Nicky's Birthday Camera (2007) User Reviews

Undeniably Powerful

[wggl727 · 9/10 · 11 May 2007]

Flew down to BendFilm Festival to see a friend's film, and everyone was talking about "Nicky's Birthday Camera." It had just had its first screening, sold out, and the word on the street was "I can't tell you anything-go see it!". I pulled some strings and snagged a ticket. Glad I did! What a great little film. Just what Indie is all about. Have you wondered what Robert Hays has been doing since "Airplane" !? Apparently, producing and starring in edgy, unique little movies like this one. First time director, Andrew J. Traister, does a tight job of keeping this odd and disturbing trip into the dark side of reality TV on track. Takes a while to get going, like any mystery, but when it does, hang on. Totally sucker-punched the breath out of the theater. Sexy, unflinching, and original. Good acting throughout (makes you forget its a "movie"), great DP, cool original music-I'd buy the soundtrack. I can't tell you anything more-go see it!

wolf in sheep's clothing!

[freezfram · 10/10 · 17 June 2007]

OK, cut to the chase. I see a ton of little indie films. I love them. And I love that I can walk from one theater where I just saw SPIDERMAN 3 (disappointing and bloated), into a theater where there's this film with a stupid (but perfect) name, that I know nothing about, and I walk out of THAT film going YEAH! THAT'S WHY I LOVE MOVIES! It starts out slowly.It's flawed and imperfect. But it's pretty and goofy, and there are chicks in bikinis, and the music's good (Gregg Sarfaty of STEWBOSS), and it's funny.Some great writing. Mostly TV actors, but everyone's good. This movie ain't what you think it's gonna be. But with the right marketing, somebody could make some dough off this little diamond. It's the best use of video since THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT, but it's a much better film. I caught it in Brooklyn at BIFF, and I can't believe some smart distributor isn't gonna scoop it up. It looks a little European (Bergman?) in a good way,feels a little Lars von Tiers, and has a John Sayles vibe...until it twists and turns you inside out. Really as surprising as SIXTH SENSE, USUAL SUSPECTS, THE CRYING GAME. But on a different level: like a home movie or a documentary. Really, I've seen a lot of films lately TRYING to do what this one DOES. And without any attitude...it's very authentic. I loved it. It should be at every festival. Maybe the best Indie in years. It feels very fresh and unaffected. Don't underestimate it though: this movie may look like a flyweight, but it hits like Mike Tyson. Not for kids due to language and subject matter. Very unique little film. Just what I needed to offset the summer studio stupidity deluge.

Wish I made this Film

[riverzreel · 17 June 2007]

Caught this tiny flic on a rec from Amigos in Brooklyn. Genius. In a nutshell, simple story of a kid with a cam making a home movie and catching a lot of people in trouble. Not for action freaks or the ADD-riddled. Awesome storytelling: simple and smart. Makes you laugh, cry, get turned on, and disgusted in almost successive heartbeats. Feels like a doc, (see a lot of that lately) but this one rises above. Good actors. Good music. But it's really the execution of this premise by the director and DP that makes this baby rock. Clever use of multiple cameras, vid speeds, and Final Cut. Beautiful location. Wish I'd made the thing: obviously low-budget but should be in every video store and on TV forever. Best truly Indie film I've seen in years.

"Reality" fiction

[sharonullrick · 9/10 · 16 June 2007]

The sadly under-promoted and ill-attended 2007 Brooklyn International Film Festival did introduce us to "Nicky's Birthday Camera," and for that we are grateful. The look, performances and impact of this "little film" belie the modest budget and vividly showcase the talent involved. The acting ensemble is uniformly excellent (including some first-time young performers). The quality of the filming is first-rate; and the storytelling device – a film within a film – is extremely effective and seductively draws one into an increasingly suspenseful plot line. An impressive film debut for longtime theatre director Andrew J. Traister. Hope this film becomes available on DVD.

powerful and surprising

[sunnysky1268 · 9/10 · 8 May 2007]

