Gimme the Loot (2013)
Director: Adam Leon
IMDB Rating: 6.6 (1/3/14)
PuRock's Rating (10): 7 Dirty Malcolm Socks
If this film had an older sister: Frances Ha
Pros: Slice of Live, Realism
Cons: Acting, Story
This film feels real. I didn't feel like I was watching a film, but instead trailing along as if I were a trainee at a restaurant. It's a slice of life of inner city New York. I found the film very refreshing.
The story is about two inner city teenagers who want to make a name for themselves. The plan? To 'bomb' (graffiti) the illusive Mets' Citi Field's Home Run Apple. I know the Apple well, I used to go to Mets' games when I was living on Long Island as a kid. Of course back then Citi Field was known as Shea Stadium. The Home Run Apple was a big deal to us. There was nothing like watching it pop out (mostly because a home run was just scored). If the Apple were 'bombed,' I wouldn't think anything of it, but to the underground graffiti movement, its epic. Hence, the motivation to the story. They need $500 to pay a guy, to get them into the park, to complete the task. What ensues is a an adventure that really has nothing to do with the described plot.
The stage is New York City. The city has never felt more real to me (besides when I traveled there). My tour guides are Malcom and Sofia. They aren't the best tour guides because their use of profanity would make any tourist feel off put. The acting of Ty Hickson (Malcolm) and Tashiana Washington (Sofia) is like a double edged sword. Nothing to write home about, but the actors felt natural in their roles. The dialogue is very New Yorkish, splashed with a ton of profanity. Pairing the dialogue, acting, and the realism of NYC, you get a very 'adorable' tale of a boy and a girl.
A trend I'm noticing in a lot of films today, is the idea that to achieve the American Dream (or any dream in particular) you have to steal, cheat, and manipulate for it. Its no different in this film, where Malcolm and Sofia do whatever it takes in order to obtain the $500. Often times taking two steps back and one step forward. What's an even more disturbing trend is that I find myself rooting for these dream seekers despite their methods. An overall pleasant indie surprise.
The stage is New York City. The city has never felt more real to me (besides when I traveled there). My tour guides are Malcom and Sofia. They aren't the best tour guides because their use of profanity would make any tourist feel off put. The acting of Ty Hickson (Malcolm) and Tashiana Washington (Sofia) is like a double edged sword. Nothing to write home about, but the actors felt natural in their roles. The dialogue is very New Yorkish, splashed with a ton of profanity. Pairing the dialogue, acting, and the realism of NYC, you get a very 'adorable' tale of a boy and a girl.
A trend I'm noticing in a lot of films today, is the idea that to achieve the American Dream (or any dream in particular) you have to steal, cheat, and manipulate for it. Its no different in this film, where Malcolm and Sofia do whatever it takes in order to obtain the $500. Often times taking two steps back and one step forward. What's an even more disturbing trend is that I find myself rooting for these dream seekers despite their methods. An overall pleasant indie surprise.
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