This is a film about a writer, who has written a novel, that is made into a movie, in which his imaginary characters are "real" people, who are portrayed by actors, who appear on a talk show, hosted by the actual writer of the novel and the film, where they sometimes comment on the real/fictional characters they are playing.And this actually WORKS! It all makes sense because the author has a problem with reality; therefore, he reworks it through his fiction.Judas, his main character, is an underground hero, so much so that a movie is being made of his life. Lask interacts with his characters, as do the actors hired to portray them. The cerebral journey blurs the line between creator and creation, as well as reality and revised reality.If this sounds pretentious, it's not. Though the movie elevates Judas to the level of iconic legend, it does so with a wink. He and his quirky friends may be the subject of "talk show" interest, but the mundaneness and normalcy of their story is apparent. Thoroughly postmodern, the tale has simple heart at its core: since our lives rarely are what we wish them to be, sometimes we need to sustain our illusions in order to get by.For those who enjoy the intellectualism, imagery and melancholy of works such as "The Royal Tenenbaums" or "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind," this is a film worth checking out.

Buffet of excellence in movie making perhaps. I saw this film in Columbia, MO and I honestly have to say that it's one of the most innovative independent films to come out in the past few years. It's a beautifully crafted narrative that is overflowing with young talent. It seems like a really complex, trying-too-hard independent film, but it couldn't be further from that. It's actually a fun-loving hip comedy for the most part, with a solid love story going under the current.It's reassuring that movies like this are still made. Movies that are this brave and unflinching in their vision are few and far between so you better see this while it's out since it will be a while until another movie like this comes out.

This is not one of my twenty-seven favorite films, but it really is worth the watch.Having-a-plot-line wise, "On the Road with Judas" is a bit lacking, but it is cohesive with the way it was made and was intended to be. See, instead of the basic book-to-movie adaptation, the film suggests that the book (written by writer/director J.J. Lask) has already been made into a movie, and a lot of the footage is interviews with the "actors" in the "movie," as well as the "real" people whom the book was "based on". A little confusing, but it works.The "double-life" description really doesn't do the film justice.What was really interesting was the director Q&As afterward (I saw it as SIFF), for it ends up that J.J. Lask (who played the interviewer in the movie) had each of the actors read his book, and then he interviewed them, in character, improv-style. The rest of the movie was written afterward, based on what they said in the interviews.Also, Aaron Ruell is just adorable.

Just watched a Sundance showing with an appreciative audience, On Jan 23rd in Park City. The theater was crowded with a 20 something crowd eager for something different. What they got was a confusing but compelling work which blends documentary style with dramatic insight. Touching, funny and twisted themes will keep the audience puzzled but engaged. The author and director JJ Lask has taken his well received book and created a screen play that works well in the Sundance arena but may be difficult to sell to a broader audience. Great performances, original writing and editing make this otherwise hard to watch film worth the effort. The score was dense with original and contemporary work.