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Michael Idemoto, Jacqueline Kim, Eugenia Yuan, Matt Westmore, Shizuko Hoshi ... see more see more... , Kimberly-Rose Wolter , Andrew J. Turner

Four twentysomethings living in the hip L.A. suburb of Silverlake struggle with love, lust, and ennui in this independently produced feature, nominated for two 2003 Independent Spirit Awards. Taking i... read more read more...ts title from the Cure song of the same name, Charlotte Sometimes concerns the shadowy existence of Michael (Michael Idemoto) and Lori (Eugenia Yuan), next-door neighbors who form an intimate -- if sexless -- friendship. Lori, committed to her sexually carnivorous boyfriend, Justin (Matt Westmore), but more emotionally connected to Michael, tries to convince her platonic neighbor to find a girlfriend. Fed up with his unrequited love for Lori, Michael does just that, hooking up with the dark and mysterious Darcy (Jacqueline Kim). But as Michael navigates his budding romance with Darcy, jealousies erupt with the other couple, and the secrets the co-eds withhold from each other threaten to break the two relationships apart. Written, directed, and edited by first-time filmmaker Eric Byler, Charlotte Sometimes had its premiere at the 2002 South by Southwest Film Festival. ~ Michael Hastings, Rovi

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65% liked it

597 ratings

Critics

82% liked it

44 critics

R, 1 hr. 25 min.

Directed by: Eric Byler

Release Date: May 2, 2003

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DVD Release Date: September 30, 2003

Stats: 41 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (41)

  • paulsandberg
    December 30, 2010
    paulsandberg
    Charlotte Sometimes is an indie film, shot with a 20,000 budget that is a masterwork of cinematography, expertly using camera,color and lighting.

    The story involves four late 20's early 30's adults and concentrates on all the lies we tell to others and ourselves, especially ... read morein areas of the heart.

    At the center is Michael, a lonely, quiet man who inherited his uncles' home and car repair business (more that he was the last man standing than anything else, as the rest of his relatives either didn't want the business or had moved away).

    Michael has renovated the home into two apartments, so he has tenants to cover his expenses. He rents to a cohabitating couple who have been together for 10 months. In his lonliness he can hear their carnal carrying ons, which only add to his sense of detachment. He believes that he is in love with the woman, but since they are good friends, doesn't want to ruin the friendship with a confession of his feelings.

    Into this odd triangle comes another woman, Darby, who attracts not only Michael, but the male renter. What then insues revolves around betrayals and secrets, of which I'm not going to speak further.

    The beauty of this film is that we are introduced to the charactors slowly, letting the viewer learn about them, just as the other charactors on screen are learning. What is ultimately revealed is a very impressive depth to three out of the four charactors, who are all flawed, yet very real in their feelings and motivations.

    The lighting is exquisite throughout, often accentuating the mood, and the clever use of camera angles adds depth without being showy and detracting from the content.

    There is a beautifully filmed sequence that takes place outside of a cheap motel. A man's soul is brought into question, and as he enters his car to ponder what level he has sunk to, the car's interior lights slowly fade, dimming his face until he is a shadowed silhouette.

    The title of the film inferes something important, and perhaps I took the meaning in the wrong way; though it was interesting to see that, while I may have been mistaken, in a way I was not; as who we are is subject to change given who we are with and the environment that surrounds us. The person we show to others may or may not be who we truly are - the reasons for the falsehood may be medical, or perhaps just a safety net, keeping us from suffering. We think we control the spin, but in reality the spin often controls us. Charlotte Sometimes explores these boundaries with a sure hand, while leaving us to decide exactly what will happen after the film fades to black.
  • fb1144932598
    February 18, 2009
    fb1144932598
    A strange kind of love story. This left the viewer bewildered. Too much left unsaid for this viewer to be able to figure out what happened. Of this much, I am sure: there was more to this than what appeared on the surface. Deception and infidelity and longing and past loves all c... read moreombined to make this very hard to decipher. And the ending leaves things ambiguous so that we can only guess how they turned out. A beautifully shot, quiet film that leaves more questions than it answers.

View All Charlotte Sometimes Reviews

Critic Reviews

Robert Denerstein
September 26, 2003
Robert Denerstein, Denver Rocky Mountain News

May not be gripping in conventional ways, but it's daring.

Desson Thomson
August 21, 2003
Desson Thomson, Washington Post

A smartly made, hedonistic spectacle of alluring, nubile characters, sun-warmed narcissism and breathtaking color. Full Review

Megan Lehmann
August 8, 2003
Megan Lehmann, New York Post

It's a hushed work of restrained emotions, elliptical storytelling and spare dialogue, peopled with smart, authentic characters who have drawn you into their lives before you know it.

Dave Kehr
August 7, 2003
Dave Kehr, New York Times

A tiny film that reflects a large talent. Full Review

Dennis Lim
August 5, 2003
Dennis Lim, Village Voice

Whether or not it's a pose, the film's poised reticence is refreshing in context -- a rebuke to the contemporary crop of blabbermouthed American indies. Full Review

Sheri Linden
July 8, 2003
Sheri Linden, Hollywood Reporter

Eric Byler demonstrates a refreshing trust in his material and his audience, crafting a compact, intriguing drama from understated performances and a subtle visual sensibility.

Kevin Thomas
June 19, 2003
Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times

A work of the utmost subtlety and perception, it marks the outstanding feature debut of writer-director Eric Byler, who understands the power of the implicit and the virtues of simplicity and economy. Full Review

Carla Meyer
May 9, 2003
Carla Meyer, San Francisco Chronicle

A sexy, surprising romance... Idemoto and Kim make a gorgeous pair... their scenes brim with sexual possibility and emotional danger. Full Review

Roger Ebert
May 2, 2003
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Byler reveals his characters in a way that intrigues and even fascinates us, and he never reduces the situation to simple melodrama. Full Review

John Petrakis
May 1, 2003
John Petrakis, Chicago Tribune

Byler is too savvy a filmmaker to let this morph into a typical romantic triangle. Instead, he focuses on the anguish that can develop when one mulls leaving the familiar to traverse uncharted ground. Full Review

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