Adam on DVD Today

20th Century Fox Home Entertainment is releasing Fox Searchlight’s romantic-dramady about a man with Asperger’s syndrome, on DVD and Blu-Ray today. We reviewed the film when it opened in theatres on August 7th, we all agreed that Hugh Dancy’s portrayal of someone with Asperger’s is very good, but there were some unneeded scenes in the film. Our consensus was:

“Adam is an accurate portrayal of an individual with Asperger’s Syndrome. Overall it is a good film although there is a subplot which is largely unneeded and distracting. *** (Out of 4)”

The DVD includes commentary with director Max Mayer, several deleted scenes, which were removed for good reason, a featurette on the film, an interview with Rose Byrne, and the films original Sundance ending. Which was thankfully changed for the theatrical release - we all found it to be bizarre and poorly written. The actual ending works much better. It would have been nice if it had included a featurette on Asperger’s syndrome as well.

-John C.

A Retrospective of Summer Films

By John C.

The summer movie season is behind us. Whoever said there were only bad movies obviously didn’t get out to the theatre much, because I certainly saw a lot of good ones. From Pixar’s animated masterpiece Up, to the highly-anticipated Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, which delivered on every level. I’m going to take a look back on some of the movies of the past few summer months.

In May there was Star Trek. A hugely enjoyable franchise-revamp that did not disappoint. On the flip-side of the blockbusters there where small, but great films like Is Anybody There? and Goodbye Solo.

On May 29th there was Up. An animated masterpiece, that should, and hopefully will, get nominated for Best Picture. Besides Up, there was The Brothers Bloom on May 22nd. An incredibly entertaining, absolute masterpiece. Both Up and The Brothers Bloom are still tied at number one as my favorite movies of the year.

June was a quieter month, making way for films like the sleeper comedy-hit The Hangover. Although on June 24th there was Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. A film that has gotten a lot of bad reviews. I for one didn’t think it was terrible, but it did go on for too long and left me with a headache. It was literally just too much for its own good.

In July there was Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, a film that I thought was a visually stunning near-masterpiece. There was also the excellent (500) Days of Summer. An incredibly original romantic-comedy, that showed how every movie in that genre should be made. I thought both of those films were some of the best this year.

In July there was also G-Force. A fun, inventive and action-packed family spy film, about espionage guinea pigs. While it’s not one of the best movies of the year, I found it to be incredibly entertaining for both kids and adults.

In August there was, obviously, District 9 and Inglourious Basterds. But those weren’t the only good films to come out that month. There was also Adam. A really good movie with an excellent performance by Hugh Dancy, playing a man with Asperger’s syndrome. There was also one of the nicest surprises this summer. I walked into Bandslam not expecting much, and left very pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed the film.

Like G-Force, Shorts was another really good, inventive film for all ages. Another excellent film in August was The Boys: The Sherman Brothers’ Story. Who knew that a documentary about the famous Disney songwriters would also just be a great film?

There you have it. There were so many films this summer that I know I’ve forgotten to mention some of them. There were bad films, but as well as a lot of good ones and also some truly great ones.

We will be profiling some of these films again when the DVD’s come out in time for the Christmas season. Check back on Friday for my list of the Fall films that I’m anticipating the most.

Adam

Adam

http://www.foxsearchlight.com/adam/

Release Date: August 7th, 2009

Rated PG-13 for thematic material, sexual content and language

Running time: 99 minutes

Max Mayer (dir.)

Max Mayer (writer)

Christopher Lennertz (music)

Hugh Dancy as Adam Raki

Rose Byrne as Beth Buchwald

Peter Gallagher as Marty Buchwald

Amy Irving as Rebecca Buchwald

Frankie Faison as Harlan

Adam (Hugh Dancy) Eats His Nightly "Mac & Cheese" By Himself in Adam

- A Fox Searchlight Pictures Release

Our reviews below:

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Adam Review By John C.

