Struck by Lightning (2012)

"A personal raincloud can be deadly..."

Directed by Brian Dannelly
Produced by David Permut, Mia Chang, Rob Aguire, Chris Colfer
Written by Chris Colfer
Starring: Chris Colfer, Allison Janney, Christina Hendricks, Sarah Hyland, Carter Jenkins, Brad William Henke, Rebel Wilson, Angela Kinsey, Polly Bergen, Dermot Mulroney
Music by Jake Monaco
Cinematography: Bobby Bukowski
Edited by Tia Nolan
Production company: Permut Presentations
Distributed by Tribeca Film
Release date: 11 January 2013 (United States)
Running time: 84 minutes
Country: United States
Budget: $1,300,000
Box office: $28,378

"Struck by Lightning" is a comedy drama coming-of-age film directed by Brian Dannelly and written by Chris Colfer. The story is about Carson Phillips who desires to go to Northwestern University in order to one day become the youngest editor for The New Yorker. However, his dreams won't come true - but is it so bad?

Cast

• Chris Colfer as Carson Phillips
• Allison Janney as Sheryl Phillips
• Christina Hendricks as April
• Sarah Hyland as Claire Mathews
• Carter Jenkins as Nicholas Forbes
• Brad William Henke as Principal Gifford
• Rebel Wilson as Malerie Baggs
• Angela Kinsey as Ms. Sharpton
• Polly Bergen as Grandma
• Dermot Mulroney as Neal Phillips
• Allie Grant as Remy Baker
• Ashley Rickards as Vicki Jordan
• Robbie Amell as Justin Walker
• Charlie Finn as Coach Colin Walker
• Roberto Aguire as Emilio Lopez
• Matt Prokop as Dwayne Michaels
• Graham Rogers as Scott Thomas
• Adam Kolkin as Young Carson Phillips.
• Taylor Clarke-Pepper as Dog Walker (uncredited)
• Michael Van London as Caretaker (uncredited)

The director of the film is Brian Dannelly who is best known for his work "Saved!". But I want to pay attention that Chris Colfer (Kurt Hummel from "Glee") wrote, starred in, executive-produced, and novelised the movie. I can say that he impressively coped with all his tasks. But let look closer to his character, Carson Phillips. A lonely and selfish guy with big dreams youth. He knows his purpose and he tries to do his best to achieve these goals. Frankly speaking, Carson Phillips seems a little similar to Kurt. But not the same. Unlike Hummel, Carson is blind to the obvious: neither people around nor his own life. Chris Colfer shown a deep insight into the role. And I also want to mention that the story is quite realistic, no utopias.

Advantages

• Chris Colfer as Carson Phillips
• The unusual plot

Disadvantages

• Not a drama, not a comedy - just life?

"Strangenesses"

• The life is so momentary

Clue Moments

• The lightning stroke

"Live right now". It just sounds so simple. In fact, most people in our society don't feel a moment, they more think about their future, past events, solving today's problems. I don't deny that thinking of future is necessary but not when it takes all your time. Ambitions. Telling the truth they aren't the most important things in our life and even not everyone has them. However, some people don't see anything except the fulfilment of pretensions. The main problem: they're losing the present. But what to do with all of these? The answer is the golden mean. Yes, you may have dreams, aims, claims to something but meanwhile you should remember about today, about relatives and also about yourself. And enjoy this moment.

Soundtracks

1. The Byram Brothers - It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday
2. Michael Van London - Downtown
3. Loren Gold feat. James Renard - Riding My Unicorn Through the Sunset
4. Michael Van London - Sound of an Amp
5. The UCLA Bruin Marching Band - Play That Funky Music White Boy
6. Patrick Watson - The Great Escape
7. Michael Van London - Feel Love

Quotations

* * *

Carson Phillips: A life without meaning, without drive, without focus, without goals or dreams isn't a life worth living. Life comes at you fast. It runs through your body and tries to escape to be expressed in anyway possible. In a way, it's a lot like lightning.

* * *

Carson Phillips: What I regretted most was that I lived every day waiting for my life to begin. The higher your cloud, the further your rain falls.

* * *

Carson Phillips: I wrote you a story, Grandma.
Grandma: Let me see. Once upon a time there was a boy. Why! It could use a little development, but it's a great beginning.

* * *

Carson Phillips: 'Shakespeare once wrote Life is but a dream. And that's how I live my life. From one dream to the next, hating every update of reality.

* * *

Carson Phillips: At what grade do we stop believing in ourselves? At what grade do we stop believing, period? I mean, someone has to be a Nobel Peace Prize winner, someone has to be ballerina. Why not us? I can't be the only one who gets that.

* * *

Carson Phillips: ''I always thought death would be different. I expected a great wave of realization to sweep over me. Suddenly the meaning of life would be answered with every other question I ever had. But there was nothing to realize. I was dead. You've seen my end, but where do I begin?''

* * *

Carson Phillips: Malerie, why do you film everything? I mean, I'm sure you don't want to remember everything.
Malerie Baggs: What isn't worth remembering? With good memories come bad memories and I've got a lot of both. At least this way I can fast-forward through all the bad stuff.

* * *

Carson Phillips: Why do some of us have to work so hard for the things we believe in and others don't? Why do some of us care so much?

* * *

Carson Phillips: Life comes at you fast, it hits you and tries to escape and be expressed in any way possible. In a way, it's a lot like... lightning.

* * *
You may see the trailer here.

Plot: 5/10

Entertainment: 4/10

Acting: 5/10

Originality: 7/10

Music and Sound: 4/10

5/10