ksf-2 Minor spoilers -- I hadn't seen Helen Slater in anything since the 1980s... i LOVED Ruthless People and Secret of My Success. Echo Park stars Mamie Gummer and Anthony Okungbower. E.P. begins with Sophie and Alex meeting up to discuss buying a couch. Lots of outdoor Los Angeles scenery. This also moves at a "relaxed" pace; a study in relationships. Alex is trying to sell his house and move, but some wrenches (and Sophie's ex) fall into the works, so we will see how that affects Sophie and Alex. This one appears to have hit a couple of film festivals, then straight to Netflix ? There is ONE patch right in the middle where you have to crank up the volume to hear anything. Microphone placement issue (?) when they are walking down the street. Cute story. Nothing big or earthshaking here, but it's an interesting study of relationship-timing. Friendships too. Beginnings, endings, it's all about timing. VERY predictable, but cute. Written by Catalina Mastretta, who has been in the biz for ten years. Directed by Amanda Marsalis, the first and only project for her so far.

catherine-cuomo Is there a plot? Or just people buying coffee, houses, plane tickets, cameras, whatever. This film drifts along, as though the entire cast, and maybe the writer, were on Qualudes. And does anyone work? At all? Even a little? Pointless, ridiculous, childishly simplistic.Sophie moves to LA to escape her boyfriend, who likes her too much. She has a casual affair with guy she buys sofa from. Boyfriend moves to LA to pursue her. Meanwhile, she buys entire house from sofa guy, with no more concern than one buys a pack of gum because 'she wants something of her own'. Sofa guy moves back to England, she dumps boyfriend, fade out with elevator music as Sophie looks knowing and satisfied. The End.

usclewis First off, it's always nice to see a film about L.A. that looks like it is set in L.A. -- especially when it doesn't feature celebrities that take you out of the illusion.It's also nice to see a well-written, mature film about adults that doesn't resort to clichés or sensationalism (excessive sex, violence, cursing, etc) to tell it's story. This is a story about friendships and choices, and discovering what is real in life.As someone who has visited Echo Park many times in the past, this movie feels like a true L.A. story: these are the kinds of movies I'd like to see made more often, whether about Los Angeles specifically, or about relationships in general.

odog5000x A brilliant first film by director Amanda Marsalis, 'Echo Park' succeeds in bringing interesting and unique characters to life. Actors Tony Okungbowa and Mamie Gummer deliver the performances of their careers in an intimate portrayal of characters from different worlds brought together in Echo Park. By making the distinctive area of Los Angeles, Echo Park, into a character of its own, it joins the ranks of other great films like Chinatown, Midnight in Paris, and LA Story.This is an independent film that dares to tell a story about Los Angeles that does not rely on Hollywood stereotypes and plot devices and story clichés that permeate most movies produced in Hollywood. (Most of those films are not even shot in Los Angeles, but move their productions overseas, or up north to Canada to save money). The look of the film is not just emulating Echo Park, it IS Echo Park. For this reason I recommend this film to everyone. It is superb.