Outside In (2017) Online

Director: Lynn Shelton and writers: Jay Duplass & Lynn Shelton have created a story that goes straight to the heart & soul. Beautifully scripted, filmed, and acted "Outside In" is one of those unforgettable stories that puts tears in your eyes but a sense of hope and joy in your heart.

Jay Duplass plays 'Chris' an ex-con who comes home after 20 years in jail. We know his readjustment to everyday life will be challenging for him but too his luck there are people there who do not want to judge him for a long past crime. Love and friendship finds it's way back into his life but this brings alot of troublesome baggage with it. Chis just wants to do whats right!

This is a beautifully made film and the Duplass brothers have another star in their crown. I truly hope this movie gets the public attention it so deserves. Seek it out and watch it!

Although Lynn Shelton's slice of small town Pacific Northwest life (pay attention Everett and Granite Falls) in Outside In is so authentic as to defy artful interpretations, it is a minimalist portrait of ambitions circumscribed and affections compromised. In other words, it elevates working class melodrama into art house heavy while retaining the hint of desperate housewives of any small town.

Almost 40-year old Chris (Jay Duplass) has been released from prison after 20 years with the aid of his do-gooder former teacher, Carol (Edie Falco). Arriving in Granite Falls, Washington State, he is faced with hitherto unsuspected expectations from the two leading ladies: Carol and her daughter Hildy (Kaitlyn Dever). A brief brush with another lady reminds us that a handsome bachelor, recently released from prison for being innocent, is fair game for romantically inclined small-town women.

Shelton's approach is to let the realism dominate without veering too sharply into contrived, ironic situations. Chris's adjustment into civilian life will be fraught with suspicion and jealousy, just as in the real world his siblings and friends have always lived.

Falco and Duplass are so believably good as two adults who need to start life over that you miss the clichés and unsurprising turns because the leads become family whose fates matter very much to us.

Outside In is not kitchen-sink drama; it is simply simple life warm, troubled, and endearing. And that acting . . . .

"There are aspects of small town life that I really like - the routine nature of it, the idea of people knowing you and your likes and dislikes." Cress Williams

The story is focused on Chris, a likeable guy in his late 30's who has just been released from prison after a 20 year stint. He was jailed for a crime he didn't commit and his early release is down to his former school teacher Carol who has spent practically the last 20 years supporting and working on his case to prove his innocence. Carol is much older than Chris and their time together has created a bond. Carol is married and has a daughter. Carol's marriage and home life is problematic, not helped by the amount of time she has spent fighting Chris's case in addition to her regular teaching job. That's the background to the movie but the real joy is seeing how Chris integrates back into small town life in Granite Falls, Washington State. His relationships with those around him. The stigma associated with his imprisonment His innocence attracting the attention of potential lovers. Then there's that bond between Chris and Carol and where that might lead. There's a lot of love and thought gone into the story. The 2 lead characters are superbly cast and absolutely carry the movie. I was very impressed with the camera work. Some really nicely composed shots and direction that helped to portray the atmosphere without being 'in your face different' My rating 8/10 Highly recommended if you like a good drama

In these days of so-called big budget Fifty Shades of so-so, thank God for films like "Outside In". Seriously, thank you! "Outside In" is the real deal where love is heart-breaking, painfully flawed, raw! And possibly home-breaking on occasion. This heart-wrenching earth-shattering near-lyrical drama piece grips my heart in a vice from its gentle-toned beginning right to its powerful end. My heart is in my throat begging for a chance and some understanding for the main character, CHRIS, who has been without understanding and compassion, even love, for so long (20 years) his life has become a desert without water, and I kept praying as I watched, for him not to be broken or hurt further by the one person from whom such an act would be a killing blow, Carol. A Tale of the purest innocent love so heart-achingly portrayed that I am without words. Give me "Outside In" over Fifty Shades of Whatever any day!

Outside In (Spoiler Alert)

Great example of low budget drama film where the actor's capacities, almost exclusively, determines the movie's entertainment worth. No action film special effects here! The actor's skill, along with the direction by Lynn Sheldon, and some unique additions from the musical score, is what makes Outside In an outstanding film.

The story centers on Chris (Jay Duplass), a recently released convict, who was convicted and sent to prison at 18 years of age. He served 20 years to keep his brother Ted's (Ben Schwartz) involvement in a crime a secret and Ted out of jail. His former high school teacher Carol (Edie Falco), kept in contact with Chris while he was in prison and worked for his early release.

