SpunkySelfTwitter
It’s an especially fun movie from a director and cast who are clearly having a good time allowing themselves to let loose.
Hadrina
The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful
Marva
It is an exhilarating, distressing, funny and profound film, with one of the more memorable film scores in years,
Bob
This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.
madbandit20002000
Whether we want to admit it or not (I certainly do), anyone who's in a nowhere job wants to break out and follow their passion. "Pipe Dream", a small, quirky, rom-com indie, notes that.A NYC plumber, David Kulovic (Martin Donovan of "Saved" and "The Haunting in Connecticut) feels invisible, being fault of the city's working class and mistreated by the power elite. After being invited to the casting office of a childhood friend, RJ (Kevin Carroll), and being "wowed" by the sexy actresses who audition there, David decides to break the dividing line by pretending to be a filmmaker in order to meet some of said thespians in audition sessions. Quite the cad
He needs samples from a script, and the only scribe David knows is fellow tenant/one night stand Antonia "Toni" Edelman (sweet, smart Mary-Louise Parker of "Weeds" and "Red"), who works as a copywriter at an equities firm, a day job she despises. Finding common ground (despite a theft issue), David, RJ and Toni set up the film production of "Pipe Dream", an odd indie comedy that attracts a naive wannabe producer who puts up the budget; Hollywood power brokers and Toni's co-worker, Marliss Funt, (Rebecca Gayheart, "Urban Legend") who charms David and gets the lead female role. Toni's jealously and David's on-the-sly filmmaking skills complicates things to hilarious results.There have been a lot of "inside the entertainment biz" films, yet "Pipe Dreams" has a down-to-earth charm because it's about creative people trying to get in the "door". Though his direction's isn't too distinguished, helmer John C. Walsh has knitted a nice, durable script with co-scribe Cynthia Kaplan (who appears as an talent agent's secretary), echoing the screwball romantic comedies of the 1930s and 1940s with some modern sitcom elements.Donovan's sly underdog pairs well with Parker's straightforward, intellectual spunk; they carry the film. Everyone else's competent, but I really liked actress/writer Guinevere Turner ("The Notorious Bettie Page", "Chasing Amy" and "Dogma") as a snarky talent agent. Jill Hennessey ("Law & Order", "Crossing Jordan") has a nice cameo as an established thespian.If you have dreams of fame and prosperity, watch "Pipe Dream" on a weekend afternoon and be inspired. You'll chuckle, too.
Ruby Liang (ruby_fff)
It is a breezy comedy about identity crisis - a plumber, a screenwriter, a casting professional. Using the process/journey of making a film as the storyline, tying the various characters and relationship concerns together, "Pipe Dream" is rather amusingly fun. Watching Martin Donovan and Mary Louise Parker interact is a treat. They are both the leads in this film, front and centered. Their enjoyable pairing in supporting roles can be appreciated in w-d Brian Dannelly's "Saved!" 2004. Both appeared in Jane Campion's "Portrait of a Lady" 1996 with Nicole Kidman.Martin Donovan is a staple collaborator in Hal Hartley's films: "Amateur" 1994, "Simple Men" 1992, "Trust" 1991 (highly recommended. NFE: Not for everyone.) He's also remarkable in director Angela Pope's "Hollow Reed" 1995, about child custody situation, where Martin delivered a firm and sensitive role of a divorced father/doctor who lives with a male partner (heart-rending, excellent child performance from Sam Bould as Oliver, the 9-year old son). Donovan co-wrote (with David Koepp) and directed a film called "Apartment Zero" 1988, with Colin Firth in the lead - another NFE but for dark/psycho ventures/suspense (in Buenos Aires) if you're gamed.Mary Louise Parker is ever so marvelous and underrated. She's in w-d Jeremy Podeswa's "Five Senses" 1999 (Canadian production), Herbert Ross's "Boys on the Side" 1994 (written by Don Roos) with Whoopi Goldberg and Drew Barrymore, Jon Avnet's "Fried Green Tomatoes" 1991 with a stellar women cast.For an Asian (Hong Kong) flavor of a movie/comedy drama using process of making a film as storyline, try the forever versatile and talented Leslie Cheung in "Viva Erotica" aka "Se Qing Nan Nu" 1996.
George Parker
"Pipe Dream" tells a simple tale of a plumber (Donovan) who falls in like with a screen writer (Parker) and, using her script for phony movie auditions as a way to meet babes, ends up directing an indie which may just be the next big thing. Like so much tofu, "Pipe Dream" is bland, light, reasonably palatable, and isn't likely to win any awards for its food group. An easy-going, good natured flick with little to fault and little to praise, "Pipe Dream" makes for an enjoyable though forgettable 90 minute watch. (B-)
crystalynny
I saw this film last night at the Seattle International Film Festival, and was absolutely delighted at the wit and wry humour that this film possessed. Each of the characters is endearingly flawed - ("this person could be me") and adds a lovely human factor. I guess this film is only going to be limited in it's release initially, but seriously, if you have a chance to see it - it'll brighten your week. It's very off-the-cuff, not contrived a bit and NOTHING like your usual romantic comedy. . .The characters are actually bright and original. The screenwriter, Cynthia Kaplan, was at the screening that night, and it was very apparent that there will be much more to come from her. She has a book evidently too: "Why I'm like this". Sign me up!