Ned’s Project

Ned’s Project does a decent job crafting its lead character. Regrettably, the film is otherwise unfocused. This, plus the film’s low budget means that Ned’s Project isn’t a particularly enjoyable sit.

Henedina, who goes by Ned starts the film with a long-term girlfriend, Gladys. Stable as their relationship is, the two women start discussing having a family. Gladys in particular only wants to have kids if she personally carries them. But before they can get too far in their family planning, the relationship falls apart. After their split, Ned falls into a depression. Eventually, she moves on with her life and begins a relationship with a woman named Ashley. But Ned’s desire for a baby hasn’t changed. She starts actively trying to achieve this goal only to find that it’s more difficult than she imagined. In a stroke of good fortune, Ned answers an ad for a reality TV talent competition for lesbians. Surely, if she wins the money, everything else will fall into place.

So, Ned’s Project lacks focus. It knows it’s a character study about Ned. But the events she goes through feel a little all over the map. The film is almost divided into two parts. The first is Ned’s failed relationship with Gladys. Because this relationship fails, this part of the movie feels reasonably pointless. It establishes Ned’s lesbianism, some character flaws and her desire for a family. But that’s not exactly enough development for an hour of film.

The second half is Ned’s relationship with Ashley and her competing on the talent show. You’d think competing in a reality show would be something of a focus in the film. That’s a big life event and unique plot point. But it’s not really. It interrupts her relationship with Ashley enough to hinder that plot. But the reality show feels like less of a focus than it should be. Plus, those scenes are some of the most boring in the movie. Ned performs middling contemporary dance. We see these dances in full and the film wants us to think this is more impressive than it is. Based on the quality of performances shown in the film, I don’t think the reality competition “Lotsa Lesbian, Lotsa Money” is going to last long.

Further affecting the film is the low budget. Primarily, the sound. The sound or, lack thereof in Ned’s Project is very distracting. It is often completely silent except for dialogue. Not only is there no musical score, but there’s little atmospheric sound or room tone either. Even things like kissing are depicted almost completely mute. There’s no soundscape to speak of in Ned’s Project. And that’s an issue for a film that seems to enjoy the moments in between dialogue as much as this one does.

Ned’s Project is just under two hours long. And it feels longer. The pacing and focus of this film is just not where it needs to be. And the low budget means it can’t make up some points through technical aspects like cinematography. Ned’s Project needed a good story to be a good movie. And it doesn’t achieve that.

Overall rating: 3.6/10

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