Blue Collar Boys

I really enjoyed this movie because it seemed true to life. I thought I was watching a real family. I especially liked the scene between the mother and daughter. I thought the writer did a great job with that relationship. It reminded me of some arguments I had with my mother when I was that age. Even though I didn't agree with the way the characters behaved, I understand why they were doing what they were doing and what the filmmaker is saying in this film. I have two brothers and I grew up around "boys" like this. I can also understand how people who did not grow up around people like this may not be able to relate to this film. This film is not easy to watch because its subject matter is one that I think many people choose not to look at, but it definitely exists. I think this film tells a story that many families are going through in the hard times of today. I thought that the filming was gritty and the music was great!

I recognized a bunch of people in this film. The Russian guy from the Americans is good in this. Also the lead actor that plays Red is in that Ryan Gosling and Bradley Cooper cop movie. He plays the bad cop friend of Cooper's character who works with Ray Liotta. I like to see actors in independent movies because they usually have a bigger role than they do in bigger Hollywood releases. I also liked the way this movie was filmed. The colors and tone were so dark and beautiful. What you saw on screen was what the characters were feeling. The environment and visuals imitated the strife and conflict of the characters. The music was also very appropriate to the mood. Very exquisite filmmaking.

We all need a periodic escape from the harsh realities of life. Blue Collar Boys does not afford this luxury. Instead, director Mark Nistico's debut feature shoves us headlong into working class veracities we would sooner ignore. This film is not for the easily offended or those lacking in general fortitude. It digs into the unstable crust of the current capitalist system many of us have come to recognize and accept as here and now. It challenges our morals and values. It frustrates, provokes, and irritates while navigating the shadowy margins of right and wrong, necessity and greed. It is a timely film, a microcosm of the large scale struggles, globally and nationally. People pushed to the limit are bound to rebel. The direction, acting, script, editing, score, and soundtrack are all impressive...and all serve well, the layering of themes and sentiments within the piece. Raise your glass to the salt of the earth.

This movie grabs you from the first frame and grips you until the very end. There are no stereotypical characters in "Blue Collar Boys" that you're supposed to root for or are supposed to hate. You feel for everyone and are introduced to all of their internal struggles and you get to decide who the hero is and watch the characters progress, or regress, as the story unfolds. These characters are all at their breaking points and the audience gets to experience and feel their pure and raw emotion - something that is rare in films nowadays. The movie also deals with blue collar problems in an extremely authentic way and without an agenda. "Blue Collar Boys" is not just a one-dimensional genre picture, it's a real life film about real life people dealing with real life problems, which is very refreshing. Nothing in this film is idealized; everything from the construction sites, characters, situations, conflicts, and relationships is shown in a genuine manner. This is an uncompromising glance into the lives of everyday Americans dealing with the stress and struggle for money and how it can change your viewpoints on the world. "Blue Collar Boys" was such an innovative and frank film that I'm glad I got a chance to see it. I definitely recommend it! The DVD also has a very cool documentary about how the crew made the film.

It's rare to find a film that prompts an array of emotions throughout - anger, happiness, despair, fear, satisfaction, contempt, pity, enthusiasm... Every single character in this film is multi- faceted and you learn to understand every single one of them, whether you like them or not. There are no stereotypical archetypes in "Blue Collar Boys", just a glimpse into the life of an imperfect family that is so authentic you feel like these are people you already know. It's refreshing to find a filmmaker brave enough to make a film that does not pander to audiences or push an agenda, but rather provides a gripping story that showcases realism through art.