Two indie faves

I caught up with two recent film festival phenoms, but had only a lukewarm reaction to either. They’re different, to be sure. And sincere, modest in means, local in flavor, well-meaning. But definitely not among the best films of the year.

Old Joy. The Pacific Northwest, with its lush landscape and post-hippie politics, is almost the third character in this two-hander, in which a pair of thirtysomething friends try to re-bond on an overnight camping trip to a hot springs in the Cascades. Kelly Reichardt’s direction, and Daniel London and Will Oldham as the two old buddies, have some appeal, but finally not enough. A certain Zen minimalism might have been the effect sought, but my response was “Eh? That’s all you got?” The film doesn’t overstay its welcome, but left me with no feeling of resolution. Other viewers reacted differently, as the Metacritic rating will show. (2006, dvd, n.) *6-* (MC-84.)

Quinceanera. This Sundance winner is firmly located in the Echo Park area of L.A., where gentrification and commodification is supplanting the traditional Mexican neighborhood. Emily Rios is indeed winning as the soon-to-be 15-year-old who gets pregnant without having intercourse, and has to deal with her family and friends' disbelief in her “virgin birth.” James Garcia is also effective as the cousin who is not as tough as he seems, and bonds with her as one outsider to another. The writer/director team of Richard Glatzer and Wash Westmoreland promises more than it delivers, wants to say more than it can articulate, but still expresses some honest caring for the characters and the complex life of family and neighborhood. (2006, dvd, n.) *6* (MC-72.)