Yesterday Was a Lie
E1 Entertainment (www.e1homevideo.com)
89 minutes plus extras
Rated: PG
$24.98 (DVD)
Available April 6
Grade: 3 stars (out of 4)
Writer-director James Kerwin has constructed — rather, deconstructed — the most complex and thought-engendering time-travel movie in a long time. Yesterday Was a Lie is a science-fiction and noir film, but it’s also in large part a philosophical contemplation on the possibilities of existence and time. Whatever genre(s) you deem it part of, you’ll want to watch it more than once in order to better grasp the whole picture. Fortunately, it’s a good movie worth the effort.
Beyond Kerwin’s talents, there are also the talents of lead actor Kipleigh Brown and supporting actor Chase Masterson. Brown’s stereotypical jaded gumshoe, Hoyle, takes a little while to warm up to, meaning she plays the role well. Chase Masterson steals the show as The Singer, the mysterious torch-song bearer who seems to have a connection with Hoyle. To say more would be to both spoil and confuse.
Ditto the supporting cast. Mike Scriba is excellent in his limited screentime as Hoyle’s sidekick/partner. Peter Mayhew has no speaking lines and even less screen time, but his appearance — long hair, haggard appearance, trenchcoat, to name a few elements — makes him stand out in a mysterious (there’s that word again) and creepy way.
Also, perhaps it goes without saying, but given the nature of the movie, the fact that this is a PG-rated movie does not mean it’s for kids. It’s not. Children will be utterly lost, and adolescents likely will be, too.
The extras are interesting enough, especially the interviews with the cast. The inclusion of an 8-page sample of the comic-book adaptation — the filmmakers know their target audience, not surprisingly — is also interesting, but not particularly compelling.
The non-linear action, the denouement, and the argument against the valid existence of either of these factors fill up the 80 minutes of this metaphysical-oriented movie and then some. Yesterday Was a Lie is a dense and entertaining film suited more for those who appreciate hardcore science fiction than those looking for a sci-fi fix.
Ray Sidman is a former associate editor and longtime reviewer for Comics Buyer’s Guide. Read his reviews in CBG each month.
(Image (c)2010 E1 Entertainment)
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