Tweek City

Abysmally low-rent, Tweek City is a pretty good movie-for the amateur production that it is. Anyone else expecting even B-grade standards may struggle to keep this somewhat admirable, though mainly pathetic student film on. While the lead performer does exhibit a pretty natural feel for his speed-dealing, paranoid head case self, he is surrounded by supporting characters who could have been pulled from a local audition. And although this director does weave a few interesting perspectives to immerse his viewer into the screwed up mentality that guides this brief and undercooked excursion, the prime focus between character exchanges all but makes one ill at the porno-level technicality displayed through the lens. For the extremely low budget shoot that it was, I am surprised to see a mass release- the short, forgettable "psycological character study" does not retain enough screen energy to involve nearly any casual viewers. I can only recommend this for the hardest of hardcore- movie watchers that is, not drug users, for the feint distinction of having created something slightly more then any generic local production that pervades the cesspools of wannabe artistry.

I had the displeasure of wasting my time with this movie over the past two days. It is a mess of a movie that stars Giuseppe Andrew who this writer knows best as the "party man" from Cabin Fever who basically wanders around having hallucinations and random run ins with different people.It is presented as a drug movie, but he only occasionally smokes a little meth. I was expecting constant drug use and speeded up commentary. The film jumps from what looks like standard filming to shots that appear that they were made with a camcorder and it is not pretty. The movie did have some memorable one liners such as "It's a blow job, it's just a mouth on a d**k." Or the memorable scene where the main star Bill is hallucinating while having sex and then vomits all over his sexual partner. She in turn defecates on his chest while he is sleeping. I am simply laughing while I am writing this review, as the movie is so ridiculous. I say watch the first hour of this movie for the one liners and gross out humor and then turn IT OFF. The ending is horrible and is not worth waiting for.

I usually don't like this type of film, but I saw the trailer for "Tweek City" and thought what the heck. I was glad I did. Tweek City is interesting from beginning to end. Eric Johnson's use of different styles of cameras really add to the gritty and dark feel of the movie. The acting was better than I expected. The story itself is one that we have all seen a million times, but different in that you find yourself starting to care for the main character Bill. Bill's decent into paranoia and the way it is portrayed is top notch. I have read other reviews for this film that are not great, but I say give this movie a chance and you won't be disappointed. If you have seen this movie and didn't like it at first, watch it again.

"Tweek City" is a fine little indie film that explores the paranoid world of crack users in the gritty, wonderfully realized underbelly of San Francisco. It seems like a "Midnight Cowboy" for the 2000s, part buddy movie and part cautionary tale.

The anti-hero Bill Jensen completes a real journey in the film and that journey is fully realized in the impassioned acting of Giussepe Andrews. Bill struggles throughout the film not only with his drug habit, but with ethnic and sexual identity. HIs sexual struggle gives his feelings about his buddy, Jerm, a special poignancy. Jerm is full of life force and enduring optimism. He and Bill's steady Latino friend are the only ballast that keep Bill's leaky boat afloat.

The cinematography and production values are way beyond the scope of most Indies. The look is stark, the soundtrack eerie and foreboding. I haven't seen anything by the director Eric Johnson before, but I would certainly add him to my list of "must sees" for the future.

I picked up the DVD at my local BB store as I always look for 'single copy' films on the shelves. Quite often I'll find a jewel amongst the dust...and "Tweek City" turned out to be quite an unexpected good indie feature. The acting was WAY above par. The better than good photography and editing (saving 86 minutes of the original 120) was just enough to hold my interest. It's a dark, dank story lived mostly true-life from the writer/director, but so honest about the low-life of drug-dealing/using...it almost rose to the level of a real-life documentary. It's not the kind of movie one rents to enjoy, but to spend an hour and a half living someone else's life and the horrors of drug induced paranoia can bring. I worked many years in drug rehab and this is one of the most convincing portrayals I've seen in several years. I'm sorry that my previous critics on this page were not entertained, but I was absorbed from the first frame to the last and highly recommend it to Indie fans as myself!