*** (out of 4)

There is something hauntingly beautiful about the opening scene of Adam. As he stands watching his father be buried, some people have described the look on his face as “cold”. I saw a man overcome with emotion, yet unable to cry, not knowing if it would be the appropriate social response. The newest movie being distributed by Fox Searchlight Pictures does have moments of greatness, but on a whole isn’t great, rather just really good.

Adam is the story of a man with Asperger’s syndrome. When someone new moves into his apartment building, Beth (Rose Byrne), the two people start to get to know each other. They form a relationship that is at one time romantic and sexual, but at practically the same time she has to act like his support person.

The biggest problem with the movie lies not in the main storyline, but in a needless sub-plot. I didn’t find that the storyline with Beth’s father worked, it just served as a distraction. He’s going through trial for some sort of business fraud. So we get a lot of screen time devoted to scenes in court. I wish there was more time devoted to Adam’s relationship with his father’s old friend Harlan (Frankie Faison). At one point, Adam is going for a job interview, which we don’t get to see because we are watching her father’s court case. After all, this is a movie called Adam, not Beth’s Father.

Another more minor problem with the film is that the character of Adam has Asperger’s taken to the extreme. He takes almost every little thing literally, and has practically no theory of mind. After ten years at the same job, it’s likely that he would have some learned theory of mind. Hugh Dancy’s lead performance is incredibly believable and realistic, but the character isn’t always written in the most believable and realistic way. Dancy embodies the character perfectly, right down to little twitches and tics.

I also found that the movie doesn’t really explain what Asperger’s syndrome is, it more just shoves the fact that the character has it down our throats for about ten minutes, and than just kind of leaves it there as a plot point.

The biggest thing the movie needed was to show the diversity of people with Asperger’s. The way they could have done this is by having Adam go to a social group. Yes, space is a very common special interest, but it’s not the interest of every person with Asperger’s. It’s just as common a special interest as dinosaurs or movies. They should have shown other functioning young adults with Asperger’s, not make it seem almost like Adam is the only guy in New York that has it. But, this isn’t so much a problem with the movie as much as it is a problem with there not being enough public awareness. I almost wish the film had come with a disclaimer.

At one point Adam tells Beth that “He’s Not Forrest Gump”. I found that the first sexual scene in the film almost seemed like a blatant rip-off of a scene in Robert Zemckis’ 1994 Oscar winning masterpiece.

I liked the characters in Adam a lot. But the movie as a whole isn’t as good as it could have been, nor quite as good as I hoped it would be. The performances by Hugh Dancy and Rose Byrne are both excellent, Dancy’s performance in particular, but the movie never elevates to the level it could have reached, because it keeps getting dragged down by that pointless sub-plot.

I do highly recommend you see the film, but after viewing it is important you take the time to read about Asperger’s syndrome. If the film makes people aware than that is a very good thing. If people see the movie, then figure they know all they need to know, then that is not a good thing at all.

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Adam Review By Erin V.

***1/4 (out of 4)

Adam is the story of a man called Adam, who after the death of his father is now living alone in the apartment that they shared. A new woman moves into the building - Beth. He first meets her outside as she is bringing her groceries up the steps. He tells her about space and suggests that maybe they could look at the stars sometime together. Astronomy is Adam’s special interest, and he is excited to share it with his new neighbour. The plot is fairly straightforward, and not all that unique, except for the fact that the main character Adam, has Asperger’s Syndrome. (I am including a short description at the bottom of my review.) Because of his difficulties with social cues he has kind of kept to himself, and is kind of nervous at first around Beth. Gradually though, he comes to really enjoy and want to spend more time with her - and she with him. She helps to support him in the confusing social world, while he introduces her to the natural beauty around us all. A side story which could have been mentioned but not given as much screen time, is with Beth’s father’s ongoing court case.

