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Bubble (2006)
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Burst that bubble, tiny bubbles, Michael Buble'... what is Bubble all about?
A simple title for a simple movie that worked so much emotions in me. A concept film from Movie genius director producer Steven Soderbergh (Erin Brokovich, Traffic, Ocean's Eleven, Ocean's Twelve). He has unique features in this film oh so familiar to my NYC indie filmmaking community, the back to basics of: using of non actors (local real people) and using digital cameras (in their case HD).
Probably will be dubbed as Soderbergh's Vera Drake. Steven never ceases to amaze us both with his low budget and high profile Hollywood films ( with A list actors).
We are used to Steven's guest ensemble casts ( like in Traffic and Ocean's Eleven), but Bubble uses real life (non actors) locals playing somewhat complex characters. At first, I felt nervous watching the actors but as all three major individuals gel into their three way relationships, I eventually got the concept.
I valued the sincere efforts of the lead characters, inspite of their lack of acting experience to convey the story through their reality (their community), their naivete' (their reality). The acting was extremely raw, fragile and painfully likeable.
We see them live life and make the most of their meager (simple) existence. Martha (Debbie Doebereiner) and Kyle (Dustin James Ashley) seem to be satisfied, as new kid in the "factory," Rose ( Misty Dawn Wilkins) is not. Eventually a three way relationship unfolds. Rose turns out to be too thorny for Martha and Kyle and stirs up too much trouble for everyone.
Refreshing to see, a surprisingly great performance from Debbie Doebereiner who plays the lead character Doll Factory worker Martha. She is a non actor, who is a real life general manager for a KFC in Parkersburg, West Virginia. I really felt for her as she gave us a glimpse of her inner feelings through those blue eyes. The Director of Photography, Peter Andrews captured this in numerous moments specially when Martha is alone in a room and feeling alone at Church. Debbie shines as the camera records her sorry state in her non verbal vulnerable being. The DP focuses on her eyes as if trying to draw answers to so many questions.
Debbie's innocent eyes reminds me of Imelda Stauntons of last years Vera Drake. Both characters could be correlated as victims but accused as aggressors. Good people doing bad-ish things.
The innocence and naivete' in Dustin's eyes I remember through Catalina Sandino Moreno's (Maria Full of Grace). Just riding off the waves that life throws them. Both characters played by Dustin in Bubble and Catalina in Maria Full of Grace decide on things not thinking of the consequences – so naïve and so vulnerable.
The beauty of HD... I wouldn't event know it was shot in HD if it wasn't for the beginning credits naming Mark Cuban's HD Net Films as producers. Wow, so many possibilities in using HD, both technically and aesthetically. One positive is being able to do more takes during your shoot. Wow, what a luxury. I know for a fact that the Philippines decline in Film production has seen a rise in what they call Digifilms shot in HD. I know the ABC network does their documentaries in HD.
In general, the simplicity of the film sometimes becomes its asset. The storytelling becomes of utmost importance rather than the technical aspects. The purity of intentions of the filmmakers makes the film easy to understand. It is sometimes refreshing to enjoy non complicated films like this, uncluttered and oh so direct to the point.
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