REVIEW: ‘Yesterday Was a Lie,’ celebrating 10 years
Photo: Yesterday Was a Lie, written and directed by James Kerwin, stars Chase Masterson, who also produces the movie. Photo courtesy of IndiePix Films / Provided by Foundry Communications with permission.
Yesterday Was a Lie, the noir drama written and directed by James Kerwin, celebrated its 10-year anniversary a few months back, and to pop the bubbly, they released a digitally remastered version of the film with several extras featuring stars Kipleigh Brown and Chase Masterson (who also produced the movie). John Newton and the late, great Peter Mayhew, of Star Wars fame, also star.
The film is an interesting affair — an 89-minute thriller that doesn’t quite thrill in the traditional sense, but certainly keeps the viewer’s attention amidst the stylized drama and noir-ish setting. The conversations are interesting. The mood is mysterious. The songs from Masterson are sultry and spot-on.
Brown plays Hoyle, a detective on the hunt for a reclusive genius (Newton), but she struggles to find her target because many distractions get in the way. She must deal with surreal conversations about the very nature of humanity, in addition to secrets that make everything (and everyone) seem strange and possibly villainous. There’s an uneasiness that pervades the picture, as if this entire world were a mere construct.
Some of the conversations that Hoyle has with her colleagues and fellow boozers are fascinating; others run on for too long and can somewhat confuse the viewer. The best sequences are when Hoyle and a local lounge singer (Masterson) are trading words amidst the pouring of bourbon and the smoke-filled environs of a jazz club.
Kudos to Kerwin for his script, which is ambitious and takes many risks, and for his direction, which is characteristic and dripping with style and starkness. He’s a talent, for sure, and it’s always enjoyable to watch his finished product, even if some of the risks don’t exactly pay off.
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
Yesterday Was a Lie (2009). Written and directed by James Kerwin. Starring Kipleigh Brown, Chase Masterson, Peter Mayhew and John Newton. Running time: 89 minutes. Rated PG for language, some violent content and smoking. Rating: 
