There is not a false emotion running through In Memory Of My Father. It maintains a screwball sense of absurdity but paces itself to allow the humanism to shine through. Despite the dark tone, the likeably unlikeable ensemble cast is uniformly excellent, and there are some real laughs to be had. Hand-held cameras and semi-improvised dialogue lend it realism, while the flurry of well-crafted comic situations it creates brings it to heights of hilarity. Jaymes and his cast mates nail the characters and the dialogue and there's more than a whiff of Festen and Altman in this frantic, enjoyably overstuffed funeral drama. It's hilarious and so heart warming. Highly recommended

Filmmaker Christopher Jaymes seeks to capture how narcissism behaves. The result is an honest depiction of struggling with the inability to see outside of oneself—to be so blind that one is unable to recognize the life occurring around them. In Memory of My Father follows a son trying to grant his father's dying wish. The father is a Hollywood filmmaker who is no different than the rest of the characters in the film—bloated with his own ego. His belief that his death would shake the film community generates his final cinematic idea. He bribes his youngest son, Chris (played by Christopher Jaymes) to document the journey of his fading life. Whether the documentary ever is completed is up for the audience to decide but the father's death becomes secondary as we become further involved in the worries of the numerous characters' neurosis, careers, and relationships. The family consists of the three sons, Christopher, Jeremy (Jeremy Sisto), and Matt (Matt Keeslar). Each is dysfunctional in their own unique way. Their family unit is not a Norman Rockwell painting but isn't devoid of love and compassion either. The binds of blood tend to prevail as each of them attempt to find their way through the wreckage and into unknown possibilities by the end of the film. The large Hollywood home becomes filled to the brim with "mourners" who feel more alive from someone else's death. The various situations demand the audience's attention due to each character's commitment to the severity of their individual circumstances. In the span of the film, Jaymes deals with nearly every personal struggle of man: the search to expose and accept individual flaws; falling in and out of love at the press of a button; unapologetically begging for the attention; or realizing you are not who you thought you were and to not know who you are going to become. The film vibrates with life. So much occurs throughout the film that to say it is about the bonds of family, life, death, love, and fear would be an injustice. Questions were asked and human nature was philosophized with one brilliant conclusion. As Christopher is crumbled to the floor and held together by Nicholle's arms she states, "I don't know anyone who is meant to be in a relationship." Her statement bears the weight of yet another question to ponder. Are we even meant to have a relationship with ourselves? Maybe yes or maybe no. But we can all draw from personal experience that relationships with ourselves can be just as dysfunctional as the bond with other human beings.

I can not imagine a funnier or more poignant film than "in Memory of My Father". I laughed so hard I almost fell out of my chair and I was restrained compared to the audience around me. Eric Michael Cole might be the finest actor of his generation, and I use the word fine to to describe both his performance and his looks. I think I'm in love. I know I am not the first person to compare writer/director/ star Chris Jaymes to a modern day Chekov, and I am sure that I will not be the last. His sense of irony and the outrageous combines flawlessly with his universal understanding of family friendship, and of course "the biz" to create a mix of "The Big Chill" "The Player" and "Dazed and Confused". I couldn't have had a more pleasurable ninety six minutes, and look forward to its wide release. I only hope my funeral will be this exciting.

Having been dragged to many indie films, some good and some bad, I was somewhat hesitant to see this film when my friend suggested it tonight. Thankfully, it was worth the whole 10 smackaroos to watch a seamlessly edited mockumentary (i guess that is what it is?) that delves into America's affluent youth (I grew around kids like these...). Anywho, well worth it and spread the word about this young up and coming talent! And he's a looker too! :) The dialogue, in the words of the writer / director (there in the audience), was tailored to the actor. If you notice, the actors all use their first names in this movie. At times, it was VERY difficult to tell whether it was scripted or improvised (Chris said it was all scripted, yet he asked the actors to improvise a little... 85/15). Regardless, the actors came through with great performances and I can't wait to see what will come of this cool, hip, intelligent film.