Dashcam

The filmmaker sites quite some classics (the Conversation with Gene Hackman) not just as inspiration but as a tentpole. A movie this is trying to match one might say. The lead performance is really engaging and tight to say the least. Apparently he is a star of some sorts (influencer or youtube or something, I never had seen him before - but he's really good in this) - don't hold it against him.

There are certain hickups and if you are not into film editing, you'll either appreciate learning more about it (also the rendering and buffering times, that seem to play out in real time - you still have to have a good PC for this to work) ... but the main thing is: cover ups and conspiracies ... are they real? Well the movie surely answers that definitively - whether that says something about other stuff going on currently or not, will be up on how you view it. I'd say no ... but as I said, you might feel differently.

Our lead guy is an unlikeable nitwit who edits news footage from his bedsit while sighing a lot. He's waiting at his computer for some police dashcam footage to arrive for a tv news report. We sit with him and watch him wait. He takes some video calls from his 'friends' (people he seems to hate) and then we watch him sit quietly while nothing arrives. Sometimes he'll swear out loud for no reason. Sometimes he'll move his mouse slowly across the his computer screen to open Facebook or download a file. This is the entire first act.

After 25 minutes he finally gets the footage and slowly looks through it. Ten minutes later he goes to the bathroom. I mean, it's gripping stuff.

The smattering of other 'characters' appear as faces and/or voices via computer, a tired gimmick which has been employed in several (slightly) better movies. This is yet another five minute story stretched to movie length for reasons unknown. It's punishingly boring. There are true crime videos on youtube that can tell a complete story in 15 minutes. Usually made by one person. I respect those people.

I had high hopes for 'Dashcam'. The synopsis sounded very intriguing and I like films that take place on a computer screen. This film doesn't entirely take place on one, but a large portion of it does. Ultimately it ended up being a little disappointing unfortunately. It starts off with a really intriguing premise but then it really struggles to grow out from there and never really reaches its full potential for this reason.

The film is very short, but it can feel like it's dragging a lot at certain points. Sometimes we are watching a character edit and manipulate footage and this often goes on way too long. The story was also in real need of a twist of some sort. Something needed to break up the story and make the audience rethink things in some way.

All this said I didn't hate the movie. It knows its limitations and so it doesn't outstay its welcome. I also like the Russell Wilson-looking fellow in the lead role. Finally the dark ending was right up my alley. It's not a total misfire, it just isn't quite what it could've been. 6/10.

An editor is running really late for his deadline. He awaits a footage of film involving a traffic stop which ends in a mysterious deadly ending for all involved. Acting is standard. There is a lot of watching this man edit video footage and gets old quick. Ending predictable but not too bad a watch. 5.6-5.9 out of 10.

Best film I've seen all year. Very realistic and anxiety inducing. The acting was superb and great cinematography for a film that mostly took place in one location. I highly recommend it!