I found it a slight challenge to rate this movie. On one hand, I am glad to finally see a movie that portrays Asperger’s Syndrome more accurately than some recent attempts, but I also must look at it’s merits as a film. It does have it’s flaws, definitely. In particular, it’s the court case that was kind of distracting. At one point, we see a courtroom scene in place of Adam’s job interview which he has been preparing for. If so much time was spent on the preparation, it feels quite disappointing to see something else completely unrelated instead. Also, I found a few moments when Hugh Dancy (possibly due the script) kind of slipped out of character for a couple of seconds. There were times when it didn’t seem natural for either an Aspie, nor an NT.

But, negatives aside, this film does have many positives. For the most part, this movie, as I said, is quite accurate. Hugh Dancy does a very good job in the role. He is - for the majority of the time - believable as a man with Asperger’s Syndrome. Rose Byrne also is very good in her role as Beth. Adam is shown as a very smart, and mostly positive, character. Like any “neurotypical”, he does have his flaws/obstacles, but he is able to confront them, and ultimately succeed in many ways. I also found the score by composer Christopher Lennertz to be very well done and fitting for the film. You can read an interview with him here.

I would definitely recommend checking out Adam. It is an interesting film.

What is Asperger’s Syndrome?

Asperger’s Syndrome is classed as a form of high-functioning autism. People with Asperger’s, (affectionately refered to within the Aspergers community as “Aspie’s”), often have trouble with reading non-verbal social cues, such as reading complex facial expressions and maintaining eye contact. Sometimes vocal inflections can be misinterpreted as well. Those with Asperger’s also struggle with sensory issues, such as everyday sounds - e.g. traffic noise - sending them into sensory overload. Contrary to what used to be believed, those with Asperger’s do not lack empathy, but often retreat from extreme emotional situations because their feelings come so strongly that they are overwhelmed. Asperger’s Syndrome is not just a list of things people struggle with though. Most people with Asperger’s are very smart, competent individuals. Many have talents in either technical or artistic fields, or both. Asperger’s - just like anything else - has it’s share of gifts as well.

It is important to remember - every person with Asperger’s is different, just as every person with blue eyes, or in a wheelchair is for example. One movie, or one description is not a snapshot of every individual out there with Asperger’s Syndrome. Far from it. Asperger's doesn't define the individual - individuals define their Asperger's.

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Adam Review By Nicole

*** (out of 4)

Adam is a sweet and heartfelt story about a unique relationship. The title character, Adam, (Hugh Dancy), is a lonely bachelor, who is grieving the recent death of his father, (his mother died when he was 8). The unique thing about Adam is that he has Asperger’s Syndrome, a type of high-functioning autism. Adam doesn’t really have any friends, except for a kind, patient man named Harlen, who was a friend of Adam’s father. This is all about to change when a pretty young woman, Beth, (Rose Byrne) moves into Adam’s apartment building. The two meet, and slowly begin to fall in love. Some of the scenes between Beth and Adam are some of the most touching scenes in the movie. Beth, like Adam, is also experiencing the loss of her father, through a prison term for a fraudulent crime. This, while helping give more perspective to Beth’s character, was distracting from the story about Adam.

What really makes this movie work is the excellent performances by Rose Byrne, and in particular, Hugh Dancy. Adam is sweet and charming, without being too childlike. Hugh Dancy is perfectly cast as Adam, as an innocent but mature and highly intelligent young man.

The script is somewhat stereotyped, which is to be expected in a movie. For example, no aspie’ would ever make comments to anyone like what Adam says to Beth in the movie trailer. Most aspies, by the time they are in their twenties, have had enough experience to pass in most social situations. However, Hugh Dancy’s delivery of the line is believable enough to make Adam’s character work. And the simple score by Christopher Lennertz fits this low key film, and Adam’s character perfectly.

Having personal, first hand knowledge of Asperger’s syndrome makes this movie all the more moving. Although this movie has been advertised as a romantic comedy, it is more of a drama. We see Adam’s struggles, as well as successes. The final scene of the film offers hope for Adam, and other adults with Asperger’s Syndrome. Go see this film. Whether you know Asperger’s Syndrome or not, this film is a touching story that will stay with you long after.

