Review of Clare's "Guy in Row Five" - by Gloriana
FROM:
http://movies.groups.yahoo.com/group/Clare-Emilie-Michelle

We didn't really know what to expect from the
downloaded 871 MB (913 MB on a hard drive)
"Guy in Row Five" that film producer/director
Jon Stewart personally invited us via e-mail
to review:

http://movies.groups.yahoo.com/group/Clare-Emilie-
Michelle/message/1883
from:
http://www.cinequestonline.org/2005/theater/viewers_voice.php

We'd seen Clare in her mystery/drama "Skulls III"(2004)
where she dominates the entire movie as a clever, athletic
law student.

GIRF, though, is a comedy.

Film site direct links:
http://guyinrowfive.com/
http://guyinrowfive.com/summary.htm
http://guyinrowfive.com/thecast.htm
http://guyinrowfive.com/bios/clarebio.htm
http://guyinrowfive.com/assets/images/poster-big.jpg
http://guyinrowfive.com/trailer%20main.htm

It essentially is a cinema verite day in the life
of rich guy Thess (Bobby Field) and his girl friend Rose (Clare
Kramer). They are making a documentary movie of what he believes
is the day he gets his first Hollywood part.

While Tony runs the camera, Thess & Rose wander about L.A.
capturing themselves and people in restaurants and elsewhere
into the documentary.

Clare's Rose is clad most of the time in a green top and a matching
plaid Catholics School girl's short skirt. Her job is to handle the
sound boom for all the various players they get into the documentary.

In addition to themselves, of course.

She takes the job of girlfriend and chief boom operator seriously.

The dialog Clare has is great. She's constantly suggesting,
commenting or discussing what's going on.

In Clare's recognizably natural voice, with her unique & pleasing
inflections we first commented about in the UK, and later
in Toronto & in Columbus in 2004.

This film is like spending a day with Clare in Columbus or Toronto
all over again.

And Rose turns out to be the stronger of the two main characters.

She is in the bulk of the film's scenes except for a prologue and
epilogue. Clare must've loved doing this film. A strong, likable
female character that, well, is a lot like herself.

Rose has an almost Gloryesque monolog near the end that is
impressive.

We won't spoil the plot, except to say that bees are important to
Rose.

And the film title is finally explained under the HOLLYWOOD sign
near the end. Fitting, since Rose is also there with Thess
near the beginning of the film.

We gave it the obvious 5 stars when we rated it online.
Noting Clare's performance as outstanding. The camera work is
believable and high quality.

Except for a couple of F-words Rose & Thess use during their one real
disagreement, this film is clever and clean.

Well, there is the short middle portion where Rose is off somewhere
and is temporarily 'replaced' by a busty blonde.

She tries to seduce Thess and removes her top - but is seen only from
the back. And nothing more happens. Rose comes back and is told that
the blonde was only a Jehovah's Witness who'd lost her tambourine.

Without these, this could play on broadcast TV or the Family Channel.

The film draws you into it because of the naturalness of what is
going on, visually and dialog-wise. Rose and Thess talking to Tony's
camera or to themselves while in the car. And Rose's aspirations that
only begin to come out in the latter portion of the film.

And it is really funny and enjoyable.

And because Clare does smoke briefly about 4 times in the film, we'll
have to now tell of a previously withheld vignette from Toronto that
we could not, until she was photographed smoking.

So we told her then.

One evening, late, after long conversations and some occasional
photos, with Clare sill nursing her red wine, she wandered out of the
conference hall area of the Toronto hotel. We went outside also and
she was smoking with a couple of the guests.

Naturally we were interested in this since she was so devoted to
physical exercise and activities from way back in high school -
where she was a cross-country runner.

'You've never been photographed smoking, and we won't say anything
about it until that happens', we told Clare as we re-entered the
conference rooms hallway. 'But what is the story, considering all
your well-known physical activities?'

Clare explained that she got the urge after she'd been drinking some.

And usually that meant months between these times. And she offered
this - that she started when she went to NYU in 1992. "Everyone
at NYU smoked," Clare observed.

So now that Clare has been photographed smoking, just a little, we
just felt like all should know her own view of when and why.

It just goes to show that this film, GIRF, truly captures a really
big part of what Clare truly is like in person.

You will enjoy it when it comes out.

And Clare's admirers will fall in love with her all over again.

-Gloriana