Carol is the second primary character in the movie. She is an English teacher and a person that is in a long and dreary marriage. She has also grown distant from the third primary character of the movie, her teenage daughter Hildy (Kaitlyn Dever). Carol's dreary marriage situation, and distance relationship to Hildy, is at least partially caused by the time Carol has devoted to helping Chris. Hildy is somewhat withdrawn from the world, and perhaps lonely, but takes refuge in her art, perhaps not realizing the artistic talent she possesses. Carol's husband Tom (Charles Leggett) seems to feel his marriage to Carol is supposed to be dreary at this point in their lives.

Chris's brother Ted (Ben Schwartz), whose life seems to be a continuous party. He appears to be guilt ridden because of Chris's prison sentence that protected him, his infrequent contact with Chris while Chris was in prison, and his inability to do anything meaningful with his life during the 20 years of freedom Chris's prison term has allowed him to have. Ted's incapability to reestablish a relationship with Chris takes away Chris's most likely potential emotional support relationship and leaves him somewhat isolated.

Adding to Chris's challenges is his arrested emotional development, caused by being in prison since the age of 18. It creates issues with his relationship with Carol - as well as with Hildy. Chris and Hildy in many ways are at the same emotional developmental level and bond because of it. Ironically the common emotional level of Chris and Hildy causes separate, but similar, emotional missteps in their relationships with others.

The film is filled with numerous situations (some humorous, some sad) where Chris needs to adjust to current technology, culture and history that are a result of being away and in prison for 20 years. The situations feel very real and not contrived for the movie's entertainment purposes.

The movie progresses at a steady pace and the viewer doesn't realize they are being swept along in what, at the end of the movie, seems to have been a very real and believable representation of a true life story. A very believable story that could have been about a family member, a friend, or someone you know.

The performance by Edie Falco (Carol) is outstanding, with every spoken line, facial expression and action seemingly very believable and true to life. Carol is a type of character that has not been a typical Falco role in the past. Her performance shows another dimension to her skills and is a credit to her career. Kaitlyn Dever (Hildy) also delivers the same outstanding level of performance - but with less screen time devoted to her character. Dever again shows that she is clearly skilled beyond her years and should have a brilliant career ahead of her. Jay Duplass (Chris) also delivers a strong performance but perhaps not demonstrating some of the same nuanced drama capability as Falco and Dever.

This is a film well worth viewing and a pleasure to watch. Perhaps Shelton's best film to date.

Overall a very strong recommendation.

Beautifully written, directed and acted, it is a simple yet powerful in its simplicity. tender little gem of a movie. The cinematography's is minimalist and gorgeous. The two main characters are absolutely great. Totally loved it.

Just when I begin to think that everything worth while that can be said in a movie has been said along comes a brilliant work like Outside In! Other reviewers have done a good job of sketching in the outlines of this unforgettable film so I'll just say that in a seemingly understated style the writer, director, and actors did a brilliant job of recreating the almost mind numbing complexities of what might at first appear to be a simple plot. There is an "authenticity" to this film that at first appears gritty but later turns out to be quite tender. Whatever life throws at the characters their response is reserved and measured. Sincere! Everyone but Carol's husband reaches out, tries to put themselves in the other person's shoes, and seems willing to put self interest aside. When tears are shed you don't find yourself wondering how the actors made themselves cry, when laughter occurs it rings genuine, not scripted. Complexities are not made simple, endings are left open, important details are left for filling until near the end. Time and again I found myself putting myself in the actor's shoes, trying to figure out why they said a particular thing, or why they responded to something said, or left unsaid, in a particular way. From beginning to end this film was so "real" that I felt like a member of the cast myself. Great film and I will be watching it again in a few weeks!

Sensitive film, beautiful photo and played with small gestures makes this the best drama for quiet some time. Lots of undertones, dark and light ones. Took it to my heart,

This movie may not fit into releasing to major theaters. However, it is a touching one. I like the unassuming kindness and unorthodox story telling.

Human beings are fragile in our own natures. There are moments when circumstances are beyond our controls and our morals and virtues are put into tested. Making right choices becomes challenging to our souls and bodies. We have to turn to the higher power for guidances. Doing right things seldom presents conveniences. It often requires courage. But if we don't consistently challenge our souls, our lives as we know might be heading into extinction.

We have nature to be selfish and unsympathetic. This movie showed how the opposite side could be. It is a great treat for our souls.

Can you spend 20 years in prison and go back "home," and expect to find that nothing has changed? The short answer is no. If you try and force change, disaster will follow.

I love Falco, and some reviews for this movie were good so I watched it. This may have been at least in the top 5 worst movies I have ever seen. Don't watch it, it's awful. The male lead is whiny, always getting tears in his eyes, and just someone you don't sympathize with at all. Falco is good, but the story is awful and takes you places you don't need or want to go. What a mess. Avoid it.

