Black Ruby

Black Ruby is an actor's piece and does have dark comedy elements, kind of Kevin Smith and a bit of Woody Allen. The movie does have its share of violence and remarkably strays away from sexual antics. Ruby, is played by the exotically silent Krystal E. Heredia, which her role is really a subplot with the main theme being a brotherhood gone wrong between Jules and Louis.

Joseph Mennella and Zachary Laoutides certainly do conjure Brando and Clift mannerism and expressions, with Laoutides entirely changing physicality in the movie changing his hairstyle and eye color to exceedingly display his range. This is Laoutides' third film coming off his 2017 release of the thriller Arise from Darkness (FYI much better when the film was called 'When My Eye's Go Dark' and not catering to the ghost fanatics) and he once again is the screenplay writer and co-star.

From my observations all of Laoutides' screenplays seem to have an art house quirky subtlety to them and Black Ruby is no different. You will need to figure out what is hidden in between the lines or do playbacks to see what you may have missed.

Also, not happy reading these reviews and some of the commentaries. Why was the film changed to color when parts of it were supposed to be black and white? I felt the same way, 'jeeez this film should be black and white, that would work really well.' To only find out it was!

Directors cut would be nice.