- Sensibility: A somewhat sensible film with an undercurrent of what feels like a true story. However, a few scenes feel a bit artificial and forced to progress the plot into certain directions: particulary, an argument scene with a girlfriend, a few scenes with a trucker, and a bit about quitting basketball.
- Cinematography: Visually very strong. Production design and framing are excellent. Lighting, in particular, is quite striking throughout and natural throughout helping to enhance the realism of the story. Costuming is simple but solid. In general, everything visually about the film feels authentic.
- Energy: A slow burner story with a lot of good. Great performances by the whole cast help keep things interesting and immersive. However, the lack of soundtrack and score for large portions of the film leave little left other than the story and visuals to focus on, and there just isn't enough meat on the bone. The story pursues too many different directions and none of them quite thoroughly enough to merit the run-time.
- Narrative: A story with a lot of solid foundational elements that falls apart in the details. There are a few moments where the surprising brilliance of the acting reveals weaknesses in the dialogue. The film feels more like a few semi-connected stories stapled together than one cohesive thought. The narrative heavily on a mysterious father's past, but these elements go largely unexplored. The father's looming HIV/AIDs diagnosis is paired with some vague and general references to the impact on the LGBTQ community that lacks clarity in intent and message. A relationship with a girlfriend and a domineering step-dad/coach amount to tropes and transparent plot drivers. The film struggles to decide whether to focus on Bobby's struggle with homosexuality or Mitch's struggle with family and choosing a future. In pursuing both stories, the film falls short in thoroughly exploring either one. The highlight of the film is a relationship between estranged father and son and these elements of the film and the ending work well on the whole. Unfortunately, the rest of the story just isn't thorough or interesting enough to justify it adding to the run-time.
- T-Points: The film received two bonus points: one for a bit of dialogue with a Sherriff and for a line from Mitch "maybe for you" and one for a scene with a father and son reconnecting on a bench.
Perhaps I'm biased because I am friends with the director, but this film has a lot going for it. It's a great first feature film and I'm excited to see he makes next.
Number of Watches: 1