I saw this film at its World Premiere at BENDFILM (a great festival) and it was the surprise of the festival: long lines, sold out screenings, and two encore screenings (also sold out). I see lots of indies (my passion) and this movie is what its all about: unpredictable, smart, unflinching, controversial, and made for a dime. The acting is terrific from the amateurs to people you'll recognize. Beautiful photography and excellent original music. After it ended, it was as if a bomb had exploded in the theater-people were so stunned! There was an uncomfortable silence, and then the place erupted. Some hated it, some loved it. Count me definitely in the latter. People argued, yelled, and cried at the Q and A after...Seriously! If you only see formula, studio-type films...you'll probably hate it. But if you want to go for a crazy ride that starts like your own home movies, and then sneaks, and finally SLAMS you down a rabbit hole, see it! I would have given it a 10, but it starts a little slow... I guess it has to. Can't tell you much about it without spoiling it. A little John Sayles. A little David Lynch, maybe. Moves into a documentary kind of feel (CAPTURING THE FRIEDMAN'S) comes to mind...and a little BLAIR WITCH-oh- my- god! Didn't see THAT coming!

drunk men + underage girls= trouble in River City

[nyfilmdog · 9/10 · 17 June 2007]

I saw this movie (twice) at BIFF in Brooklyn. I didn't know anything about it, and I must say it caught me by surprise. It was a very small audience and I met the filmmakers:very cool and smart people. For the first time, I want to go out and tell everyone SEE THIS MOVIE! Not that it's big, or glamorous,or the greatest movie ever made. But it's exactly what independent films should be. It sucks you in like quicksand. At first, I was like "this is a frickin' home movie! What's up with that?" The music, the photography, the acting all work together perfectly to make you think it's a really simple film. But it's not. NICKY'S BIRTHDAY CAMERA makes you laugh right up until the minute it makes you cry...and that's only the beginning. It gets weird, man! But it's totally unpretentious. It's not a filmmakers film. It's not hip or slick or cool. There's no nudity, but it's totally sexual. There's a very small scene of minor violence, but it absolutely knocks you on your ass. It's like some midwestern, or Scandinavian family reunion that goes...well, wrong. This movie could make a ton of money in the right hands. Let's hope it happens. And as a woman, just let me say, few things could make me feel more than the things in this movie. By the end, I didn't know what to feel-but I couldn't stop feeling. Wow...

Sleeper Hit of the Year

[flmfester · 10/10 · 17 June 2007]

BROOKLYN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL: A little disappointed at Tribeca, popped into BIFF to see Marco and Mario's always eclectic program, and this little gem floored me. For 15 minutes, this is a really sweet little movie...then, hold on! A simple idea, any film student could come up with. The diff? As Hitchcock said : STORY, STORY, STORY. This film's story unfolds BRILLIANTLY and surprises at every turn. Writers Kurt Larson (ALPHA GEEK) and long- time character actor John Walcutt (TITANIC, LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE, and currently Jennifer Love Hewitt's shadowy nemesis on GHOST WHISPERER) take you on a ride that's like the Family Channel on a bad drunk...complete with uber-nice-guy Robert Hays (AIRPLANE! LONG JOURNEY HOME), who uses his still boyish charm like an infecting poisonous gas. Hays also produces (with Sheri Hellard) and, along with first-time director Andrew J. Traister, they have a flawless eye for performances. From Walcutt, who turns in one of those Jeff Bridges-type performances that hold a movie together but never get noticed, to Jamie McShane (DEADWOOD, THE NINE) who matches him step by treacherous step, all the way down to newcomers Aubrey A. Macker, sexy-brat Samantha Alarcon, and Brian Lee Franklin-who will have you thinking like you did if you saw Hillary Swank for the first time in BOYS DON'T CRY ("Is that actor REALLY...?"), and rising star James Molina, the acting is terrific. Props to everyone involved. Note to Sony Pictures Classics: PLEASE! For most real adults, this movie is WAY more scary and threatening than HOSTEL or SAW.