Bull

Greetings again from the darkness. A film focusing on an unlikely intersecting of cross-generational dead-end lives in a mostly ignored poverty-stricken area on the outskirts of Houston may not seem like much of a pick-me-up during these challenging times. And while it's not a crowd-pleaser, it is pleasing in a high quality independent filmmaking kind of way - especially to those of us who thrive on such projects. Writer-director Annie Silverstein's first feature film was co-written with Johnny McAllister and Josh Melrod, and it never tries to impress with any cleverness or trickery, and instead allows us to wallow in the harshness of a world that has its inhabitants grasping for hope.

We first see 14 year old Krystal (Kris) and her little sister messing with a chicken that's been killed by their pet pit bull in their backyard. The chicken belongs to their African American neighbor Abe, who threatens to shoot the dog if it comes in his yard again. Kris spends an inordinate amount of time taking care of her little sister. They live with their constantly annoyed grandmother while their mom is incarcerated. Jailhouse visits begin with hugs, and end with frustration. Kris seizes on an opportunity while neighbor Abe is gone for a weekend rodeo. She invites her friends over and they raid Abe's liquor and pain pills, and trash his house. The kids all have fun, but Abe is understandably upset when he returns home.

In a show of mercy towards Kris' grandmother, Abe agrees to allow Kris to clean up the party mess rather than be arrested and shipped to juvenile detention. Slowly, very slowly, Abe and Kris begin to bond. She is fascinated by middle-aged Abe's history. He was once a bull rider, and now he's a bull fighter - one of the guys in the arena who distracts the bulls so the riders can escape safely after their ride. His body and spirit are broken, and he's constantly in pain and sore. Kris, a sullen teenager, carries her own pain. Her situation is such that we (and Abe) find it difficult, if not meaningless, to judge her. She desperately wants to be loved and cared for, but finds none of that through her family or "friends."

Rob Morgan, who was so memorable in MUDBOUND (2017), plays Abe, a man who fights to maintain his dignity in a profession more conducive to younger folks, and with a body that continues to fail a bit more with each gore. He has some type of relationship with his ex, Sheila (Yolanda Ross), but mostly he's alone and quiet until he's around his fellow rodeo performers. Newcomer Amber Havard plays Kris, and captures the confusion and hurt with subtle facial movements of an actress far more experienced. The moment her mother (Peggy Schott) lets her down yet again is gut-wrenching, and we feel Kris' pain every bit as much as we feel Abe's pain at the tip of a bull horn.

Ms. Silverstein's film is surely to draw comparisons to the excellent THE RIDER (2017), with its understated approach, and power in the quietness and stillness. It touches on African American rodeos, and provides a contrast with 'white' rodeos, while also showing us the sex and drug issues facing young Kris. With its multi-generational view of life, we see a girl desperate for a role model, and a man coming to terms with loneliness. Kris and Abe prove quite the odd couple as she finds a glimmer of hope in her desire to become a bull rider, and Abe finds a companion and reason to carry on. The two fine performances help us deal with the often bleak daily lives of Kris and Abe, and Ms. Silverstein directs her film in such a visceral way that, as viewers, we are appreciative when the cloud lifts just a bit.

It seems that the two types of opinion regarding this film are either from those against cruelty to animals or the ones who don't think it has anything to do with cruelty to animals,......... Let's put that subject to one side, Bull is a pretty well made film, that's well cast but doesn't offer anything particularly new regarding story. It is obvious it has been created with heart and talent even though it falls short with originality. Scored it 5, might be low to some but I think it hits right in the middle with satisfaction. Will happily look into the cast and crew filmography!

14 year old Kris and her younger sister live with their grandmother since their mother is in prison. Her neighbor Abe is a black rodeo cowboy struggling to stay on the circuit despite suffering injuries. He comes home to find Kris had trashed his place with a party. He reluctantly agrees to allow her to work as compensation. Her mother tells her about a plan to buy a double-wide to reunite with the family. They need $3k which they don't have but Kris intends to get it.

