive jewfro.

Full Review Source: AV Club | comment 1 Comment
03/19/09
Noel Murray
Noel Murray
AV Club

The writing is economically witty.

Full Review Source: Boxoffice Magazine | comment Comment
03/20/09
Matthew Nestel
Matthew Nestel
Boxoffice Magazine

It'll be intriguing to see where Miranda goes from here.

Full Review Source: Dallas Morning News | comment Comment
05/08/09
Cary Darling
Cary Darling
Dallas Morning News

Director Miranda shows real skill here.

Full Review Source: Denver Post | comment Comment
04/17/09
Lisa Kennedy
Lisa Kennedy
Denver Post

The movie is so well made that it’s hard not to like this often funny movie regardless whether one takes the story too seriously.

Full Review Source: Entertainment Insiders | comment Comment
04/01/09
Jonathan W. Hickman
Jonathan W. Hickman
Entertainment Insiders

Adding to the glut of slacker-loser comedies, Skills Like This isn't particularly good or bad, just very average.

Full Review Source: Film Journal International | comment Comment
03/19/09
Eric Monder
Eric Monder
Film Journal International

It works here, however, thanks largely to the strength of Berger’s performance and the way the movie’s familiar “follow your heart” message is diluted by a goofy subplot involving David trying to help Tom find gainful employment.

Full Review Source: Film Threat | comment Comment
03/30/09
Film Threat

A quirky little film that relies heavily on charm to make up for some rather glaring flaws in story, pacing and character. Fortunately, it has charm to spare.

Full Review Source: IGN Movies | comment Comment
04/01/09
Cindy White
Cindy White
IGN Movies

Energetic if incoherent.

Full Review Source: Los Angeles Times | comment Comment
04/03/09
Robert Abele
Robert Abele
Los Angeles Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

A slick and clean cut piece of slacker comedy with great production and a fun sound track but sadly lacking in edginess.

Full Review Source: Monsters and Critics | comment Comment
03/29/09
Ron Wilkinson
Ron Wilkinson
Monsters and Critics

Berger and director Monty Miranda would have been better off concentrating on the Max-Lucy love affair and Max's nonviolent, petty crimes instead of throwing in Max's two best buddies and their efforts to reinvent themselves.

Full Review Source: New York Post | comment Comment
03/20/09
V.A. Musetto
V.A. Musetto
New York Post

Skills Like This gazes indulgently on 20-something aimlessness and the comfort of assigned roles. In Mr. Miranda’s hands sloth can be more appealing than you might think.

Full Review Source: New York Times | comment Comment
03/20/09
Jeannette Catsoulis
Jeannette Catsoulis
New York Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

As charming an offbeat romantic comedy as anybody could hope to make on a micro-budget.

Full Review Source: NewsBlaze | comment Comment
03/26/09
Kam Williams
Kam Williams
NewsBlaze

Despite stylish editing, lively performances and some effervescent dialogue, Skills Like This eventually becomes insipid, tedious, inane and a bit lackluster.

Full Review Source: NYC Movie Guru | comment Comment
03/21/09
Avi Offer
Avi Offer
NYC Movie Guru

This likable indie comedy fails to completely get off the ground.

Full Review Source: Projection Booth | comment Comment
03/20/09
Rob Humanick
Rob Humanick
Projection Booth

SKILLS LIKE THIS has a lot to offer, reminding us of the adage that the cheapest way to improve a film is with solid writing.

Full Review Source: rec.arts.movies.reviews | comment Comment
03/10/09
Mark R. Leeper
Mark R. Leeper
rec.arts.movies.reviews

Berger appears to be a potential breakout talent, turning a character who could be endlessly irritating into an oddly charming, self-effacing rogue.

Full Review Source: Salon.com | comment Comment
03/30/09
Andrew O'Hehir
Andrew O'Hehir
Salon.com
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Overall, it's less clever than [director] Miranda seems to think.

Full Review Source: San Francisco Chronicle | comment Comment
04/10/09
Walter V. Addiego
Walter V. Addiego
San Francisco Chronicle
 
 
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