Red_Identity I mean, I think this is an okay film. it sure has ideas about where it wants to go to in terms of its themes, but I personally didn't find the two main characters all that interesting or iluminative, not to mention not particularly likable. Rudd seems to be putting on a lot of superficiality for his role here, just trying too hard. But he's still not bad. Emile Hirsch comes off like the more realistic person here (and seeing the latest controversy regarding him, it's probably safe to say much of his character isn't a stretch for him) But yes, he does well, but there's so much one can do with this material. Yeah, not particularly a strong recommendation.

mccarthyedits I watched Prince Avalanche last night and thought – A bare production doesn't equate to a bare narrative. We open in a Texas State Park where many of its trees are missing due to a recent wildfire. Long takes with a hand-held and sometimes stationary camera follow two road workers. Alvin (Paul Rudd) and Lance (Emile Hirsch) traverse the barren landscape not only trying to repair the park's roads, but also trying desperately to make an emotional connection with the outside world and each other. The bareness in production aspects; hand-held cameras, long takes, low- key score, one set location, and especially the small cast only accentuate Alvin and Lance's struggle. In such a bare and intimate mis-en-scene, the complexities of their insecurities are exposed and deeply felt. Director and Writer David Gordon Green captures a variegated palette that spans the ranges of human feeling. In Prince Avalanche scenes of human frailty and desperation harmonize with moments of ridiculous comedy that then transcend to moments of philosophical wonder.

zif ofoz Two guys, one young and the other older, are tasked with painting the dividing line on a new road through a now burnt out forest. They are the only one there and must contend with each others habits and thoughts.As the story develops we discover there is a common link between these two and that link is the young guys (Lance) sister who is dating the older guy (Alvin). Alvin sees himself as confident and educated. Lance is too young to know himself yet.By the end of this story Alvin and Lance are like the burnt out forest, each suffers a defeating reality in life just as the forest has suffered. But even in the devastation of the now ruined trees we see life coming back. The forest and the houses will return but not as before! The past is done with, as seen with the lady seeking her past in the ashes of her destroyed house. She is the forest! It might be destroyed now but it lives!Lance & Alvin toss out their past into the creek. Their differences, anger and disappointments mended and a new adventure starts. As they drive away they pass children playing with chickens - human and animal life are already finding their place along the road through the forest.

napierslogs "Prince Avalanche" is the story of two men and is the classic comedy of differences. Alvin (Paul Rudd) is in his late thirties and has such trouble connecting with other people that he doesn't even realize his marriage is in trouble as he prefers to spend time alone. Lance (Emile Hirsch) is in his early twenties and he is desperate for female companionship, or just presence of females, as he is way too into himself to understand true companionship.Lance is also in need of a job and is paired with his brother-in-law, Alvin, to repaint highway lines in Texas following a devastating storm in 1988. The entire film is essentially just a conversation between the two men, and it's great. The dialogue is hilarious and Rudd and Hirsch have a very natural chemistry as the lines seem to have been written for them.The comedy arises from the completely opposite life views that the two men share and how both are completely oblivious to their own flaws and they're also oblivious to their own failings with women. Rudd's Alvin has many smart, philosophical things to say and Hirsch's Lance is just so lacking of anything resembling smarts that he can't even point out Alvin's failings which should be obvious to everyone. Alvin has no problem pointing out Lance's failings but then there's the whole thing about people in glass houses shouldn't be throwing stones.The film has a magnificent simplistic setting in the woods in rural Texas, with wonderfully-realized simplistic characters and dialogue that naturally flows through the entire thing. "Prince Avalanche" is the story of how a former Hollywood director has returned to his simple, non-mainstream roots and two great actors found their perfect match.