Humboldt County

As a complete film nerd I tend to watch a lot of movies I know little to nothing about on the hope that I will find a indie gem. More often than not I find above mediocre movies that are missing one or two elements. Lately, there seems to be a slew of more good movies, or maybe I'm just watching the right ones.

Either way, "Humboldt County", is one of these right films. Peter, a med student who receives a great residency only to fail his last class is whisked away (by Faruza Balk) from Los Angeles to northern California's Humboldt County. He is left stranded by the quirky Bogart (played by Balk) and now must cope with her "extended family" of pot growing philosophers and eccentrics.

The film is really good. I mean, really good. It meanders along at just the right pace, and mixes the Utopian idealism of the urbanites who have escaped to Humboldt to grow pot with the ever present threat of "The Feds;" this contrast used to anchor us to the ground while our head is in the sky. All the while, Peter, (as it goes in movies) is growing into a better, wiser, and less wounded person.


The film is neither overly dramatic, nor pretentious. It seems as though someone just had an idea and loved it very much. This love comes through from the superb and subtle acting, to the sparse cinematography that allows the nature of Humboldt to speak for itself.

I would recommend this film, if you have On-Demand you can see it before it comes to theaters (for the low price of 9.99) or just wait till it comes to the local Indy Art House. . . which is where I will be seeing it again; the best way to keep good movies being made is to support them in the theater.


As a side note, The Red Lion in Eureka, where my buddy Justin is a manager, is thanked during the end credits.