MPAA Rating: NR
Director: David Spaltro
Starring: Rob Evans, Molly Ryman, Marcel Torres, Ron Brice, Berenice Mosca
"...Around" Video
"Embrace the fall"
It's a rare treat when I come across a low-budget independent film that boasts strong performances from the entire cast, solid direction, an outstanding script, exceptional use of locale and killer soundtrack. Ambitious, realistic, existential, moving, humorous and always original, ...Around is simply one of the best movies I've watched this year.
Written and directed by David Spaltro, ...Around concerns an aspiring filmmaker, 18-year-old Doyle Simms (played remarkably well by Rob Evans), who escapes from a troubled family life in New Jersey and heads to New York City to attend film school only to end up living off dozens of credit cards, homeless and forced to scrounge for food. The film actually begins with a series of flashbacks of Doyle's suffocating childhood, probably the weakest segment of the film, but as soon as he arrives in New York City ...Around picks up steam and we get caught up in the drama of his quest for self-discovery as he attempts to find a place in the world.
And so ...Around embarks on a picaresque journey through the ups and downs of Doyle's four years of film school as he sleeps in train stations, gets a job waiting tables at a boutique cafe, briefly finds a home, searches for romance, deals with his unstable mother and desperately tries to complete his film project. In addition to Evans, I enjoyed most of the other performances, including Molly Ryman as Doyle's love interest, Allyson; Ron Brice as his homeless buddy, Saul; Berenice Mosca as his ailing mother; and Marcel Torres as his best friend, Logic.
I don't know much about Spaltro's background (besides the fact that he made ...Around for $175,000 using 40 credit cards!) but I'm assuming the film contains plenty of autobiographical elements since the script never seems too forced or illogical. It is an impressive directing debut and I look forward to watching more quality films from him in the future.
Bottom line: If you're into overhyped, brainless summer blockbusters then ...Around probably isn't your thing. Go rent Quantum of Solace on Netflix instead. However, if you enjoy a thoughtful character study then I encourage you to seek this film out. It's definitely worth a look. In fact, independent films as engaging as ...Around deserve to get more exposure if only for the temporary relief they provide us from the mindless crap that passes for entertainment in multiplex cinemas throughout the country on any given weekend.
For more information about ...Around, visit www.aroundthefilm.com.
