AUSTIN CHRONICLE |
"Wanna get trashed? Donovan's surprisingly nuanced film - is a slice of life most of us are lucky enough to never see, or never see firsthand. Donovan directs with the ease of a man who knows his subjects, and Hasenfus, a hulking guy who imbues his character with more human heart than you'd expect, is a revelation." - by Marc Savlov
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FILM THREAT |
"Phillip the Fossil” is a stellar character piece, and a portrait of small town America that is frightening in its honesty and reality. Donovan delivers and the lead in the film, Brian Hasenfus, is easily one of the most charismatic on-screen presences I’ve had the good fortune to enjoy in a long time." by Mark Bell
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WE ARE MOVIE GEEKS |
"It's a relatively modern trend for movies being made with such realism and authenticity to real life — the lives of average, everyday people – often producing some amazingly poignant stories without the glitz of Hollywood standards. PHILLIP THE FOSSIL is one of these films. It gets in line with a relatively short list of films that include SLACKERS and KIDS that delve deep into the interpersonal, social relationships between “common” realistic lives. " - We are Movie Geeks
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INDIEWIRE |
>>READ THE indieWIRE INTERVIEW WITH GARTH DONOVAN
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| HAMMER TO NAIL |
"I’ve started referring to PHILLIP THE FOSSIL as 'MACHOCORE'. Donovan’s portrait of doorknob characters in a small New England town had me teetering back-and-forth at times between admiration and repulsion. Brian Hasenfus’s performance, which deservedly earned him the Best Actor prize, is so convincing and assured that I didn’t know if Donovan was condoning or criticizing his behavior—until I gradually realized he was doing neither. He was simply representing this world and these characters as honestly as possible (though by the end it became clear that he certainly wasn’t condoning their actions). PHILLIP THE FOSSIL is a confrontational film, and it is Donovan’s commitment to not judging his characters that guarantees it will continue to elicit strong reactions from viewers on both sides of the divide." - Michael Tully
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MEET IN THE LOBBY |
"If you, or someone you know, is a Masshole, you simply cannot miss this film. Boston indie filmmaker Garth Donovan steeps this one in a seriously authentic Boston-area vibe, telling the story of a crude, hard-drinking guy on the edge of 30, still dabbling with reckless teenage behavior. As the title character, newcomer Brian Hasenfus (right) absolutely nails the big, charming, street-corner attitude, a performance that’s already won him an acting prize from the South by Southwest jury. Donovan sold scrap metal for a year to help fund the film — eat that, Hollywood. Remarkably cast, exceptionally well-directed and edited. A personal favorite." - Meet In The Lobby
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NEW YORK TIMES |
"Donovan shows a talent for the poetic depiction of small-town life." - Mike Hale
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VARIETY |
"The influence of precedents like Larry Clark's "Kids" and "Bully" permeates Donovan's film, to its great stylistic benefit.... From its seemingly irredeemable title character to the rawness of its scenes of casual sex, drug taking and group violence, the film distinguishes itself from the crop of tamer zero-budgeters that usually hail from SXSW.” - Ronnie Scheib
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VILLAGE VOICE |
"Donovan’s idiosyncratic approach to character develops a compelling rhythm." - Michelle Orange
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BOX OFFICE MAGAZINE |
"A micro-budgeted indie with multiple virtues, among them fidelity to its anti-hero and a rare storytelling verve born of a sense of economy and the ideal confluence of form and content." - John P. McCarthy
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