The Learning Curve (1999) User Reviews

Simple minded tripe in a slick wrapper

[=G= · 4/10 · 3 August 2002]

"The Learning Curve" tells an obvious and naive tale about a couple of young scammers who scam their way to the top. The film is an okay shoot with some decent acting talent, most notably Kidman look-alike Mazur. However, "TLC" fails in story and substances as it wends it way though a series of obvious contrivances fleshing out characters who little more than shallow mannequins while appearing to dig for depth but never finding it. Not likely to have appeal beyond a niche teen audience. (D)

16-19 year-olds....rejoice!

[dfusion · 6/10 · 18 April 2002]

...for this is a nice lightweight, shallow movie that should appeal to the teenage market. The story is pretty basic: two teenagers find love and get entangled in a web of crime while pursuing their quest for easy cash. Actors are unknown and pretty uninspiring, apart from Monet Mazur and the bad guy's speed-addicted henchman - he made me laugh quite a lot throughout the movie.

The biggest problem, for a more mature audience, is the shallowness of the story and the flatness of all characters. Overall, production and music is quite good and I see no problem in checking this out at your local video rental store, if you're in the mood for a light teen-crime action movie.

6/10

Watchable

[susankurosu · 5/10 · 22 November 2020]

Well acted but predictable story. Soundtrack is painful to the point that I almost stopped watching the movie.

Not Even Close

[piglet-1 · 1/10 · 28 March 2002]

Well, The stars were good, however they were trapped in what appears to be "revenge of the amateurs"... I'm a fan of B-movies, but this was just too bad, poor direction, coupled with a flat story, just makes one of the worst homemade movies you'd ever see... save yourself!!!

A ROLLER COASTER OF ACTION, GAMES, GROWING UP FAST AND A TWIST

[fenixflea · 17 October 2001]

I was invited to view the primer of, `The Learning Curve'. I knew that this was a debut film for the cast and crew, so it seemed that anything was possible. Immediately at the start you are compelled into being part of the action. Walking through doors following the players. I found it easy to identify with the characters as they played the little scams to make a buck. The sensual chemistry between `Paul' played by Carmine Giovinazzo, and `Georgia' played by Monet Mazur flies off the screen in 3-D. As the game unrolls, a hidden unlucky twist occurs that seems to good to be true. When the new found lovers attempt their first real thought out scam, they meet up with a "Record King", Marshal, played by Vincent Ventresca, who we learn is just as much as a scam artist as they are. Marshal and his partner, York played by Steven Bauer, want to revolutionize the entertainment world in the capitol of entertainment, Los Angles. The only thing standing in the way is a small problem, the corruptible Los Angles zoning board. At this point in the movie the incredible music kicks in, the action heats up, and this young Bonnie and Clyde team get entwined, in a plot that goes the mile. The cinematography uses the light to paint the mood, the music holds the rhythm, and the characters draw you into how life at times can be right on the edge. Well worth the time spent. I recommend not waiting to see this movie later on video, SEE IT NOW!!

A Bad B Grade Outing

[thirteeninchwinch · 2/10 · 22 June 2012]

A bit silly in parts with much of the acting and drama turned up to an excessive frequency. The style of this flick is quite cool, but then is belied by the unstylish plot and dialogue where the motivations of most actors just don't match up with their actions. One problem was a lack of gravitas given to events - out of place music and lengthy shots of no consequence. However the major problem for me was the main villain and protagonist played by Vincent Ventresca. This was a guy who was presented as gangster, powerful, and the head of a record company - yet his entire livelihood depends on a new mall? Seriously, a mall? Why is he interested in malls, where is the money for building the mall coming from, surely even if the mall is approved it will take years to get any return on investment etc etc. So the main plot device is nonsensical and the rest does little to make up for it. Perhaps if this were a blue movie all of the above may make some sense.

Carmine's smile lights up the screen

[nancegio · 10/10 · 21 February 2003]

Too bad there is such pain in this movie as Carmine's smile makes it worth the watch. Many will relate to the pain of a troubled childhood as they watch two young people fall prey to an "easy way out". I enjoyed the film but it had a sad ending.

wish that they had gone more into Vinny' character (bit of a spoiler)

[nbitters · 10/10 · 24 October 2002]

Now I have to say that the film wasn't that bad, but it wasn't that great. A bit of a loose story about boy meets girl, boy and girl find a way to get everything they wanted, girl realizes it was a mistake, boy dies just after he realizes.

But man if they had gone into more about Vinny's (Vincent Ventresca's) character, Marshall; I think this movie would have been wonderful. Marshall was such a Bad A@@. I want to know why he was that way.

I honestly would love to take his character, make my own film about him, and actually die to have Vinny play him again.

My recommendation... See it for Vinny. His scenes are really the only thing worth watching. The story is dull. The characters were not as developed as they could have been. And none of them (besides a more developed Marshall) where anywhere near where they could have been. Vinny's was wonderful.

Enjoy the Ride

[dniezby-2 · 10/10 · 20 July 2003]

I thoroughly enjoyed this film! It drew me in and kept me watching. To see these characters go through the changes they go through was truly amazing to me. Monet Mazur was geogeous and Carmine Giovinazzo did a great job along with Norbert Weisser who plays his character to the edge. I thought the film was well cast, the acting was superb, the locations were really nice and the story original. Just sit back and enjoy the ride because this one is worth the trip. I give it thumbs up.

Interesting Themes

[alasdair7 · 9/10 · 29 August 2008]

I would rate this film highly although you could give up watching very early on dismissing the whole film as a lightweight teen movie. There are rewards for continuing to watch, even a television version with carelessly inserted adverts for "hot babes on your mobile phone" after midnight on Prime in Australia.

There are some very sinister themes and perhaps the point of the movie is to give the viewer a sense of moral repulsion for the way money gets results.

In some ways it is reminiscent of Wall Street where Sheen crosses moral boundaries to please Douglas who becomes his great provider after he impresses the about to walk away with disinterest businessman.

Even the studio apartment is a bit of a Wall Street touch as Giovinazzo as Paul Cleveland does favors for Ventresca's character Marshal and becomes obsessed with pleasing him.

The Wall Street similarities continue as the young couple show their ability to perform non complex scams and move up to more sinister and corrupting deeds to get Marshal's Entertainment Complex "approved." The "persuasion" of the two singers is a very nasty moment and repulsed me so it was effective in my case.

The ridicule of the poor shop owner merely draws out the anger of the viewer and Monet Mazur's character Georgia with the stalwart shopkeeper remain the only characters with their integrity at the end of the film.

An extraordinary scene where Georgia's father refers to her as daddy's little girl seems to defy the general trend of the film, perhaps this is to give the character more strength and even enhance her status as a heroine.