A Crooked Somebody

This one will keep you hooked. There are no good guys and bad guys just people making the wrong decisions and trying to fake an angle. Well worth watching for the story.

Greetings again from the darkness. The lust for fame is really just a plea for acceptance. In director Trevor White's film, the lead character, Michael Vaughn, wreaks of desperation for acceptance ... from the public, from his associate, and mostly from his Pastor-Dad. Unfortunately, the path Vaughn chooses is simply the first of many bad decisions. In fact, the film is really a chronicle of the downward spiral of Michael Vaughn's bad decisions.

Rich Sommer (Harry Crane in "Mad Men") plays Michael Vaughn, a psychic who tours the country peddling his book and his "act". And yes, it's an act. It's such an act, that it could be considered a scam. However, Michael focuses on connecting the living with their beloved dead ones, so his (sparse) audience is filled with those who want to believe he is legitimate. His assistant-associate-accomplice-would be and one time lover is played by Joanne Froggatt. Her job is to prevent Michael from becoming despondent over the lack of book sales, and also to be his audience-plant when a session gets stalled.

The bulk of the story revolves around Nathan (Clifton Collins, Jr), a man who believes Vaughn has connected to a man Nathan killed. In trying to clear his conscience, Nathan wants Vaughn to use his talents to help Stacy (Amanda Crew), the now-grown daughter of the man Nathan killed. Instead of focusing on "helping" those involved, Vaughn seizes the opportunity to put himself in the spotlight ... gaining notoriety as the psychic who helped solve a long-ago murder case. And no, this isn't the final bad decision Vaughn makes. He manages to make things much worse.

Real life married couple Ed Harris and Amy Madigan play Vaughn's parents - the one's he so wants to win respect from. The script from writer Andrew Zilch offers some pretty decent on screen tension, though it strains a bit too much in places - even with a worthy and relatable central idea. It's human nature to desire acceptance (especially from loved ones) ... though it takes a flawed personality to strive for fame and celebrity (especially at the cost of core values). Here's hoping you don't see too much of yourself in Michael Vaughn.

Loved that line.

This film is about Michael Vaughan, a self-proclaimed psychic, who is searching for fame and fortune. He, in reality, has no ability but he has picked up a few tricks that help bolster his ruse with the desperate people who are hoping to reach their loved ones through the abilities he claims to have. He finds himself in a sticky situation when he is kidnapped by a man who struggles with guilt stemming from a girl being left an orphan after he killed her father. When Michael learns the identity of the girl, he realizes that case had been one that garnered nationwide coverage many years ago. He thinks he can use this situation to help himself reach fame and fortune and begins manipulating the situation. However, his father has tried to warn him that it is better to be a straight nobody than a crooked somebody.

I liked this film. It was decent as far a lower budgeted films go. The story was interesting and the actors did a good job with their characters. It would've probably been much better had there been more depth to the story. I'm glad I came across it.

This movie, for me, is a case of personal enjoyment trumping the more objective, amateurish aspects that should bring this rating lower.

But really, if you invest in better makeup, patch up some (okay, more than "some") plot holes, and tone down the press circus, this film would be comfortably solid. I do think, though, it ultimately deserved the solid score anyways.

Rich Sommer takes some warming up to as this character, but the ball really gets rolling when he takes advantage of the situation he finds himself in. That moment of separation between what a normal person would do once initially persuading a kidnapper to let them go and what Michael Vaughn does is the point of intrigue here. He is a dishonest narcissist desperate to make it big, and he is willing to risk a lot to get there.

Clifton Collins Jr did a great job playing a mournful but still scary/dangerous murderer. Those moments when he is really feeling the regret for what he did were excellent.

Also, the story is just so unique. Getting movies like this is so important for the industry, which is why I'm willing to overlook the results of low-budget-esque instances such as the awkwardness of any violence depicted.

Again, this film needed a lot of practical bandaids, but overall I found myself engaged and satisfied with what it had to offer.

WATCHED ON: Library DVD

HIGHER OR LOWER: lower since it just barely makes it into a solid distinction.

Really enjoyed this film. Kept my attention. Was not expecting this film to be any good. Turned out to be great. Check it out!