Tribeca 2019: "Blow The Man Down" Review- Crime Thriller With Coen Brothers Feel
If the death of their mother wasn’t difficult enough on the Connolly Sisters (Sophie Lowe and Morgan Saylor), now they have to maintain the family business, pay for a large home they cannot afford and deal with the strange behavior of their late mother’s friends. Then one of them kills somebody. If they want to, Bridget Savage Cole and Danielle Krudy are going to be making films for a long time. Both graduates of Wesleyan University, Cole and Krudy teamed up for their first feature with “Blow the Man Down”—a bold first film that, although presents some familiar story beats, offers a gripping narrative that exudes originality.
“Blow the Man Down” begins in song, a fisherman’s hymn you may hear at a bar. The song resurfaces in the film at different occasions as if the images on screen are merely the poetry between the lines of the song. I’d like to think the captain of the fishing boat, boasting his aria, is sitting us down to tell us a tale from long ago over a few pints. This approach to the narrative evokes a classic Coen brothers feel, like a “Fargo” set in Maine. It is the darkest of comedies but the humor works and this writing tandem knows exactly when to implement it.
The film is a mystery, a thriller, full of the classic tropes: the bag of cash, the hidden murder weapon. And to stress further, the discoveries of the above by our protagonists feels convenient at times, as if to only serve in pushing the plot forward. I must admit, however, this is a stretch for a criticism. The development of character and story is handled with aplomb. It is clear these two storytellers focus heavily on their characters.
This film boasts a powerfully female-led cast which features Annette O’Toole, June Squibb and is helmed by Margo Martindale who is a force to be reckoned with. Martindale plays Enid Nora Devlin, a businesswoman who presides over an eerie bed-and-breakfast called the Ocean View. Except, the place is a brothel. Enid has been running this joint for years, and although she now flies solo, once had the help of her friends. As the criminal operation soon unfolds, it threatens to unveil the disturbing underbelly of this seaside town.
The photography of the film is beautiful. The geography of the area certainly lends itself well to a majestic looking picture, laden with intense blue hues. While pleasant to look at, the thrilling nature of the story acts like a car crash—impossible to look away from. What Krudy and Cole steer clear of, however, is the ominous-music-thing-lurking-in-the-corner-bit. Of course, this twist is refreshing in that we have but the performances to lean on for the thrill.
After premiering at Tribeca this April, “Blow the Man Down” is still looking for U.S. distribution, but I have no doubt Krudy and Cole will find their audience. This is a true ensemble piece. A film that introduces two cinematic voices that, as Loren Hammonds puts, “won’t soon be forgotten.”
Grade: B+
"Five Star" Review
Rome wasn’t built in a day, and according to writer/director Keith Miller’s Five Star, neither is getting into a gang. While using non-actors in a film can typically be a major success or massive fail, it certainly helps to have its main character, Primo (James Grant), a real Blood gang member both in and out of the movie. In this film, the authenticity of the non-actors’ work and the camera’s ever roving eye make for a unique take on crime genre films that soars.
John (John Diaz) lost his father recently to a stray bullet, or at least that’s what everyone says. His father was a well respected gang member in his New York community. His protege, Primo, takes John under his wing out of respect for John’s father and as a chance to help mold John. As Primo shows John the ropes, he makes it quite clear that if he decides to follow in his father’s footsteps the line between being a boy and being a man (gang life) is one that you can’t run back behind. As John witness the power and confidence of Primo, he is also seduced by the lure of quick cash.
As the film moves forward, two stories unfold. We get a glimpse at Primo the Five Star leader of the community gangs, who rules with an iron fist and draws respect from fear. We also see Primo the father. It is in between this dichotomy that we see both strength and vulnerability in Primo. Day-to-day moments like cooking food for the family or simply telling his daughter to behave juxtapose with brutally beating someone for not having his money, creating a character that you can both love and hate. At the same time you see John in his daily life. Who in essence is just a teenage kid with a girlfriend, a widowed mother he wants to take care of, struggling with the impact of not knowing his father except through second hand accounts.
The beautiful day-to-day moments don’t just take place with Primo, but with other characters in the film as well. For instance, as John takes steps closer to gang life, he and his mother (Wanda Nobles Colon) have what feels like an unscripted conversation about why she doesn’t want her son to follow in his father’s footsteps. The conversation is so genuine that the film feels more like a documentary than a narrative feature.
Keith Miller lets scenes play out and breathe, putting the handheld camera to use to create a documentary feel. He captures things not typically on screen in crime films, but are apart of the complexity of living a dangerous life, and perhaps life in general. Miller edits the film as well, and it’s top notch. With aural intros, the scenes blend together and push the story forward at a purposeful pace that leads its viewer. Miller allows you to get caught up in the little moments of the character’s lives, building up to a pins and needles climax.
Five Star is a worthy indie intro in the crime genre. It slowly builds, and snowballs, into an earned pay off. Five Star is out on DVD September 1st and is definitely worth the view!
Rating: A