Backgammon

Pegging most of its hopes on two actors who hardly maintain the taut chemistry its long two-hander section requires, the pic plays like the feature debut it is, an uncertain drama full of attitude it can't back up with action.

The imagery fails to express either the characters' or the filmmakers' obsessions or synchronicities.

The film's musings on artists and muses tries to be deep but gets bogged down in tiresome booze-soaked mind games.

Backgammon may not be effectively provocative, but it is sometimes dumb enough to be offensive.

If you came looking for the psychological sexing, or even just regular, good old fashioned erotic screwing, you’ll find it only if you’ve brought it to the theater yourself.

Backgammon quickly caught my attention as one of the most sinister films of the year. The suspense that Director Francisco Orvañanos, as well as actors Brittany Allen and Noah Silver, can pull out of R.B. Russell's original novella, Bloody Baudelaire, is extraordinary and super dark. One of my favorite parts of the film is the contrast of music - that is the contrast between music and silence - letting the dialogue speak for itself.

A well-done indie flick that's worth a watch or two. It looks great, sounds great, and the acting is good, too. The story meanders like a European arthouse movie. For viewers used to the formulaic plots and structure of many Hollywood movies, this movie will have little appeal, but for those looking for something truly unique and original, it's sure to please. Highly recommended!

An enjoyable indie film! I think many of the reviewers who gave it negative reviews are judging it by a template they normally apply to studio features. For a low budget indie film, it's very good. The film looks very slick (unlike many indies), the music and sound are great, and the acting is good overall. I was especially impressed with Brittany Allen's performance as Miranda. There's an intimacy to the film that borders on the claustrophobic. Great debut feature by Orvananos!

There's a lot to like about this movie (the acting for the most part, the cinematography, the score, locations, etc.), but there are also a few things to dislike, unfortunately. For example, the story should have been told chronologically. There was no need to begin it in the present, jump back to the past, then return to the present. It seemed like a gimmick more than anything else, as it wasn't necessary to the story. Overall, though, I enjoyed the film and recommend it.