6/5/18. After 24 minutes I just had to turn it off. It had such a depressing atmosphere about it. I wanted to see this because Edie Falco was in it, but it just felt like it would continue to drag from what I saw so far. Too bad.

Hey, after a 20 years unfair and unjustifiable imprisonment and finally got released, the first thing you'd better to worry about should be finding a job, maybe it'd be tougher than you think, but a guy even he was innocent, unless he got monetary compensation from the unfair imprisonment for innocent people, and got 20 years' worth redemption, in a small town such as Granite Fall, you should try your best to pick up the pieces littered and accumulated in that twenty years period, find a steady job, go back to school (better not get into the student loan aftermath that we've seen everyday) or whatever that would assure you a better future.

But unfortunately what we saw in this film was a guy who's not considering anything more important than to get his 20 years accumulated Hormones released with an older married woman. Man, that's not romance, that's absolutely disgusting. What were you thinking, Chris? This is a small town, got neighborhood watch, with limited recreations, with long, wet and cold weather almost year round, residents are bored to death, gossips maybe their daily amusement, yet you are trying to break up a marriage, even it's a long dead, standing-still marriage. After you left that night, Carol tried her last endeavor to have some long forgotten sex with her impotent husband but failed. This caused her to seek some ready answer elsewhere, and you're already a readily made available dude, younger and thirstier, more wanting. So, the so-called "Drama" that most of the other viewers also readily accept the predictable outcome. Of course, Carol's daughter got to have some say in this situation, that, shall we say, is also part of the so-called "Drama" should be included. But

Hey, it's no big deal, man. Nothing really that special. If Chris or Carol didn't give a damn about what comes next, Chris didn't want to worry about his health coverage insurance, didn't have to worry about to buy gas for his bicycle....Carol didn't care about her high school teacher's social role, the morality of a married woman although with an unhappy marriage, her income tax, her property tax, her medical bills, hey, it's okay, let's do it, man.

Well, this film is so pathetically predictable like a one-way street, long and boring.

In one word : heartwarming & human movie ! Love it :)))

There are some films that leave you wondering just how they got made. How someone thought that a script would provide close on two hours of entertainment. This is one of them. The story, such as it is, could have been told in a thirty minute show, with adverts included. It is way beyond boring and heading in the direction of total tedium. The characters are bland and uninteresting and it is one of those totally frustrating films where you are left feeling why did I give up two hours of my life to this drivel. This review doesn't include spoilers simply because the plot line is so thin and uninteresting that it would be impossible to spoil. Avoid unless you have difficulty sleeping.

Another amazing Duplass Brothers movie. Jay Duplass doing the co-writing and acting, the other one hopefully working on Creep 3, Mark, produced. Duplass plays Chris who just got out of prison for a crime his brother actually committed, played by Jean-Ralphio (you know who I mean.) His early release is largely due to Chris's high school teacher Carol, played by Edie Falco, campaigning for him. It's all about the relationship between the two, Chris falls in love and Carol is actually doing a job, volunteering to work on cases like his. However there are definitely some feeling going on there tho ;) And he also befriends Carol's teen daughter, Hildy... now let's just say Chris is genuinely a nice person, but his choice in activities with new friend Hildy, just makes you go, dude, you JUST got of of prison, as innocent as it may be, people be suspicious bro! A really good drama, with feelings. Great performances all around!! Watch it!! Filmbufftim on FB.

You can not unscrew a life that has gotten completely out of control. Edie Falco , nor anyone in this abomination of errors Is redeemable.

This movie floored me. Don't know what I was expecting going into it, but this came out of left-field and hit me like a tonne of bricks. Emotional bricks.

Simple and understated. 'Outside In' completely hooked me right from the start. I became so invested in these characters that I lost all sense of time and was entirely engrossed in their plight.

This film somehow reminded me a little of' Your Sister's Sister' without me knowing at the time that director Lynn Shelton had done that too. The writing was such that I was often on the edge of my seat waiting for something devastatingly tragic to unfold.

How the hell has Edie Falco somehow not won an Oscar yet? I can only assume because she has been busy collecting Emmy Awards and Golden Globes. She was at her fantastic best in this. It was my first time witnessing the acting of Jay Duplass, though a big fan of his brother Mark. I was impressed. The chemistry he shared with Edie was captivating. Kaitlyn Dever was also fantastic in her role as Hildy.

There's something about small town films that I find really comforting. Maybe it's the landscape, or the small town characters and simple way of life. Regardless, part of me wanted to move to the Pacific Northwest after watching this.

Some people might view the ending of 'Outside In' as unsatisfying or abrupt. I personally found it refreshing and a very fitting end to what was a great little movie.

Edie Falco from the Sopranos played a subdued character. She was good. The music was worth listening to. A pleasant movie.