Let Them Chirp Awhile (2008)

Synopsis: The post-college malaise of a group of 20-something New Yorkers is the focal point of this debut feature from writer/director Jonathan Blitstein. The two figures at the center of the film, Bobby... The post-college malaise of a group of 20-something New Yorkers is the focal point of this debut feature from writer/director Jonathan Blitstein. The two figures at the center of the film, Bobby (Justin Rice) and Scott (Brendan Sexton III), are both struggling to find a focus for their respective pursuits as Blitstein's movie begins. Bobby dreams of being a writer but can barely get a few words down on the page. Scott fails in his attempts to get a band together, dampening his dreams of becoming a musician. Both also fail in various relationships, and meet often to discuss their existential crises. Meanwhile, their friend Hart Carlton (Zack Galligan) makes a success of himself both personally and professionally, to growing resentment from Bobby, who believes Hart to be a bumbling hack. Blitstein's film is played for laughs, and owes a sizable debt to Woody Allen's earlier features. Bobby's constant pontifications on life, often delivered via an internal monologue, are frequently funny and tragic in equal measure, and the film borrows liberally from a variety of well-worn comic devices. Slapstick, silly chase sequences, and shots that zoom in and out dramatically are all deployed, allowing Blitstein to pay charming homage to the comedy features that have clearly inspired him. Rice gives a wonderfully amusing performance as Bobby--a character many fresh-out-of-college kids will find all too familiar. As a first film, LET THEM CHIRP AWHILE is an impressive achievement, with Blitstein demonstrating his talents for observational comedy, and his young cast clearly enjoying bringing his accomplished script to life. [More]

Starring: Justin Rice, Brendan Sexton, Laura Breckenridge, Zach Galligan

Starring: Justin Rice, Brendan Sexton, Laura Breckenridge, Zach Galligan

Director: Jonny Blitstein

Director: Jonny Blitstein
Producer: Jonny Blitstein, Anouk Frosch
Studio: Jonathan Blitstein Enterprises

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