‘A note about Asperger’s Syndrome, and politically correct language.

Many people with developmental delays such as Asperger’s are moving away from pathological language to describe members of their own community. People with Asperger’s claim they do not “suffer” from Asperger’s, rather they have it, as a natural part of who they are. “Aspie” is a name that people in the Asperger’s community use to describe themselves. “Neurotypical”, or “NT”, is the name that Aspies use to describe the general (non-Aspie) population.

Being an Aspie can be likened to moving to a foreign country. You have to learn a new language, new social rules, new laws, and perhaps even get used to a different climate. The first few years will be a struggle, but over time, you will fit into the new country, while still maintaining your cultural identity. The transition will be even easier if you have support from successful immigrants from you country of origin to help bridge the gap from the old country into the new. Aspies too, do best when they receive support from both the Aspie and neurotypical communities.

To learn more about the Asperger’s community follow these links.’

www.aspergers.ca

www.autism.net

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Adam Review By Maureen

*** (out of 4)

Adam is a sweet and tender movie about a young man who experiences love and loss. The young man, Adam, also has Aspergers Syndrome.

It’s never easy for a film to accurately portray a character with any disorder or syndrome without resorting to clichés or caricatures. Fortunately this movie managed to accurately portray the essence of Aspergers Syndrome in the short time it had to develop the character of Adam. Since no two individuals with Aspergers present the same way in their challenges and behaviours, Adam had to be a composite of many individuals.

The credit has to go to Hugh Daney for making Adam a truly believable and likeable character. Having recently seen Hugh Daney in ‘Confessions of a Shopaholic” I found it hard to believe I was seeing the same man in Adam.

I really liked and believed the growing friendship and love between Adam and his neighbour, Beth (played wonderfully by Rose Byrne). I laughed and cried with Adam and Beth as they both struggled to understand and accept one another. It was Adam who touched me the most. I wish there had been more scenes showing Adam’s growth as a person and more scenes with his friend Harlen (Frankie Faison).

What took me out of the movie was the whole sub-plot of Beth’s father’s court case. I understand that introducing Beth’s family was important to establishing where Beth was emotionally. However, when Adam was going for his job interview, I wanted to watch the interview rather than having the scene cut to the courtroom. While the outcome of the courtcase is important to the story too much time was spent on these scenes. They were a distraction from the main story.

Overall Adam is a really nice movie. The story is believable and the ending fitting. The acting is excellent all around particularly Hugh Dancy’s Adam. The emotional ups and downs in the story and Adam’s character are wonderfully matched with Christopher Lennertz’ simple, paired down score of mainly piano and guitar.

Adam may not be a perfect movie, but neither is Adam the man. Both however felt real and had a heart, and both touched mine.

Adam is worth seeing if you like a good love story, know someone with Aspergers or are interested in learning more about Aspergers. If Adam is your first introduction to Aspergers syndrome check online to learn more about Aspergers and high-functioning Autism. There are many ways to support adults on the Autism spectrum reach their full potential in this world, just like Adam. Understanding Asperger’s Syndrome is the first step. Seeing “Adam’ is a good place to start.

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Adam Review By Tony

*** (out of 4)

Adam (Hugh Dancy) lives alone in a New York flat after the recent death of his father. With his father’s help he has coped with Asperger Syndrome, and his father’s old friend (Frankie Faison) now looks out for him, but the good job where he was happily left alone engineering voice chips for dolls is coming to an end. With his special interest in astronomy Adam has turned his flat into a planetarium and he likes to go out into Central Park at night to observe nature in the sky and also on the ground. When Beth (Rose Byrne) moves into the same building, they gradually develop a relationship despite, but also partly because of, their differences. Beth is a kindergarten teacher from a wealthy family whose father (Peter Gallagher) is on trial for some shady business dealings. He doesn’t think much of Adam, though Beth’s mother (Amy Irving) appreciates how refreshing Beth must find Adam’s sweetness and guileless honesty in light of her previous relationships.

