Edmonton International Film Festival 2008

Film: Dakota Skye

Director: John Humber

Studio: Desert Skye Entertainment

Written by: Chad J. Shonk

Screening Date: 6:45 p.m. Friday, October 4th

Film Length: 89 mins.

Reviewed by: Xanthe Couture (Edmonton Correspondent – Canada)
 

Growing up in Scottsdale Arizona is not the most exciting place for seventeen year-old Dakota Skye (Eileen April Boylan). She does not see the point of studying for the SATs, which her friends are already wracking their brains over in Junior Year. Dakota is busy trying to sort out her own problems, including her increasingly unnerving "superpower": for her entire life she has been able to tell when people are lying and decipher what the truth behind their lie is.

The “superpower” premise for Dakota Skye provides the opportunity for two interpretations. Although Dakota describes her intuitive abilities as a superpower, but isn’t everyone able to tell when someone is lying? It seems that the only difference between Dakota and everyone else is that she does not lazily accept people’s cover ups and excuses.

When Dakota meets her "nemesis", a boy named Jonah (Ian Nelson) that does not lie; Dakota is thrown for a serious loop and must realign her bitter perspective on the world and her relationship with her boyfriend, Kevin (J.B. Guhman Jr.).

This is pretty deep material for what could easily be a teeny bopper movie. But is seems that increasingly, with films like Juno, that the coming of age film genre is becoming with more and more mature and reflective  in portraying the simple struggles of growing up.

Dakota Skye is a charming, thoughtful examination of how life can seem complicated but really it’s a matter of our perspective. Boylan’s role as Dakota nabbed her Rising Star Award at the 2008 Edmonton International Film Festival. The recognition is much deserved as Boylan is in almost every frame, and carries the superpower storyline, making it real, humorous and touching.

Director John Humber knew Boylan as right for the role when he met her, even though they still had another 130 girls to see in casting calls. For Boylan, the role of Dakota appealed to her because of it unique storyline. "I just really liked how it was a whole new take on the teen film genre," she says.

The desolate Arizona landscape also added to the atmosphere of boring suburban life that Dakota muddles through in the film, where activities range from smoking, going bowling and sitting at the diner. "The desert landscape really mirrored Dakota's state of mind," he says. The location was also a smart financial choice for Humber who grew up in the area. Shooting close to home also had other perks for Humber, "My Mom did catering and craft services," he jokes.