Pads & Panels

Title: One Week

Format: DVD

MPAA Rating: Not Rated

Written and Directed by: Michael McGowan

Starring: Joshua Jackson, Liane Balaban, Campbell Scott

Studio: IFC Films

Film: Rating:

DVD Rating:

Review by: Sarah Kumley

The Film

One Week is a film about schoolteacher Ben Tyler, who upon finding out that he has an aggressive form of cancer decides to drop everything and go west in search of an adventure of a lifetime. Only a few months before the wedding, he leaves his fiancé, Samantha, at home, purchases a motorcycle and takes off. Along the way, Ben meets people that give him some insight into himself and he changes some of them as well. He also has an affinity for oversized roadside sculptures and visits many on his trip, taking snapshots along the way.

What is inspiring about One Week is that Ben is not only moved by the people he encounters, but by the beauty of the world around him as well. This movie makes one think about their own mortality and evaluate if they are living the life they want. If confronted with horrible odds as Ben was, what would someone do with their remaining time?

DVD Features

Maybe the goal was to let the movie speak for itself and let viewers get what they wanted out of it, but with the only special feature on the DVD being a trailer for the film, it is a great disappointment. For such a deep and interesting movie, they missed a great opportunity to show viewers where the idea for the movie came from, how they went about filming it or even how they were affected by the movie. Something, anything, would have been better than nothing.

For more info, mongrelmedia.com

Pads and Panels received a copy of the DVD courtesy of the studio for review purposes.

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