Adam is a romantic film with two very attractive lovers, one of whom just happens to be an “Aspie” coping in a world of “NT’s” (neurotypicals). As such, it should have a much wider appeal than a film like Mozart and the Whale, which deals sensitively with autism but with its predominantly marginal cast may be dismissed by many as a freak show. Both Hugh Dancy and Rose Byrne are brilliant, all the more remarkable for the convincing replacement of their respective English and Australian accents with neutral (not New York) American speech. The film is not perfect. After some touching and amusing scenes of Beth coaching Adam in the job interview skills unfortunately lacking in most Aspies, the interview itself is barely seen, while the father’s trial which is intercut with it runs its course. The title character gives the movie most of its charm, and the trial and a classroom discussion of the Emperor’s New Clothes are distractions from it.

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Adam (Hugh Dancy) and Beth (Rose Byrne) "Look at Sky" Together

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Consensus: Adam is an accurate portrayal of an individual with Asperger’s Syndrome. Overall it is a good film although there is a subplot which is largely unneeded and distracting. *** (Out of 4)

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Beth (Rose Byrne) and Adam (Hugh Dancy) Share An Awkward Moment

To read an interview with music composer Christopher Lennertz about the film Adam, click here.

Fox Searchlight’s Adam: Q & A with music composer Christopher Lennertz

By E. Corrado

When did you find out that you were scoring Adam? It was over a year ago - probably around last June. I had actually heard through my agent about his movie, and I had read the script and I really wanted to do this film. I met with Max Mayer - the writer/director of the film - and we started talking about the project.

What kind of timeline did you have to score this movie? Originally, a month or two, but once we found out it was going to Sundance, we had a few more months.

What was it like working on this movie; where did you draw your inspiration from? I drew it from a lot different places. We wanted the instruments to convey kind of who Adam is, very simple and honest - not childlike - but very clear. The character has trouble when the people around him are not very clear, and what they say is clouded with subtext. So, we didn’t want to use a big orchestra, and instead used instruments like a marimba, acoustic guitar, etc.. In general we wanted it to be kept simpler.

Were you aware of Aspergers’ Syndrome before working on this film? I knew it was a form of autism, but I wasn’t really sure exactly what it was. Now I know that one of the things that people with Aspergers’ have trouble with, is being able to relate sometimes to other people, like what to say, and when to say things, and also when people don’t always say what they mean, for example.

Have you seen the finished film? Yes, I saw it at Sundance, and I think it’s fantastic. We got a standing ovation, and there were people crying and laughing throughout it. I think that they really got that this is about a man who has Aspergers, but it is told as a love story, and people were rooting for the character at the end no matter what.

I heard that the ending was changed from the original version at Sundance, to what will be released in theatres now. Can you tell me anything about that? Yeah. I’ve seen both, and I must say that the new ending does work better. We changed the music slightly, and gave more resolution at the end. I don’t want to spoil it for anyone, but essentially, the new ending showed a little bit more of how they [Adam and Beth] affected each other, and where they are now.

What were the challenges, if any, that you faced while working on ‘Adam’? Well, the budget for one thing. This was more like a labour of love for the filmmakers, so we had to make do with a shoestring budget. And also, obviously, the material. We didn’t want to over sentimentalize the movie, but rather try to make the music fit the person it was portraying. We tried to use music to show that he is still one of us, even with Aspergers. That he has the same confusion about love, and relationships that we all have to a certain extent.

When did you know that you wanted to compose music? I knew at 21. I had been in various bands, and I was studying at USC. I ended up sneaking into the Universal scoring stage - which is no longer there - and Henry Mancini was scoring a film in there. So, I snuck in and watched him for the day, and that was when I realized that I wanted to do this. Afterwards, I went to USC and changed my major to music, where I studied with Elmer Bernstein.

