"The Garage" shows life as it as. The cast talked to each other rather than at each other. The viewer felt that the cast was just as interested in what the other characters in this film had to say as the audience was. This movie wasn't like many of todays' movies are, where the cast just recites lines. The writing resembled Tennessee Williams and Arthur Miller, it depicted real people in real situations.It showed life as it is, not as many want life to be. Carl Thibault, as the writer and director has raised the bar for future low budget and independent movies. The directing couldn't have been better. There wasn't an unbelievable scene in this movie.The movie flowed just as real life flows,with good and bad times. I personally thought Mr. Thibault was an older gentleman, with more years of personal life experience to draw upon, as he was able to depict in his writing and directing, more realism then most big name writers and directors with "Major credits" show in their movies. The cinematography was also very good, watching the movie one didn't feel that they were in a movie theater, but in the scene with the characters; which is where the cinematography in a movie should take its' audience, but often doesn't. "The Garage" is worthy of a major release, and Mr. Carl Thibault has proved to be deserving of attention by the film industry powers that be, as both a writer and director. I'd give this movie a higher rating but one should always feel that there is room for improvement.

My husband has a 1967 Chevy SS convertible and a 1968 Chevy Impala, and has built a garage as an appropriate temple to his icons. I have never understood why until I saw this film. Skirting devilishly close to cliché, this coming-of-age-movie never succumbs. Instead, every time you think you know what's coming, something a bit different shows up. The characters are real, their agony shared, and their interactions cause laughter and tears. The 35 mm film and natural lighting provide an appropriate texture to this real-life, grease-on-you-face experience. Watching this movie was like flipping through a scrapbook of everytown USA and spending a day in your past. Even those of us who did not grow up in a small town have small towns inside us. The music was original (nice guitar work; some really good rock) and the acting brilliant for such young actors. I wanted my husband, father and son to see it immediately.

These reviews were given by Moviegoers after recent film festival screenings...they were posted on various web-sites...I hope they don't mind me posting them here.1) I thought this movie was a great depiction of many small town people and their lives when they turn teenagers. Many are so used to being around that small net of people, that they find it difficult to pack up, leave, and follow their own dreams. The Garage does a great job at portraying the life of a kid that is stuck between leaving or staying, and the choice might seem easy to some of us, but we are able to see that it is very difficult. I truly enjoyed this film and could not take my eyes of the screen....2) This is a great movie about the relationship between a father and his adult son. It focuses on the dilemma of the son, Matt, who plans to break away from his home life and find his place in the world. Many things keep happening that keep him from leaving home. He becomes motivated to leave when his friend, who was supposed to go with him, dies. This enables the young man to decide to leave home. Through out the movie, the central theme was the father-son relationship. Not only was the main character struggling to tell his father that he wants to leave home, but, the father of his best friend is violent toward him. The end of the movie wraps this theme up in a way that I thought was unique. It ends by showing the viewer Matt's relationship with his son in the future. Although it is a bit lengthy, the movie is a delightful, yet sad, story about breaking away from the family and finding one's own path.3) The Garage. The fact that the story is a coming of age story set in 1970's small town Texas should not deter you from seeing this film. The cinematography is wonderful, the acting is great, and if you think seeing another film of this genre is close to torture, then you really should see what Carl Thibault has created, breathing fresh, new life into the genre. This film took the SoCal award for Best Screenplay – catch this film at a festival near you to see why…4) This film succeeds on so many levels, it is difficult to review. Perhaps it is best to start with what it does not do. While telling an "every town" coming-of-age story, the film never succumbs to cliché. Somehow it invokes the "automobile as vehicle of redemption" in such a visceral, physical way that you can smell the grease and feel it on your skin. The same film on video would have been a disappointment. The grain of the film itself adds texture. I immediately thought of a dozen people from three generations who I feel need to see this movie--for the simple but heartrending truths it tells, for the reminiscences it stirs, for the music (original and fantastic), and for the acting (surprising given the youth of the actors). Bravo--an American classic.5) Saw this feature film at a festival in CA earlier this year. I really enjoyed it. Growing up in a small town, I could definitely relate to the main character and what was pushing/pulling him. For me, there was something nostalgic about the viewing experience. In my mind, this film is deserving of its many accolades. Bravo indeed.6) Writer/Director Carl Thibault has made a really good film. I just watched this movie at the San Joaquin Film Festival and it blew me away. The basic story is not new. Set in a small town in Texas in the late 70s, the main character, Matt, must make the most important choice of his life. He can stay buried in the going-nowhere job of mechanic in his father's run-down auto repair garage or he can escape to the outside world and rise above the dead end life he's destined for. This film is beautifully photographed, acted, directed, written, edited, and scored. It never has that feel of low budget. Thibault's excellent film is independent cinema at its best. I actually give this picture 4 and a half stars. (out of 5 stars)

Just watched the movie at the LONG ISLAND INTERNATIONAL FILM EXPO on Long Island, New York. What a great film! More films should be made like this one. Audiences wait for a movie like this to hit the screen as it gives them a reason to feel a film, instead of just watching one. I really enjoyed the story and the depth of the characters. I learned after the film that it was semi-autobiographical of the writer/director Carl Thibault. I also learned that this was his first film, and what a way out of the gate! His direction was flawless and the performances he got from his ensemble cast came together to execute a story that was truly heartfelt! The photography alone is a reason to see this film!