Charlotte Sometimes (2003)
82%RT Audience Score: 76%
Awards & Nominations: 3 wins & 2 nominations
Charlotte Sometimes is a film that delicately balances between being precious and unwieldy, much like a matchstick palace built on a subway platform. Director Eric Byler’s elliptical storytelling and spare dialogue create a hushed work of restrained emotions that draws you into the lives of the smart and authentic characters before you even realize it. While the themes may not be groundbreaking, Byler’s skillful execution makes the film a daring and fittingly probing exploration of love’s complications. The hedonistic spectacle of alluring, nubile characters and breathtaking color only adds to the film’s invigorating absorption. Overall, Charlotte Sometimes is a dry but occasionally interesting independent feature that is well worth seeing for fans of the genre.
Charlotte Sometimes” is like a game of Jenga – it’s a little nerve-wracking, but you can’t help but keep playing. The film’s unconventional approach to storytelling and characters is a refreshing break from the usual rom-coms. Plus, the cinematography is so stunning, you’ll want to frame every shot. Overall, “Charlotte Sometimes” is a must-watch for anyone looking for something a little different.
Production Company(ies)
Wildbear Entertainment, National Geographic
Distributor
Visionbox Pictures
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
Buttonwillow, California, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for sexual content and some language
Year of Release
2002
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby
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Aspect ratio:NA
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Runtime:1h 25m
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Language(s):English, Japanese, Mandarin
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): May 2, 2003 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 30, 2003
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Michael Idemoto, Jacqueline Kim, Eugenia Yuan, Matt Westmore, Shizuko Hoshi, directed by Eric Byler, written by Eric Byler, drama, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Mike D’Angelo, Robert Denerstein, Marjorie Baumgarten, Marta Barber, Desson Thomson, Megan Lehmann, Dan Lybarger, Jeffrey Chen, Karina Montgomery, Frank Ochieng, R rating, Visionbox Pictures, Marc Ambrose, Eric Byler as producers, L.A Asian twentysomethings, sexual frolics, romantic conundrums, jealousy, dramatic revelations, close relationship, romance, friendship, intriguing, secrets, betrayal, infidelity, longing, past loves, deception, nubile characters, sun-warmed narcissism, cinematography, lighting, slow-paced, indie film
Worldwide gross: $247,554
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $410,584
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,787
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 44,775
US/Canada gross: $150,445
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $249,522
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,500
US/Canada opening weekend: $3,284
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $5,447
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,793
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $80,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $132,685
Production budget ranking: 2,139
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $71,451
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $206,448
ROI to date (est.): 101%
ROI ranking: 937
Jacqueline Kim – Darcy
Eugenia Yuan – Lori
Matt Westmore – Justin
Shizuko Hoshi – Auntie Margie
Eric Byler – Director
Director(s)
Eric Byler
Writer(s)
Eric Byler
Producer(s)
Marc Ambrose, Eric Byler
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
3 wins & 2 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (43) | Top Critics (15) | Fresh (35) | Rotten (8)
The film’s nervous reticence makes it both precious and a little unwieldy, like a matchstick palace built on a subway platform.
October 31, 2003
Mike D’Angelo
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
May not be gripping in conventional ways, but it’s daring.
September 26, 2003 | Rating: B
Robert Denerstein
Denver Rocky Mountain News
TOP CRITIC
As an antidote to talky American indies involving twentysomething romantic conundrums, Charlotte Sometimes hits just the right note.
September 23, 2003 | Rating: 2.5/5
Marjorie Baumgarten
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
Sometimes engaging, sometimes amusing and ultimately surprising.
September 5, 2003 | Rating: 2.5/4
Marta Barber
Miami Herald
TOP CRITIC
A smartly made, hedonistic spectacle of alluring, nubile characters, sun-warmed narcissism and breathtaking color.
August 21, 2003
Desson Thomson
Washington Post
TOP CRITIC
It’s a hushed work of restrained emotions, elliptical storytelling and spare dialogue, peopled with smart, authentic characters who have drawn you into their lives before you know it.
August 8, 2003 | Rating: 3/4
Megan Lehmann
New York Post
TOP CRITIC
Dry but occasionally interesting independent feature.
October 2, 2005 | Rating: 3/5
Dan Lybarger
Nitrate Online
This and other movies like it seem to say love is complicated and can cause much misery, but that never strikes me as insightful.
December 19, 2003 | Rating: 6/10
Jeffrey Chen
Window to the Movies
November 11, 2003 | Rating: 4/5
Karina Montgomery
Cinerina
Fittingly probing, sensual, mysterious and raw. Byler’s exposition is vastly taut, revealing, and firmly perceptive. Charlotte Sometimes radiates with invigorating absorption
November 9, 2003 | Rating: 3.5/4
Frank Ochieng
Movie Eye
‘Charlotte Sometimes’ elicits no more than restlessness.
November 9, 2003
Donald J. Levit
ReelTalk Movie Reviews
Though the themes aren’t exactly groundbreaking, they’re executed skillfully enough to make the movie well worth seeing – for fans of the genre, at any rate.
November 4, 2003 | Rating: 3/4
Gabe Leibowitz
Film and Felt…
Plot
Michael, a young mechanic, is forced to choose between a daring tryst with an alluring stranger and the habitual comfort of his bittersweet obsession: his beautiful young tenant.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
There is no goofy or funny or odd comment about the film Charlotte Sometimes on Fresh Kernels.
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