By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 4.5 cats
Director: Casimir Nozkowski
Starring: Asia Kate Dillon | Brian Tyree Henry | Michael Cyril Creighton | Olivia Edward | Rebecca Naomi Jones | Sonequa Martin-Green | Sunita Mani
Country: united_states
Year: 2021
Running time: 85
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9350934/reference
Michael says: “Charles is a Brooklyn video editor who creates memorial videos about people who have the potential to die soon, for TMC. He’s also stuck. He just found out his girlfriend, Isha, cheated on him with a woman, he’s asked her to move out, and he hasn’t really left the house in a while. When accidentally locks himself out of his 2nd story apartment in his socks, he realizes that he has to interact with the people in his neighborhood to navigate the rest of the day until he is able to get a key dropped off by the landlord. Naturally the people that make up his community are quirky, but they are also generally good people. Whether it’s the pre-teen girl who lives above him, or the police officer handing out parking tickets up and down his street. He gets reluctant help from his catty, third-floor neighbor for whom Charles interrupts a threesome with a visiting Swedish couple, and he in turn helps out the 70-year-old recent widow who lives next door to sign up on a dating app. Ultimately, he learns form his community and moves on to a hopefully better life.
“It’s a simple story,. but honestly, sometimes the simplest stories are the best stories. Bryan Tyree Henry (GODZILLA VS. KONG; IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK) is a lovely Charles. Known for his comedic work, which he excels at here as well, he’s also a great dramatic actor, and able to shed a tear when needed. He’s slightly irritating, but in an amusing way that makes him fun to spend time with. His beautiful, soon-to-be-ex, Isha, is played calmly, and beautifully by Star Trek: Discovery’s Shonequa Martin-Green, who builds on her great television work to great effect. Other strong performers include Sunita Mani’s (MADELINE’S MADELINE) Officer Slater, Olivia Edwards’ (‘Crazy Ex-Girlfriend’) upstairs neighbor Elena, and Michael Cyril Creighton (PAPER SPIDERS; CAN YOU EVER FORGIVE ME?) First time feature director Casimir Nozkowski has written an effective character study that is funny and rings true He really hits all the right notes. And Brooklyn looks gorgeous… warm and inviting like any good community should. 4 1/2 cats“