REVIEW: ‘Time Out of Mind’ A Valuable, Challenging Experience

I’ve put off writing a review of Time Out of Mind, the Opening Night film at the Sarasota Film Festival, for now four days. It’s been a hard film to process. On the one hand, the movie, about the challenging life of a New York homeless man spending time both in and out of the shelter system, is not an enjoyable experience. The film lasts 120 minutes, but a challenging pace, particularly in the first half, makes it feel like a four-hour run time.

And yet, this film has the power to change you, to alter the way you see the very world around you and the empathy you feel for others living on this planet under circumstances almost certainly more trying than your own. It may be a task to watch, but you will be better off for doing so.

Opening Night: SFF Director of Programming Michael Dunaway Takes Stock Of His First Festival

Last night marked the 17th opening night for the Sarasota Film Festival and the first for new director of programming, Michael Dunaway, who took some time on the red carpet to share a bit with SRQ.

“It’s tough to come in when there’s been one set of leadership for a long time,” said Dunaway, in reference to the recent departure of previous director of programming, Tom Hall. “But everyone’s been so incredibly welcoming that it’s been very easy and very comfortable.”

Opening with Time Out Of Mind, starring Richard Gere and Ben Vereen as homeless men on the streets of New York City and directed by Oscar-nominated director Oren Moverman, Dunaway saw the film at the New York Film Festival and admits to being initially skeptical but “within five minutes, I was totally blown away.”

Sarasota Film Festival 2015 Opening Night Photo Gallery

Check out pictures from our photo booth on Opening Night.

Moverman, Vereen Discuss Creating Vivid Reality of ‘Time Out Of Mind’

The first screening for this year’s Sarasota Film Festival was followed by a panel by its director and one of its stars. Oren Moverman and Ben Vereen said the film intentionally looked at the lives of the actively ignored as it explored the challenges of homelessness.

“It’s not just being invisible,” Moverman said of the lives of the homeless in New York City. “It is more like there is a forcefield to avoid. People didn’t even look.”

Vereen Hopes Work Starts Dialogue on Homelessness, Human Compassion

As Ben Vereen sits in a Sarasota restaurant wearing a cap that reads “Spiritual Enforcer,” intermittently piping pleasant sounds from a wood recorder, he waxes about the promises Baby Boomers made for the future, recounting his hopes from the past to a reporter born well after the Vietnam War. “Taking things back to the ’60s,” he recalls, “we were going to make it a better world for you guys.” He ponders that promise for a moment, then speaks up again. “I’m sorry.”

But whatever ills of humanity his generation failed to expunge, whether by negligence or because such goals were futile to start with, Vereen himself has never given up. Today, he takes a break from preparing a production of Hair—his revival of the musical his the stage at the Venice Theatre in the fall—and discusses his role in Time Out Of Mind, a drama about homelessness set to open the Sarasota Film Festival this evening. “We need a dialogue,” he says. “That’s the first solution.”

Mark Famiglio Discusses Homeless Theme at 2015 SFF

When the Sarasota Film Festival opens tonight with a screening of Time Out of Mind, an Oren Moverman film starring Richard Gere as a transient estranged from his daughter, it will be just the first of many features screening at the 10-day-festival focusing on homelessness. Sarasota Film Festival president Mark Famiglio said it is no coincidence the programming has taken that bent at the same time leaders in Southwest Florida struggle with the issue themselves.

The Filmography of Oren Moverman

By Nina Edelsbacher

Oren Moverman, a former journalist based in New York City, a writer and film director, will be attending the screening of his own movie, Time Out Of Mind, on the opening night of The Sarasota Film Festival on Friday, April 10. He will also be given the Hearts and Minds of Independent Film Award. But what can audiences expect from the director?

Time Out Of Mind is a movie about a homeless man, George, fighting the low temperatures of New York after being kicked out of his apartment. He then searches for temporary homes and has many opportunities to reconnect with his daughter, Maggie. The film takes pain and sentiment to the next level with the story of how George builds his life back up.

Oren Moverman has been recognized as one of America’s foremost independent filmmakers. He creates films to move all kinds of people with the reality and the great truth that many of us avoid to prevent sorrow. He pays great attention to visual style and the way we live. His films are based on real life obstacles and show the unwanted parts of today’s society.

In 2009, Moverman created one of the most moving war films of all time, The Messenger. It is extremely surprising that The Messenger was actually his first film as a director. The Messenger tells a story about an injured soldier, Will, that returns home to finish the rest of his duty in the Army’s Casualty Notification service. He is teamed up with a veteran officer, Tony Stone, and as they both deal with great pain, they create a strong bond. Will then finds himself tangled in a problem when he falls in love with Olivia, a widow of a fallen soldier. The way the film is told makes people care for the characters and really feel the pain they felt. You instantly get sucked into the story because of how it was presented.

Moverman has now created many movies, including I’m Not There and Rampart. We are so very thrilled to have Oren Moverman attend the opening night to see the screening of Time Out Of Mind, and we are excited and interested about what he’s going to create next.

Blythe Danner Coming to Sarasota Film Festival with Closing Night Film

Legendary actress Blythe Danner (Meet The Parents) will attend the Sarasota Film Festival this year with the Closing Night Film, I’ll See You In My Dreams. Danner, who will also receive the festival’s Impact Award this year, stars in the Brett Haley-directed feature. Haley will also attend the Sarasota event.

The festival will also open with Time Out of Mind, a feature about homelessness starring Richard Gere (Chicago, An Officer And A Gentleman). Director Oren Moverman, who seven years ago came to SFF with the Opening Night film The Messenger, will be in attendance as well.

The Sarasota Film Festival this year will run from April 10-19.