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The Battle of Shaker Heights - 8/22/03 - PG-13 - 90m
Shia
LaBeouf - Kelly Ernswiler
Elden Henson - Bart Bowland
Amy Smart -Tabby Bowland
Director: Efram Potelle & Kyle Rankin
Screenplay by: Erica Beeney
Studio: Miramax
Official
Website
LYN
Finally, A "Project Geenlight" film I got to see. 
You have to understand my disappointment last season after watching the
entire show, only to find that I was never getting the opportunity to
view the end result. Bummer. But in that regard: how bad must have Pete
Jones' "Stolen Summer" been if it managed to never see the light
of silver screen? Then maybe, "Bummer" is too harsh. Still,
I'd like to see the film, especially after viewing the process involved
to get there.
But, once again, the saga begins: "Project Greenlight 2". Near
it's conclusion I almost thought this film might suffer the same fate
as it's predecessor, and fade into obscurity. Thankfully the movie was
to be released to first a limited market, then to wider (but still limited)
viewing area. Philadelphia was fortunately one of cities, but apparently
only one theater. Now that's a limited release.
Anyway, enough about my trials and tribulations…
The movie itself was a cute and charming little story about 17 year old
Kelly Ernswiler, with of course, a 17 year old's problems. However the
shining light in the film was the performance of the actor who played
him, Shia LaBeouf. With perfect timing, he delivered writer Erica Beeney's
humorous lines flawlessly. It was a truly a pleasure to watch. Bravo!
The film had its holes of course, but after viewing the process that spawned
it, I felt fortunate enough in the fact that I at least got to see it.
But taken for what it was, it is a good film.
I also enjoyed it on another level, knowing that it was trying to keep
in mind the spirit and ideals of an independent film…staying true
to writer's vision. I know that the vision got blurry along the way especially
after watching the "Project Greenlight" series. Beings it wasn't
an Indie or had corporate to answer to, plus a tag team duo of directors
with their own slightly different interpretation of the writer's vision.
Anyway, I hope you're given the chance to see this film, and if for no
other reason than to keep the suggestion alive that a show like "Project
Greenlight" is a good thing, in that they give young and talented
writers and directors the possibility to make their art come alive, and
in which we may otherwise never get to see, and unfortunately miss.
Lyn
