Wednesday, June 01, 2005

Shadow Hours (2000)

For as much as you may think there might be, sadly, there is no marionette show...

Genre: Drama Thriller

Starring: Balthazar Getty (Feast; Lost Highway), Peter Weller (Naked Lunch; Robocop)

Directed By: Isaac H. Eaton

Overview: A recovering alcoholic and drug user tries to make a better life for himself, working the graveyard shift as a gas station attendant until a wealthy writer offers him the opportunity to explore the dark underbelly of the city streets.

Acting: This is not one of those films that will astound you in the performances. These aren't B grade actors or anything, but it does seem that the director chose a more melodramatic approach to the characters. Over the top from time to time, but overall decent.
Rating: 7

Cinematography: The imagery was there often enough, but the quality of the filming lacked a certain flair. There were attempts at cinematographic displays with such things as slow motion repeat-blurs illustrating the non-sober state of the characters. Overall again, good, but nothing fantastic.
Rating: 7

Script: This was very well done. Some of the lines spoken by Weller were pure poetry and without his character and his dialogue this movie wouldn't have been nearly as memorable.
Rating: 7

Plot: The story is my kind of tale. A man all too familiar with the dark side of things is invited to tour around it again, ultimately reinvited to join in the debauchery. The story develops really well and though the ending is a tad melodramatic, I really enjoyed watching this unfold.
Rating: 8

Mood: The mood could have had some help. There's some scenes that capture the underbelly perfectly with a nice score and wide shots of Goth bars, strip bars, opium joints, creepy dudes and out-there chicks, but the constant mood could have been a touch more ever-present, more creepy, though I guess it's not really what they were going for.
Rating: 6

The mudfight on the other hand was quite enticing...

Overall Rating: 70% (A Little Shady)

Aftertaste: This movie, though not excellent, astounded me. I remember when first I saw it: It was just there on the shelf, I'd never heard of it and the story seemed just interesting enough to try (this is my gift, the willingness to explore shitty movies). I was blown away by the story, the darkness of the man who takes us through the night. Sure, remembering back doesn't inspire the same inspiring awe but it's still a great little tale.