A low budget independent movie that took years to make, a crowdfund campaign, COVID, and they were still able to complete it! What's my excuse?!
I've been following the journey of this production since 2019, and pledged to their Kickstarter. It's taken a while since then for obvious reasons. But was it worth the wait and the $10 I gave to the campaign? Yes!
The movie looks stunning, and the sound is crisp. The writing is strong, and the performances were amazing. Watching this it reminded me of a few favourites of mine- A Clockwork Orange, The Outsiders, Brighton Rock, and Alfie with Michael Caine.
For a character like Marty who evokes so much dislike, this could have been handled poorly if in the hands of the wrong director. However, its sustained really well through its writing and performance. There is more than enough subtlety and nuance to suggest a completely different person behind the Teddy Boy façade.
The movie is very polished, and I forgot this was an indie, being bought into its world. Sure, there were moments when I was reminded this was an indie movie, but I slipped back in without struggle. The actors and actresses were fabulous, and were cast appropriately. There were a handful of characters I wish I saw more of, or had a chance to learn more about.
The style is my vibe, but I can see this alienating a lot of people who may think its too 'arty farty'. Personally, I think this is a movie that takes risks, challenges the audience without spoon-feeding information to them, doesn't follow a conventional method of storytelling, or in other words its 'not very mainstream'. It's very self-aware, it knows its boundaries and limitations, it doesn't try to be anything it isn't, or to be pretentious. It's Dandilicious, and that's fine.
As a filmmaker myself, I finished this movie feeling motivated and inspired. This production had so many obstacles in its way, and its here to watch and enjoy.
