Whenever first time independent filmmakers ask me for advice, I always include: “Write within your means.” By that, I’m saying – don’t write a sci-fi epic if you’ve got $100,000. Every now and again, a film comes along that makes me eat my words. Star People is one such film, a humble little indie movie with big ideas, a big heart, and the craft on-hand to achieve all of it. It’s a perfect example of how you can do a lot with a little, and a testament to good screenwriting and compelling cinematography that can turn lemonade into hard lemonade.
First time feature writer/director Adam Finberg is tackling a lot here: UFOs, immigration, drug addiction, influencer culture; and he somehow makes it come together in the story of a photographer, Claire (Kat Cunning), who embarks on a desert road trip with her new influencer boyfriend, Justin (Connor Paolo), and her junkie brother, Taylor (McCabe Sly). They’re off to follow a lead regarding a series of unexplained lights in the sky, the same lights Claire saw one night when she was a young girl, and has spent the rest of her life chasing. Along the way, our core three run into a host of interesting, and sometimes hyper-realistic, characters, who either add to existing themes or create entirely new ones.
At its heart, Star People is a relationship drama set to the backdrop of UFO lore. Claire, and to a lesser extent Justin, is a true believer. She knows UFOs are real, and just has to find a way to put herself in the right place at the right time. Justin might believe in UFOs, but he is far more interested in what believing will do for his social media engagement. Taylor is the wildcard of the bunch, seemingly destined to sow chaos until some new characters are introduced who allow him to actually be valuable and of use. These new characters are an immigrant man and his sick daughter who are on the run from border patrol. Their presence, and the introduction of their storyline, is a big swing and turns Star People into a much broader conversation.
Much like James Gunn’s Superman, Finberg understands the correlations between our current immigration struggles and other-wordly visitors. He might be making a more overt statement with this film than even Gunn, and that’s saying something. But what makes this work are the performances from everyone involved, including Eddie Martinez as the desperate father, Ricardo, and Bradley Fisher as Felix, an anti-immigrant local unafraid to resort to violence. We believe the danger from these characters so, therefore, we believe Ricardo’s desperation. It’s a fairly moving piece of humanity tucked into a film about UFO hunters. Go figure.
As Claire, Kat Cunning is impossible not to watch. She’s such a subtle actress, and her face can produce a novel’s worth of emotions in one scene alone. The relationship between she and Taylor feels so lived-in; so authentic. The buried hurt in both of them just simmers and festers until it finally boils over in a really impressive scene. As Justin, Connor Paolo is very much the “Cary Elwes from Twister” of the bunch. We have the least reason to root for him, but Paolo’s always affable presence makes that impossible. We might want to smack him across the face, but we still want him to reach those 100,000 subs. Also – can we take stock that Paolo is now 35 and could easily be cast playing a high school student in another TV show?
But what really takes this film over the top and multiplies its impact is the cinematography from Aiden Chapparone. He really knows how to use the desert landscape to his advantage, and the way he shoots sunsets and night skies is absolutely inspiring. For an indie film, the lighting never once felt ‘off’. I’ve seen $100-million films lit far more poorly. Each and every member of this crafts team was working at the top of their games. And what’s best is that you can tell he is still building his own style, his own aesthetic. Star People is the film a cinematographer does that gives them the confidence they need to tackle the big thing. It’s a film about UFOs and Chapparone makes the sky the star of the film. When does that happen?
Star People is a gem. Unfortunately, films like this have a tendency to fall through the cracks, and barely make a dent. I really want good things for this scrappy piece of entertainment. It’s indie through and through, but bold, ambitious, and unafraid to tackle issues and themes at the same time. When you trust your story and your actors, you can do that. If you want a film about UFOs, this film has you covered. If you want an indie drama about siblings, this film has you covered. If you want a political film about U.S. immigration policy – step right up! Star People tackles them all with equal dedication, and the audience is the better for it. When a film can be listed under six different genres on Tubi, I’m there for it. That is out of this world!
REVIEW: ***1/2/***** (currently playing in limited release from Blue Harbor Entertainment)
