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Highly Overrated But Still Good

Great Film overall

Good concept, poorly executed.

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

11:59 is as indie as independent films get and from the very beginning you could tell, this was not a film that had any kind of budget. The film is yet another take on Groundhog Day, as a man wakes up in a field, missing 24 hours. He goes about his day trying to figure out what happened, when miraculously he winds up back in the missing day and continues to re-live it. Being that this film had no budget, it was up to the cast to make it believable and worthwhile, unfortunately they fail miserably at it. I get that they were all newcomers, looking for their big break, but the performances here are beyond awful. The lead is played by Raymond Bailey, who has no personality. He actually had long scenes where he wonders around aimlessly, without saying a word, and just doesn't know what to do with himself. The rest of the cast was also terrible, ranging from boring to completely over the top. I've seen a lot of a bad movies and most didn't have the story to work with, that 11:59 did. I can honestly say never have I seen a cast of people who were less qualified to be on the screen. The low budget meant no special effects and no big named actors, but in order to make the film work, they had to give us something, but didn't! When I wasn't in shock over how bad the acting was, I was bored out of my mind, this movie was nothing but a huge waste of time!

After breaking the news with the arrest of Thomas Hastings (Chris Kelly), the suspect of the abuse and murder of two children in a Monday morning, the asthmatic photojournalist Aaron Dougherty (Raymond Andrew Bailey) becomes the sensation in the ACN News Organization, being congratulated by the director Adele Ransom (Liz Cunningham). He celebrates in a night-club, and wakes-up in a field in the middle of nowhere on Wednesday, having a lapse of time of 24 hours in his life. When he arrives in his job, he becomes aware of the important events that he missed, and he is assigned with his partner Lisa Winders (Laura Fuller) to minor works, not covering the important election between Hansen, of whom Hastings is a collaborator, and Gordon. On the next morning, Aaron wakes-up again in the same field but on Tuesday, and he is able to avoid the announced tragedies, disclosing a huge political conspiracy."11:59" is an intriguing low-budget movie that deserves to be discovered. The story about political conspiracy, premonition and providence keeps the mystery until the very last scene. The pace is adequate, and there are anguishing and suspenseful moments, specially when asthmatic Aaron runs with the boy in his arms. The screenplay is very well written, the direction and performances are top-notch, and the camera work is excellent and the music score is great. My vote is seven.Title (Brazil): "11:59"

It isn't until you find yourself re-counting the plot of "11:59" to someone, that the significance of director Jamin Winan's ambitious feature film debut begins to dawn on you. The subject matter is heady and involved, touching on a myriad of issues, from the role the media plays in our lives to the importance of following ones instincts. Ultimately however, Winan's aspirations are grander than his achievements in "11:59," yet we do get a glimpse of the potential to come from this film school dropout.As with all Double Edge Film productions (Winan's and producing partner Joe Sekiya's Denver based film company) "11:59" is concerned with perception and purpose and the themes the duo have explored in their preceding short films, re-emerge here in broader more refined strokes.The picture opens with a burst of nervous energy as a breaking news story unfolds. The camera hand held, the edits quick, the music lively. Winans is eager to draw us in but doesn't quite achieve sure footing until after the initial 15 minutes when the action settles down. The films strongest visual styles recall moments from two other indie darlings - "Trainspotting" and "Requiem for a Dream", of which the latter is the most blatant. Director of Photography Jeff Pointer frames the sequences well and Winans, not only writer and director, does triple duty as editor, saving the films mediocre performances with smart cuts that keep the pacing steady and engaging. Raymond Andrew Bailey gives a committed performance in the role of Aaron Doherty, the Jimmy Stewart of the piece, who experiences a flash forward revelation which allows him to ultimately touch ground and reconnect with something more significant than his career ambitions have. Bailey is likable and very watchable in the role, however he brings nothing particularly unique to his character, other than communicating mild frustration in relation to the existential mire in which he finds himself entwined. The juiciest role of the enterprise falls in the hands of Liz Cunningham, an alum of Double Edge, who previously was lensed by Winans and company in the short film "The Maze". Here Cunningham gets to play an edgy high profile news producer who seems hell bent on her station becoming "Colorado's News Leader" but in fact has some dirty laundry. It is Cunningham who gets the best dialogue,although at times she comes across as caricature. In every scene she appears, she plays the same level of intensity. A more nuanced performance would have made a world of difference. Laura Fuller as Lisa Winders, reporter and sidekick to cameraman Aaron, comes across as mousy at times but does have effective moments. As with director Winans, these actors seem poised for future success.The films imagery does linger in the mind. Perhaps the most standout imagery and finest moment comes near films end. Aaron is pushing himself to the limit in a race against the clock so as to alter a foreshadowed outcome. The scene serves as a fitting metaphor to this indie accomplishment,nearly five years in the making, which like our hero in "11:59" is sure to propel Jamin Winans into a fuller realization of an already purposeful career.

I saw this movie for the first time in Kansas City and was absolutely intrigued! I believe this movie was an all around excellent planned out plot and story! The values and ethics established in this film gave a great look to the value of life, which is commonly taken for granted. A job well done to all of the actors and actresses! I was really hoping the boss would get hit by a car, but I guess you can't always get what you wish for!! Raymond Andrew Bailey did an INCREDIBLE job as the lead Aaron, very heart-felt! He made tears come to my eyes! I hope to see him in many more films! Jamin Winans did an awesome job on this feature and I can't wait for future productions!