When composing music, what are your favourite instruments to write for? I’m a guitar player, so I always love to write for the guitar. Now, for this movie, we actually had a live cello, and that is one that is great to write for since it has such a wide range. You can play it high, almost as high as the violin, or you can play it lower for more darker sounds, such as when Adam is having more stressful moments in the school yard scene, or things like that. It’s the same cello, giving low, more ominous sounds.

What instruments did you focus on for Adam? As I said, we wanted a pure and simple melody which is mostly on guitar with a bit of piano sometimes. We did write pieces that were more varied, more orchestral, but we ended up removing and simplifying a lot of them.

Did you play any of the instruments? I played the guitar, and some of the percussion. We used triangles, finger cymbals, and things like that, since one of the things we wanted was for it to seem like there were little twinkling sounds for the planetarium scene and to convey his interest in space.

Do you use a computer to test out different sounds? Yes, I would make samples on the computer, and them Max would come in and listen to what I had done. So, he’d tell me if what I wrote was what he was going for - or if it would fit - before we went to record it.

What computer programs did you use? I used something called Q-Base, and Pro Tools.

Now, I know that you’ve done a fair amount of scoring work in the past, so what was your favorite movie, tv show, or game to write music for, and why? For tv, it is probably Supernatural. The creator of that show is a close friend of mine, and I think we both like the same kind of things in a show. It has real emotion, while it is also scary and interesting at the same time.

For movies, I would say that I really liked doing the music for Adam, because there is so much real emotion there. But on the other hand, I also really liked doing the music for Alvin and The Chipmunks for the opposite reason. It is not real, so you can just have fun with it. Also, it’s a different experience to go and see little 4, 5, & 6 year olds enjoying a movie you’ve worked on and seeing people watching an indie movie at Sundance.

As for video games, I really loved doing Medal of Honour. My Grandfather was in WWII, so that was one that I really liked doing the music for.

When a video game is based on a movie do you have to try to base the music on the original score? Well, you do have to have that ability, but it depends. For The Godfather video game it was quite a bit different. It takes place at a later date/local, so the music had to be different to reflect the times. But for a James Bond game, you more just have to serve the action.

What was your favorite part of doing the music for ‘Adam’? The scene where Adam shows Beth his planetarium in his apartment. One of the reasons is because this character, Adam, has sort of stayed away from people because they confuse him, and now he’s finally found someone to share this with. Because you have all of these flashing stars and planets, it almost seems kind of like a fantasy world he’s created.

Can you tell us about any other upcoming projects that you are working on? There are several. I am currently doing Cats and Dogs 2 for Warner Bros., which is a sequel to the family spy movie with talking cats and dogs from 2002. I’m also doing a movie based on the comic strip Marmaduke for Fox, and a video game for the Wii called Sim’s Africa, where you can control the world and all the animals. For that one, I get to experiment with different African music and sounds.

Is there anything else you would like to add today? Just that I hope that people will go out and see this film. It’s a great movie that isn’t just about someone with a disorder, but someone who is very much like the rest of us.

One Movie, Five Views thanks Christopher Lennertz for taking the time to talk with us. Our reviews of the film Adam will be available on August 7th, 2009.

Fox Searchlight and the Battle of the Unconventional Romances (UPDATE x 2)

By John C.

This July - Fox Searchlight will be releasing two films. One on the 17th, one on the 29th. The first one is a film that I’ve already seen. The highly enjoyable (500) Days of Summer. The film employs brilliant techniques to tell it’s story, including fractured narratives and split-screens. There’s even a dance number in the park. If the film had been a conventional romantic-comedy, none of these techniques would have worked. But because it’s a very fresh and unique film, all these elements work brilliantly. Fox Searchlight is pulling out all the stops trying to market the film. In the US, they’ve had free giveaways of summer food and promotional t-shirts. On May 26th, they announced free screenings of the film in 16 cities. On May 28th, 5 more cities were added to the list, including Toronto. I believe that once it opens, word-of-mouth will spread like wild-fire. Audiences will love the film. It has the appeal of two very likable lead characters and actors, played by Joseph Gordon-Levvit and, the almost always good, Zooey Deschanel. It’s “sunshiney” poster, is sure to attract crowds to the film as it decorates the multi-plexes. Our reviews of the film will be coming on July 17th, but I can tell you right now that I’m highly recommending it.

