I really enjoyed this movie while I was watching it but something the director said afterwards made me appreciate it even more. He mentioned that the film is a throwback to 70's cinema and that made me think about how studios don't really release films for adults anymore. I know it's nothing new to claim that Hollywood markets it's goods to adolescents but it's still good to remind yourself of that every now and then. Before the age of blockbusters "Action" movies would have two or three action sequences in them and then the rest would be filled by, well, story and characters (remember, Bullitt really only has the one car chase). Anyway, that's how this plays out. It has a couple of action sequences and the rest is filled out with suspense, drama, and strong performances from John Leguizamo, Tyrese Gibson, and Rosie Perez.
This is just a great movie about a brother and sister (both kids) who are trying to make it on their own in the slums of Queens. The director, Ramin Bahrani, made a splash on the festival circuit with his last movie, Man Push Cart, and I expect him to do the same this time around. It's touching, moving, and all that jazz and it doesn't need to resort to swelling music to tug at your heartstrings.
Two guys playing pool without any pants while one of their wives gorges on ice cream. A very acrobatic threesome on the roof of a building. A naked fat chick in a bathtub full of eels. A drive-thru convenience store operated by strippers (pole included). Yeah, it didn't make much sense to me either.
Boring. And a little stupid.
Finally, a weird movie where all sorts of crazy things happen that totally makes sense at the end! It's a surprising movie about a young man who develops a wild theory that alcohol is a placebo after he fails to get drunk after his first exposure to it at the ripe old age of 26. It's got comedy and a lot of heart but at times it can drag a little. Never the less, it's great to see a local film that has a chance to take off (and by "take off" I mean "get a DVD release"). I wish them luck.
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