Valentine's Day is Saturday, and we'll have some themed material rolling out for you over the next few days. I'm writing a couple of pieces right now, and I'm also really excited to present an exclusive clip from a film that would make a very nice, very cool choice to share with that special someone this weekend.
Martin Starr was in a film I saw at Sundance this year called “I'll See You In My Dreams,” a very sweet, very honest little movie about a woman (Blythe Danner) starting to open back up to the idea of dating for the first time in over 20 years. Starr plays a pool guy who becomes an unlikely confidante for Danner, and one of the joys of the film is watching the way they play scenes together. Martin's wry delivery and Danner's impeccable combination of Southern grace and comic skill make them a lovely match.
I've met Martin a handful of times, and he very much is the kind of person he frequently plays. Smart. Funny. Sharp-witted. But what really strikes me about him is that he is present when you talk to him. So many people in Los Angeles feel like they are constantly looking over your shoulder at the rest of the room while you talk to them, like you're a place-holder until a better conversation shows up, and that all stems from the weird power structure of the town. Starr's never been like that, though, not even in the middle of something as crazy as Sundance. He's a very grounded, affable guy, and it's great to see him get to play some of these leads right now.
“Amira and Sam” is directed by Sean Mullin, making his feature debut, and while it is a tender story of an unexpected connection between an Army veteran and an Iraqi immigrant, it also manages to grapple with a number of other subjects as well. It's a very different film for Drafthouse Films, although they've got another unconventional love story, “Spring,” coming later this year as well.
We've got an exclusive clip from the film for you, and you can find the film now playing theatrically and on VOD. If you don't want to sit through the hardly-smutty-enough perfume commercial this weekend, try “Amira & Sam” for something much more honest and relatable.
And once you do, you can participate in a special event on Valentine's Day.
AMIRA & SAM “Valentine's Day Twitter Watch Party”
Join Martin Starr (@MartinStarr), Dina Shihabi (@DinaShihabi), Paul Wesley (@PaulWesley) and writer/director Sean Mullin (@SeanChrisMullin) for the AMIRA & SAM “Valentine's Day Twitter Watch Party” on Saturday, February 14 at 4:00 PM ET. They will watch the film and live tweet their commentary. Start the film at 4:00 PM ET on 2/14 and join in with them on Twitter using #AmiraAndSam
Thanks to Drafthouse Films for sending over the clip. You really should give this one a try.