The other film is also an unconventional romance, one that I’ve not yet seen, but am very much looking forward to. Adam is the story of a young man with Asperger’s syndrome, who falls in love with the new girl that moves into his apartment building. I am at this point unsure how the studio is marketing this film, but I think that more focus should be put on it. (500) Days will find it’s audience no matter what, and it deserves it. It’s an excellent film. But due to the subject matter of Adam, people may not warm up to it the same way. On July 6th they announced free screenings of the film, but only in 13 cities in the US. If enough people are able to see it, especially in the Asperger’s and autism communities, then it will have a following. People may not see it on their own, but if they are told by other people to see

it, they will go. If you call them they will come. But only if enough other people already have, so that they have someone to follow.

(UPDATE) Denver, St. Louis and Toronto have now been added to the list of cities having free screenings of Adam.

(UPDATE) 5 more cities have now been added to the list - bringing the total count up to 21.

You can get more info on all of Fox Searchlight's films and sign up for free screenings at their website, here.

A look at the upcoming Fox Searchlight film “Adam”

By John C.

I’ve been thinking quite a lot lately about the new film Adam, which opens July 29th. If you haven’t already watched the trailer, you can get the link here. The story is centered around a young man with Aspergers syndrome, which is a high functioning form of autism. You can learn more about it at the links section I am including at the bottom of this post. Aspergers syndrome has been the subject of many movies, including the 2006 film Mozart and the Whale. Adam seems different, and will probably reach a wider audience, mainly because of it’s distributor, Fox Searchlight. They know how to market a film and get the word out there. To put it into perspective, last summer Warner Independent Pictures wanted to send Slumdog Millionaire straight to DVD. Fox Searchlight picks it up, and it wins Best Picture.

Adam is first and foremost a love story. It follows the story of Adam (Hugh Dancy), a young man with Aspergers. After his father dies, he is left all alone in the apartment they shared. When a new girl, Beth (Rose Byrne), moves into his apartment complex, he falls in love. I have not yet seen the film, but from the trailer it looks like it will be very sweet and charming, and a true to life depiction of someone with Aspergers syndrome.

Director Max Mayer got the idea for the film after hearing a story on the radio about someone living with Aspergers. Adam is a romantic-comedy-drama, with a touch of quirkiness. It’s also a breath of fresh air for the romantic-comedy genre, because most “rom-coms” aren’t very original. I don't think I'm the only one tired of seeing the lives of the neurotypically, romantically inclined, being the only ones shown in movies, as was the case with the overlong and boring He’s Just Not That Into You.

Adam is not just a story about a man with Aspergers, it’s a love story where the main character happens to have Aspergers. More appropriately, as the films tagline reads “It’s the story of two strangers, one a little stranger than the other”.

You can learn more about Aspergers and autism at these links:

http://www.autism.net/

http://www.autismontario.com/

http://www.aspergers.ca/

You can learn more about the movie Adam here:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1185836/

http://www.foxsearchlight.com/adam/

And you can learn more about Mozart and the Whale Here:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0392465/

Trailer Watch: Adam

Yahoo! now has the trailer for Adam, a new film that premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. It follows the story of Adam (Hugh Dancy), a young man with Aspergers Syndrome, who falls in love with Beth (Rose Byrne). The film hits theatres on July 29th, and looks like it will be quite good and worth checking out. It will be distributed by Fox Searchlight.

-John C.