Rating:
(out of 5 stars)Director: J. Michael Couto
Producer: David Chilewich
Writers: J. Michael Couto, Grant Holly
Director of Photography: Cameron Cutler
Cast: Chris Bauer, Currie Graham
Visit the IMDB page for full cast and crew
|
ANGELS CREST Rating: (out of 5 stars)Director: J. Michael Couto Producer: David Chilewich Writers: J. Michael Couto, Grant Holly Director of Photography: Cameron Cutler Cast: Chris Bauer, Currie Graham Visit the IMDB page for full cast and crew |
|
Review by: Warren
Curry
4/15/03
An imaginative and original take on the revenge picture, Angels Crest is a taut and atmospheric thriller, which isn't afraid to take chances with its narrative. Writer/director J. Michael Couto fractures his tale by jumping around in the story timeline, a decision that adds extra intrigue to the unfolding events, but doesn't accidentally obscure its content with the formal daring. Comparisons to Memento are sure to run rampant, but that association is much too obvious and not really accurate. Couto deserves praise for creating a film that has a very individual personality.
Like most thrillers that are worth your while, it's difficult to engage in a deep discussion of this film in a review for fear of revealing too many crucial aspects of the plot -- part of this film's success, of course, is due to its puzzle-like structure. In very broad strokes, Angels Crest revolves around two co-workers, Teddy (Chris Bauer) and Richard (Currie Graham), who on their way to work one day decide to take a detour up into the Angeles National Forest on the outskirts of Los Angeles County. Teddy reassures the nervous Richard that all of the company's brass will be tied up for the morning, so he needn't worry about arriving at the office until late morning. But moments later, an incident occurs that completely alters the nature of this get-away, and as the film unfolds, we're told in non-linear fragments the reason why the situation has turned grave.
Couto manages to give greater depth to his sharp, tight screenplay by adding more cerebral themes into the mix. His attention to the elements that imprison the characters is akin to some of the work of Werner Herzog and even Gus Van Sant's latest film, Gerry. But whereas the aforementioned films are so spacious and ethereal, Angels Crest possesses a definite killer instinct and is very direct in its impact. At the same time, there are also larger ideas in play as the film ruminates about expansive concepts such as fate and morality. It's a very intriguing marriage of ostensibly disparate components, and it serves the film quite well.
Obviously, good performances are essential
for a feature-length film with only two human characters (Angeles
National Forest being a non-human character) to work, and Bauer
and Graham do their jobs commendably. They both bring vulnerability
to their roles, and the way the characters are shaped during the
film strengthens the performances. Couto dramatically ups the
tension by transmitting the information strictly on a "need
to know" basis.
Angles Crest has a quick enough pace to sustain the interest
of those who like their thrillers economic and to the point, yet
also embraces wider concerns and feels more substantive than the
typical suspense movie. Couto achieves the difficult task of successfully
playing both sides of the game, and has made a potent film that
certainly deserves distribution at the conclusion of its festival
run.
(Screened at the 2003 Method Fest.)
Share your thoughts on our "no registration required" message boards.
|
|
|
|
|