Hard Proof

Since Pulp Fiction, you haven't been able to throw a rock without hitting a video box emblazoned with such hyperbole as "more stunning than Pulp Fiction", "in the spirit of Pulp Fiction" and so on (and on). So it is tempting to ignore BOOGIE BOY, what with its box featuring a very familiar image of a tough guy wielding a pistol, plus the blurb "from the Producer of Pulp Fiction". But to pass up this film would be a big mistake. While it is true that BOOGIE BOY does ALMOST fit into the subgenre of Tarantino-esqe action films that have sprung up in recent years, it has an originality and a soul to its story that the Pulp-wannabes on the shelf have no idea how to achieve. Screenwriter/director Craig Hamann presents a world so dirty, so mean, so grounded in reality, that the viewer slowly slips into the story, not immediately realizing that he is being told a tale of almost operatic drama. Elements of good and evil, betrayal and hope, all unfold neatly, aided by the characters, both mundane and off-the-wall, who turn the protagonist's attempt at redemption into an almost Oz-like journey. Viewers wanting a mindless action film should look elsewhere, as there are no car chases or tacked-on gun battles here. The violence in the film is strictly rooted to the story being told, and when it surfaces it is sudden, swift, and brutal, with none of the sanitization or sensationalization that big-budget films so inappropriately prefer. Also present is a strong anti-drug message, delivered without any traditional Hollywood preachy moralizing. Instead, the almost tangible misery involved in the daily lives of several of the characters speaks much more eloquently on the subject. No one will ever mistake any of the drug use scenes in this film of being glamorous.

Craig Hamann, working with a small budget and a cast of mainly less well-known actors (Fredric Forrest being the main exception), has put together a film in which drama and action blend smoothly. It's a production ambitious but without pretention, which sets out to tell its story simply but with style, and succeeds admirably. BOOGIE BOY is a thriller that doesn't let go, and a must-see for viewers who don't mind a little thinking included in an evening's entertainment. One can only hope to see more from the talented Mr. Hamann, as he shows all the signs of being a filmmaker who doesn't feel it necessary to pander to his audience. The Hollywood film community could use more like him.

I gave this movie a 9 relative to the genre into which it falls rather than in comparisons to movies in general. I am a writer and currently viewing "gay themed" movies as research for a novel I'm working on. I have to disagree with "Moviemkr" on all counts. As a "storymkr" it was the tale itself that appealed to me the most. As far as story and plot (writer's vernacular much misused and misunderstood) I thought it had plenty of both. It was a neat little story of two men attempting to recapture love which started under artificial circumstances (prison) each having undergone changes since separating, that make an already improbable reunion impossible. It was well paced and without unnecessary artifact (even the violent scenes were muted with most of the gore off camera) and came to a satisfying climax and resolution. Nothing profound here but good tight story telling with few goofs. There is even a smattering of redemption and the gay twist makes this story stand out among others of it's kind. I thought the acting was right on. Dracascos and Wolvett portrayed well the hopeless, violent, volatile and desperate nature of life drenched in illegal drug dealing and addiction. Wolvett was particularly convincing as the drug addicted Larry going through bouts of withdrawal when a fix wasn't apparent. That the two men loved each other was obvious (their downplayed but touchingly familiar displays of physical affection true to character) but, sadly, so was the unlikelihood of the reunion each had hoped for--and no doubt dreamed of.

It may be of some significance to note that the front of the box boasts "From the Academy Award Winning Co-Writer of Pulp Fiction", which is a white lie as it only boasts Roger Avary as executive producer. But writer/director Craig Hamann does come out of the same group that Tarantino did, which was the Video Archives store that they all worked at, and in the mid 80's Hamann and Tarantino collaborated on the aborted feature-film project My Best Friends Birthday. So while Boogie Boy may appear to be a very pale knockoff of something from the Tarantino-verse (drug deal gone bad, bad-looking hit-men, some friendship stuff gone awry, weird supporting characters), it would seem to be more natural a thing to come out of Hamann than just cashing in. It was his feature film debut as director, and he probably carried some of those memories from the days of watching genre movies with the likes of Tarantino and Avary.

Sadly, Hamann's career didn't even turn out as good as Avary's much less Tarantino's, and after Boogie Boy Hamann's credits are basically non-existent. Maybe something happened during this production, or perhaps due to the lack of actual distribution (it's a straight-to-video looking thing right from the cover, and the eighteen minutes of previews on the VHS tape I saw confirm its uber-B-movieness). It isn't a completely bad premise, just a little tired: a guy gets out of prison, meets up with his old buddy from the inside (the two watched each others back to make sure neither was raped or beat up too bad), but the old buddy is a heroin addict, the other guy is clean and wants to move on to be a drummer after an impromptu performance in Joan Jett's band (yeah, she's not named Joan Jett, but she basically plays herself).

As it turns out though, Jesse goes along with Larry reluctantly on a drug deal, which goes bad and Jesse has to take out the baddie druggers. Jesse and Larry go on the run and hide out at some desert motel with two deadbeat weirdos (one of whom very strangely, though not funny-strange, by Frederic Forrest). That's the premise the movie rests on, and it's not very original. And for a film like this, it asks to have some strong characters, or just people that might be striking or different or have some kind of conflict that can resonate. Jesse and Larry, as played by Mark Dacascos and Jaimz Woolvett, don't really progress much from start to finish: Jesse leaves the high-and-mighty rehabilitated prisoner (albeit rather agile killer if need be, like a drummer ninja), and Larry leaves still a burnt-out-dead-end druggie. As for other characters, they either turn up dead or just... I don't know.

The characters aren't developed much past their initial impressions, and the dialog, while competently written and on occasion clever and witty, doesn't come anywhere near to the standard that Hamann's former Video Archives buddies could come up with. It carries some powerful scenes in fits and starts, but just when it looks like the actors (mostly Woolvett as Badascos is really stiff) could carry it somewhere else interesting, it stalls into formula, or weird asides with Frederic Forrest who looks like he just wanted some time in the sun (he only has one halfway convincing scene towards the end when he talks about how he came across a bunch of money).

And yet, for all of the faults in the film, mostly due to a lack of ambition if not some creativity (Hamann, like QT, is an Elvis fan thoroughly, which is a nice touch), I wish Hamann had made some more films. Between this and My Best Friend's Birthday, he doesn't shine out like a great auteur, but there are sparks that speak to an original talent just waiting to develop. Sadly, this doesn't really do it though. 5.5/10

BOOGIE BOY is an engrossing character study that is gritty, realistic yet stylish, very well acted, written and directed. It's possible that some people will buy or rent this movie looking for non-stop action, and perhaps they will be disappointed. However, for those who simply are looking to watch a quality film with a good story and interesting characters, this film is a must see. Mark Dacascos gives his strongest acting performance ever.

Being an old movie, you could get this title for quite cheap. I recommend you go out and buy it, if you are into thrillers. The plot is very well written, with lots of twists and strange happenings throughout the movie. Some of the camera pans can seem to be a bit below par at times, but other than this, the movie deserves a thumbs up.

Mid way through the movie, you will not know what is going on with some of the characters, but all is revealed at the end. The ending to the film is quite good, but it leaves you wanting more. I think this is what the director wanted people to think.

Without a doubt, in my opinion Boogie Boy deserves a well earned 8/10.