navarre_2 Well, I don't think the picture is as bad as most of the reviews make it out to be. . . but there's no denying that it's got problems.Mostly, the problems are in the script. There's a plot - but not much story, and certainly not one that anybody could call plausible; it trots out any number of self-consciously strange and/or stereotypical characters, lines, moments, what-have-you and, by the end, it just hasn't added up to much in this department.Sorry, but I couldn't care less about whatever "social ill" Farnsworth might be trying to address; there will always be a sector of the population willing to do just about anything to shred their brains, even if it requires running around corn fields trying to steal ammonia, or whatever it is those morons do. So, as a film, you won't find me calling "Iowa" "important." But, at a stylistic level, the picture is more than interesting and some of Farnsworth's choices in depicting a meth-head's wigged-out state are beautiful, hilarious, disturbing and - yes, I'm going to say it - inspired.The acting is uneven, but that just may be a casualty of the afore-praised stylistic reaching. Look, Rosanna Arquette is a fine actress - but she's not very good here, so a discriminating audience member does have to ask, "What happened?" It's weird that Diane Foster manages a simplicity and grace that so few of the other actors can come anywhere near. For example, I might seriously consider whatever explanation Farnsworth could provide for Michael T. Weiss's over-the-top turn as a probation officer, but I doubt I'd ever buy it; It Just Doesn't Work. Then again, it's the most alive and in the moment that I've seen John Savage appear in years. So go figure.This is the sort of work that tantalizes, but does not promise - and that's okay; neither Farnsworth nor anyone else is required to make movies. So, whether or not Farnsworth has another film in him remains to be seen, but if he does, it seems pretty likely that it won't be bland pap. In an age when people are planning their lives around the latest installment of "American Idol," perhaps we could allow, not scorn, Farnsworth's legitimate and undeniably flawed film. What is more, perhaps we could welcome, not berate, his energetic and sometimes blessedly idiosyncratic imagination.

strain6 The week before I saw Iowa, I saw Art School Confidential, in which a pretentious student makes a film and can't decide whether he wants it to be art or violent exploitation. Iowa could be the film that he made. I can see elements of much better movies in Iowa - Spun and Natural Born Killers. However, in addition to artiness, both those movies had good character development and coherent story lines. Iowa. This movie stumbles to a preposterous end. I have to admit that it had consistency. This movie is bad from beginning to end and not particularly worse or better in any part. The actors all did what they could. Roseanna Arquette deserves better. She demonstrates that she is very talented, very funny, and very sexy. But why does she have to demonstrate it in this turd ball.

julie_blue25 The wonderful efforts of Matt Farnsworth are to be applauded. It is crucial that people become aware of this epidemic problem, which is exactly what Meth use is- It is a horrible world to get into, and Matt Farnsworth recognized this, as upon returning to his hometown, he was shocked by the addiction, destruction, and devastation he saw around him. Yes, it is Rural Iowa, USA- Yes, it is a huge problem in the 'ol Hawkeye State. I am a former user- a "Soccer Mom", and it is indescribable to tell those what this dark world is about. Mr. Farnsworth's film could only show his rendition in this movie the best he could- He researched intensely to make this film, and this movie was shown in an intelligent way, as best it could be. The addiction is very difficult to represent by actors, but, this young, bright man valiantly did all he could to show an account of a real family. I've been there- done that. Been clean for over 4 years, and am counseling gals who have hit rock bottom- Their stories are ugly- shocking- devastating. Everybody has a story- and hats off to Mr. Farnsworth for his attempts to allow the Movie Audience to see what this world is all about. It is a huge task to take the viewer into a world they've never known- Perhaps it is "an individual you know", or a family member, a parent, a child. Methamphetamine use is rampant in this country- The title of this movie- "Iowa" - is offensive to those from the Hawkeye State- but, folks, it is time to wake up- this problem is in epidemic ratios- It is getting worse. This movie is just a "taste" of what the "druggie" world is about. There are so many stories- so many lives shattered- this "drug of the devil" takes much (sometimes all) away from those who find themselves lost in this world. Iowa is a wonderful beautiful State, but, it is also a drug haven of Meth Users. Thanks to Matt Farnsworth for the eye opener. I have taken this drug out of my life- a former user- from the Hawkeye State. I pray this Movie will assist someone out there in breaking the chains, and get out of this horrible lifestyle. At best, I do pray that somebody who has a loved one who is using can benefit from this Film by becoming educated on this wonderful piece of work about such a bad topic. This is far from a comedy, folks. It is a story of tragedy, hopelessness, and the measures addicts take to obtain methamphetamine- cooking meth is one common way for addicts to "gain their gold". Take heed, this is a film that the viewer must pay attention to, as, this is not as "out there" as some critics think! GOD BLESS YOU MATT FARNSWORTH- KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!

jamescaseyjackson the IMDb guidelines state that you have to declare if your comments contain 'spoilers'. well, this whole film is something of a spoiler... a cautionary tale that glorifies what it cautions against, a tale of lost youth that doesn't know where it itself is going.i just saw this at the tribeca film festival. this film wasn't just bad, it was really bad.the acting is inconsistent, the characters are the mostly cliché offerings with little depth, and farnsworth's acting was very bad in particular.from the patronizing accents to the pointless plot line to the out of place 'graphic' elements to the repetitious dialog and scenarios... it sucked the big one. i think he was looking for sort of a more edgy, updated 'drugstore cowboy' with a touch of 'natural born killers' but it is no where as sensitive to the characters as the former and no where as shocking (outside of some frat-level gore) as the ladder. more than anything, someone needed to really A) edit the screenplay (there are some things in there to build on and clearly deals with a worthy subject... if ham-handed in it's attempt.) B) edit the film. if it was cut down to a core, it might be passable. i would go lower than 1 if i could... like maybe zero kelvin.