A Year and Change (2015) is a romantic drama that really connected with me.
It’s about a divorced man who has made numerous terrible choices in life. He drinks too much, parties too hard, hangs out with sketchy friends, neglects his son, and engages in too many toxic relationships with women he’s not invested in.
During a New Year’s party, he gets drunk, falls off the roof of a house, and breaks his arm. That moment is the catalyst for many positive changes in his life—including a blooming romance.
One thing I really love about this movie is the character of Owen, played with tremendous humor and likability by Brian Greenberg. A lot of lesser films would have written Owen as an immature man-baby who can’t take care of himself. I’m tired of the man-babies. They’re almost never realistic. Owen, on the other hand, is troubled but still functional—he has a steady job, keeps a house, and despite getting into fights and drinking too much, he can still connect with people and make friends. Because beyond all that trouble, Owen still has the capacity to do good.
This movie is less about the romance and more about the events that push Owen to want to be a better person. He remains flawed throughout the film—certainly never a saint—but the difference between the old Owen and the Owen that is changing is that he now gives a damn. He cares. He’s willing to invest himself in the motley crew of quirky folks who have suddenly surrounded him.
There’s Victor, a relative who just got out of prison and is trying to start over. Todd, now a quadriplegic, bound to a wheelchair after a horrifying accident. And of course, there’s Vera—just like Owen, she’s newly divorced and looking for her place in life.
The whole film takes place in a small town, and you really feel it. You get the sense that everybody knows everyone else, and word spreads fast. That creates real stakes when Owen has to make a critical decision about one of his old friends and where their relationship is headed.
While this film has a few comedic moments, it’s clearly a drama, and it deals with some heavy topics. The actors hit those high dramatic notes with conviction. A Year and Change can get very heavy at times—actually, downright sad. If you decide to watch it, be prepared.
One thing I noticed while watching this movie is that it’s clearly marketed toward men. That said, I think it has something to offer a wide audience. Even though it explores the male experience—specifically from a heterosexual perspective—the story is deeply human, and its themes of growth, relationships, and change are universal. You don’t have to personally relate to Owen’s journey to find something meaningful in it.
I bring this up because I keep hearing people say there aren’t any slice-of-life movies specifically tailored for men. That everything is either action or sci-fi. Well, pure dramas—especially slice-of-life ones—certainly do exist. And if you’re looking for one that really digs into the male experience, this one sure as hell is it.
Because what we have here is a movie about a guy who isn’t just trying to be better—he has to make some really tough, painful choices.
Every single actor in this film is fantastic. My hat’s off to Brian Greenberg, who plays Owen. I’m not too familiar with his work, but apparently, he’s an established TV actor. He recently played Rick Dodson in Suits: LA and starred as Ben Epstein for 16 episodes in How to Make It in America. Claire van der Boom, TR Knight, Marshall Allman, and Kat Foster round out the supporting cast. None of them are household names, but they’re tremendous actors who put everything into their performances.
Stephen Suettinger, who wrote and directed this film, did a stellar job. To date, this is the only full-length movie he’s ever directed. Before this, he worked on the visual effects for Avatar. I hope to see him direct again—especially in this genre—because he tells a great story.
Something a lot of people say about low-budget movies is that they can’t be good, that a lack of budget will always hold them back. A Year and Change is a big rebuttal to that. This film was clearly made with minimal resources. There’s not a single A-list star in the cast. But with stellar writing, strong direction, and incredible acting, we have ourselves a tremendous romantic drama.
I highly recommend this film.
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