A New Wave
(director/writer: Jason Carvey; cinematographer: Kambui Olujimi; editor: Christopher W. Doyle; music: Chris Blackburn; cast: Andrew Keegan (Desmond), Lacey Chabert (Julie), John Krasinski (Gideon), Dean Edwards (Rupert), William Sadler (Mr. Roger Dewitt), Caprice Benedetti (Mrs. Cynthia DeWitt), Darlene Violette (Bank Manager); Runtime: 94; MPAA Rating: R; producer: Bruce Seymour/Kambui Olujimi/Jason Carvey; ThinkFilm; 2007)
“It’s a minor film; one that doesn’t embarrass itself even after it stumbles.”
Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz
This is the directorial debut for Jason Carvey, who despite awkward pacing and too much homage to other crime films shows his talent as writer and director. It’s a film that tries desperately to cash in on Tarantino’s quirky way of shooting pulp films, but has enough resiliency to find its own niche as it delivers a few innovative comedic scenes (in particular, an hilarious art gallery scene that falls into pornography and a dinner from hell for the aspiring painter with the future wealthy all-knowing in-laws).
It tells of frustrated twentysomething bank teller Desmond (Andrew Keegan), an aspiring painter who is unhappy at his job, influenced by his dreamy deadbeat gangster movie buff roommate Gideon (John Krasinski) to be the inside man in a robbery at the same bank where he works. The third wheel is the black Brit named Rupert (Dean Edwards), who according to the robbery plan presented by Gideon, in screenplay draft form, would be Gideon’s armed sidekick, as the two would be wearing expensive suits and disguised in ski masks as they burst into the bank and force Desmond to empty the loot in bowling bags. Desmond’s hottie big-chested student girlfriend Julie (Lacey Chabert) is proud of Desmond just the way he is and only wishes he had more confidence in himself, even supporting him against her wealthy investment broker father’s (William Sadler) icy cynical attacks on his job and art work. Things get dicey as Desmond has second thoughts about the wisdom of such an enterprise when his art prospects seem to be taking a more promising turn, which puts the friendship with the other two on the line.
The film’s twisty ending, of the botched robbery, which plays out as a cross between Charlie Chaplin slapstick and the bumbling Pacino character in Dog Day Afternoon, is cleverly achieved, which saves the film from its slickness artifice, temporary dialogue breakdown and long dry spells. The youthful actors fill the screen with energy and affability, and the colorful photography by Kambui Olujimi is pleasing. It’s a minor film; one that doesn’t embarrass itself even after it stumbles.
REVIEWED ON 8/17/2007 GRADE: B- https://dennisschwartzreviews.com/
Dennis Schwartz: “Ozus’ World Movie Reviews”
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