I really like these characters who are the stuck in the trash heaps of society. I like Abe's quiet dignity and his self-reliance. Their initial connection is great. He's looking around scared as the little girl is screaming for help. It all has the feel of reality including the girl's low energy quiet performance. The only problem arises in the climatic scene where I had hoped that she could raise her energy output to punch an exclamation point in her performance. She's not really an actual actress. She's only a kid. That's why I like her in the first place.

"Relationships are kind of like riding a bull. You hang on for dear life and sometimes you get a little buck here and there but you get back on." Katy Perry

With all the buzz about realty, it's a joy to see real "reality" in a heartening independent film about rural rodeo and rural poverty in Texas without feeling the least bit cheated that you wasted your streaming cash or that you didn't get a full measure of the toughness of riding bulls and the challenge of surviving outside the fences. As if riding a bull were not the most dangerous game in town! Surviving life is.

Fifteen-year old Kris (Amber Havard-a newbie with loads of understated talent) is a sweetheart of a daughter, whose mom is in prison. She's quiet but wanting to learn, especially from 40-something wrangler-neighbor Abe (Rob Morgan), a seasoned Black cowboy who saves riders from bulls in the ring after the cowboys fall: "How do you know when a rider's about to fall off," asks Kris. "When his head hits the ground," responds Abe. Now that's reality.

Although the speeches are short and the action except for the bulls is minimal, a casual feeling pervades of experiencing another kind of world, i.e., poverty and the rodeo, as well as a worthy teen making some bad decisions but riding toward good ones. That she may someday ride a bull or bucking bronco may be inevitable-she's that smart, determined, and able.

Meanwhile enjoy being with her in her low-key world, where even poverty can't put a good girl down. It's a world writer-director Annie Silverstein and writer-husband Johnny McAllister give us in quiet, honest tones (the sound track's country tunes are perfect). Immersing us in other worlds is what movies do. These days streaming VOD like this is a gift and a virus-balm for us extraverts and for exploring introverts.

Reality check: After being caught early on with friends invading Abe's home, Kris implores the cops: "Can't you just take me to juvie?"

There is a good story here, though by the end we wonder exactly how it will be resolved. Will there be more? No, that's where it ends. We are left to wonder what happened next.

There are no easy solutions, but over time, it appears progress is being made, even with many obstacles. The story could have been told differently, with a more inspirational message, but this is what someone chose to do. We want to see everyone's lives get better. What we mostly see is small victories. Life is hard for everyone and that's just how it's going to be.

Most of the acting is really good. The African American characters seem realistic, with a way of speaking that seems authentic but not racist.

The bull riding looks dangerous.

Rob Morgan is really good, sometimes compassionate, sometimes demanding, sometimes quite angry. But his character has a hard life and he just keeps pushing, with alcohol and prescription drugs to help. At least I think he is using legal drugs, legally. And maybe he has faith (crosses are painted on his cheeks at events, and a cross is on his wall). However, he is never really a loser or a bum. If he's in pain, he just has to do what is needed to keep going. And he at least starts the process of turning a young girl into a bull rider.

Amber Havard is good but not great. She's an ordinary girl rather than an inspiration, and that's fine. We've all seen plenty of inspiring stories. This film is more about a relationship that develops, and she does a capable job of showing that.

Troy Anthony Hogan reminds me of someone, but mostly he just seems real. I'm not really sure what his job is. People like his food and young bull riders train at his place.

Sara Allbright, as a prisoner, is always smiling, no matter what, and seems determined to succeed, but like everyone else, she must face obstacles.

Steven Boyd isn't really a bad guy, but just someone who has to do what is needed to get by. Maybe some won't like what he does (I can probably say it's illegal) but he is nice enough. Not quite a stereotype.

Family friendly? A lot of words were missing. Abe drinks. The grandmother is bitter and uncaring. Drugs are used in a few scenes. Most drug use, however, seems legal and justified. There is a Christian message at times but it's pretty much limited to what I will call Black rodeo, smaller events which are not the ones that make Abe his real money.

If you're looking for excitement, there is some from time to time. But maybe it's better not to expect too much, and just be pleased with what is accomplished.