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Hiep Tran Nghia, Dustin Nguyen, Phi Vu, and Dali Benssalah. © 2023 K Period Media and Thunder Road Films. Directed by Sing J. Lee.
Watched it at Sundance Film Festival 2023 Online through Eventive (Sundance #2)
A Simple Overtime Job Gone Wrong. If I was the uber driver in this film, I would've been dead but this grandpa knows how to calm down in a situation like this. But the situation goes into a complete direction full of heart, drama, and grief behind a director that has full of potential. This film really surprised me mid-way through and I was hooked due to its direction. What makes it more special is that it's inspired by real-life events so I was intrigued by its plot and oh boy, it was sure a well-surprised indie film. Join me on a Uber ride and explore the conflicting lives of these men and the old grandpa just trying to live his life. Story: Long, a Vietnamese driver in Southern California, answers a late-night call for a ride. Already in his pajamas, he reluctantly accepts, picking up a man, Tây, and his two companions. But the men, recently escaped convicts from an Orange County jail, take Long hostage at gunpoint, thrusting him into their getaway plan. When complications arise, the fugitives and their hostage hole up at a motel, and a tense waiting game unfolds. This definitely had that independent film feel but at the same time, it felt like a mid-budget film with excellent camera work and depth writing. I was intrigued by the story of this film and since it was inspired by real-life events, it makes this film rawer. The plot itself was very surprising and it went in a completely different direction that really worked for this type of film. It's a huge scope of a film but when the plot changes in the second act, the film gets smaller but for the right reasons. The film wants the audience to connect with these characters and I was so invested in their journey. The grandpa was very great and I liked his calm performance. His character backstory was quite interesting and it explored a path of redemption while mentioning his past failures. The visual storytelling of his backstory was well done. I really loved his relationship with one of the criminals. Dustin Nguyen's performance was very great and his chemistry with Hiep Tran Nghia who played the grandpa as Long Ma was well done. Their relationship grew from being serious to a father-son relationship. It's heartwarming and it shows that small moments with words and actions can change people's lives. The other two criminals were also pretty good but the one that stood out the best and can potentially get some awards buzz is actor Dali Benssalah as Aden. Dali gives a gut-wrenching performance, especially during an emotional scene between him and Long Ma. That scene inside the motel was haunting and just raw. That scene alone sold me for the entire film with his fantastic performance and amazing directorial debut from Sing J. Lee. Lee lets the scene play out and lets the actors take control of the scene while giving it space to let the director create a distinct look for each scene. I really liked his directing of the film and his drama direction really made it more real and dark while not being over the top. It's a calm drama film but it has weight to it throughout the film. The cinematography is very great with its film look and with the orange lighting and natural lighting, it pops out. I'm glad that my expectations took a turn for the first time in a while and this film really brought what I love about independent films by using huge-scope stories but making it small as possible. Even every little indie film will have some problems along the way which is normal. I would say the pacing of this film was pretty mixed. It was fast in the first 20 minutes but it slowed down but it was fast again but slow again. It was all over the place and I felt like the pace really made me think that the film felt dragged. I wished we could've gotten to know more of Eddie Ly who is the younger robber in the crew. I felt like there was some missing runtime with his character. Plus, the plot felt lost midway through the film but the slower dramatic yet touching moments kept the film focused on the characters rather than the plot which helps the film a lot. Besides that, I thought this was a very well-made independent film. Don't expect some wild action sequences, it's a much deeper film that will either love or might be disappointed. I really was surprised by this film's plot and characters. This was a well-made independent film with love and passion behind this project. Filled with great performances, gut-wrenching scenes, and beautiful cinematography. This was such a pleasant experience and I hope we get more films like this in the future. It's such a nice treat to see more Asian filmmakers in the indie spotlight. Coming Soon... Vizeit Score: "A-" (Share this review with your film friends and on social media! Thank you for your continue support.) Copyright © 2023. Vizeit Studios. All Rights Reserved. Review Written By: Everardo Garcia Jr.
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