Multi-Facial

I have been spouting facts about Vin Diesel for months now, telling all of my friends to see this and that movie with Vin Diesel in it. I am eagerly awaiting Knockaround Guys, and even more eagerly awaiting Doormen. Now that I have seen Multi-Facial, I have an incredible sense of respect for Diesel's creativity as well as his acting ability.

Multi-Facial's portrayal of grinding it out as an actor hits home to me, as it does for most people. The main character, Mike, refuses to give up his ideals and dreams of being big like DeNiro in order to "make a living." I love that. Anyone who can see a goal and shoot for it, even when they are set back day in and day out, is someone who has my full respect. Finding in the end, that rather than slipping into a mold, he will be better as a "not too light, not too dark" actor makes Mike's character even more believable. I admire characters that break out of restraints and make their own rules. By the way, Diesel's monologue about the fictional father was so incredible, I thought Diesel himself was talking to me. I could have been anywhere in the world listening to him in person. That monologue jumped off the screen and into real life. If this is what Diesel does for his first attempt at directing a film, I can not wait to see what comes next. Talk about coming out with a bang!

I've watched Multifacial many times, and I am always pleased to still find acting moments that interest or amuse me in the film. Vin Diesel's physicality is arresting, pleasing and fluid. His voice is a marvelous instrument that covers a broad vocal range, while the deeper notes can hypnotize any unwary female.

I've seen him in other films and continue to look for those moments that capture my attention and rivet me to the screen whenever he appears.

Right now Mr. Diesel invests his energy in the world of Action Heros that he admired so much in his childhood. I am hoping he will soon outgrow the genre and return to more serious acting and to the portrayals of complicated characters like Mike in Multifacial, that I feel sure he can accomplish.

You know, before I got the chance to see "Multi-Facial," I knew of Vin Diesel only as the big Italian guy from "Saving Private Ryan" that got killed about 30 minutes into the movie--I was never too impressed. But after seeing this short, which Diesel wrote and directed, I was overcome with a new-found respect. This is simply one of the most touching, profound, and well-produced short films in the course of American film in the last 10 years or so. The acting is superb--Diesel goes above and WAY beyond the token ethnic he portrayed in the otherwise WASPish SPR. While watching this however, we get the feeling that this is more than just an entertaining story about a lost soul, searching for an identity (which others are more than willing to give), this is in fact a piece of Diesel himself, immortalized in film. I also watched some director's commentary afterwards and was amazed at the depth and intelligence possessed by this man. Do yourself a favor, and stay away from his shallower, mainstream work like SPR and the upcoming "Boiler Room," et al. If you watch this, you will be convinced of two things: 1) Vin Diesel will always have work in Hollywood, and 2) American short film is still alive.

This short was everything people told me it was going to be. I love Vin Diesel and anybody who loves him, and people who don't should see this. The people who love him should see the work that inspired speilberg (sp) to wrtite him into Saving Private Ryan and the people who think that he's a bad actor should see this just to eat there words. Oh, and just as an added little bonus, if you see this, you also get to see vin rap, :). All in all, a highly recomended movie. 10/10

Vin Diesel is probably mostly known for the fast and furious franchise which is great, but doesn't really show off his acting skills, Multi-Facial really did show off how good of an actor he really is. Great short film, I'd recommend.