By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 2.5 cats
Director: Sean Gannet
Starring: Greyson Cage | Jeremy Sisto | Kevin Chapman | Neil Brown Jr. | Nicky Whelan | Ryan Canale
Country: united_states
Year: 2021
Running time: 80
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9363502/reference
Chris says: “The poster and the premise might lead one to expect another low-budget, mean-streets-of-Boston crime drama; thankfully, this goes a little deeper than that set-up. 25 years after a traumatic event that we only see fragments of until its full scope is revealed towards the end, Ronnie (Neal Brown, Jr.) returns to Roslindale, his childhood neighborhood to visit his dying former pal, Joey (Jeremy Sisto). From his hospital bed, the latter asks the former to seek out his ex-wife Pattie (Nicky Whelan) in hopes of seeing his 10-year-old son before his death. In an interesting, if not entirely novel twist, Ronnie keeps his contact with Joey a secret from Pattie, who also grew up in the neighborhood.
“While the film often plays out in the ways you’d expect it to, it also develops into a tender and surprisingly touching story of how each person differently deals with trauma. For some, it’s suppression and deception; for others, it manifests itself in shame and self-harm. Aided by strong performances (especially Brown, best known from INSECURE and STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON) and a deft directorial touch that mostly avoids heavy-handedness, it’s one of the better local productions this Bostonian has seen in some time. Also, it’s so refreshing to see something set in another Boston neighborhood besides Southie or Dorchester. 3.5 cats
“(Screened at IFFBoston 2021)”
Michael says: “This was a big miss for me, with an overblown, cliched story, and uneven acting. Former Boston-nativ Ryan McDonough, spins a melodramatic yarn about childhood friends who have been separated for decades due to a traumatic event that has never been resolved between them. Ronnie Russo, a black boy raised by a single mother, escapes his blue collar childhood in Roslindale to become a successful New York City lawyer. His best friend from childhood, Joey Donovan, never got out, had to deal with an abusive father, an alcohol problem, and a failed marriage. Now Joey lies at death’s door and calls Ronnie to come back home to help him resolve issues between him and his son, who has hasn’t seen for years.
“While it was nice to see a film entirely shot in Jamaica Plain and Roslindale, and an added bonus to have the film call out the Jamaica Way for this death trap that it is, the overwrought, nonsensical screenplay is just short of ridiculous, and Jeremy Sisto plays Joey like a cliche. Neil Brown Jr. manages to keep Ronnie marginally interesting, despite the inexplicable and poor choices he makes. And let’s not go near the accents. 1.5 cats
“(Screened at IFFBoston 2021)”