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SUNDANCE 2007

Sundance Review: On the Road with Judas

by Alex Billington
January 29, 2007

US Release Date: Sundance Film Fest 2007
Genre: Drama
Running Time: 100 minutes
Directed by: J.J. Lask
on IMDb
2/10

On the Road with Judas is a bit of an odd film about a couple of characters, including Judas (Aaron Ruell / Eddie Kaye Thomas) who stole Macs from universities in the late 80's, his girlfriend Serra (Eleanor Hutchins / Amanda Loncar), and J.J. Lask (Kevin Corrigan), the writer of a book about Judas and his crime spree. The odd thing is that the real J.J. Lask is actually the writer and director of the movie, and is played by an actor in the film who is somewhat representing him as the writer of a book (although the book fictionalized in real life, and real in the movie). As interesting as this may seem, the film is very confusing and nearly broken, so much so that it unknowingly jumps storylines and plot points. J.J. Lask can't make up his mind about what the film is: a crime film, a biopic, a romance, a comedy, or even a talk show.

On the Road with Judas

On the Road with Judas is open to quite a bit of personal interpretation. Although I consider it to be one of the worst films of Sundance, others may find it just mystifying in its editing and completely rule-breaking structure. I found On the Road with Judas to be completely incoherent and unemotional in any way, even when it tried. It's even a bit "trippy" in an Eternal Sunshine and the Spotless Mind way, but much more irrational. It spends too much time showing still shots of evidence and objects that I suppose are somehow related, but for unnecessary reasons included. To be honest, I'd love to see what everyone has to say about this if they get a chance to see it, but I think it's a bit too troublesome and problematic to actually be watched.

On the Road with Judas

Filed under Movie Reviews, Sundance 07

From around the web:

http://www.idrawallday.com Mery Moe Condotta

Just saw this film at the Seattle Film Festival....I would have to disagree with most of the reviews I have read about 'Judas'. I thought the editing along with the casting was well thought out and inspiring. It was not entirely original, but that fact coinsides with one of the themes in the movie. It's about taking something and without anyones permission transforming it into something better than it was in the begining. two thumbs
Mia Mariposa

For me the fiilm is unconventional, however the intent was successful. I loved how JJ used actor and real. It made the film kind of fun for me. It would have been really boring to have the story line flow through one perspective. The characters are interesting and I liked the how different senarios are presented. I love films that are open for interpretation. If I wanted to see a film that was not thought provoking, I would rent a box office hit.
Jack Wilder Gibbons

Mia Mariposa and Mery Moe are friends of the JJ Lasc
Jack Wilder Gibbons

oops Lask. Also the book was self published by Lask (by Xlibris -who only turn you down if you dont have the money). He wrote his own wikipedia article as well. The man is a legend in his own mind.