EvenHand

What a terrific movie. We have Comcast cable, and the channel guide includes 1 to 4 star ratings (I think I read somewhere that they're Leonard Maltin's ratings). This film got 3 stars, which is fairly unusual, so we checked it out. I'm not a cop, but I have ridden along on a couple of shifts, and this felt very real to me. I enjoyed the rhythm of it, the pace, the juxtapositions, and the acting of the two Bills. The ending surprised me. The tone was light at times, heavy at others, but never false. It's too bad they didn't get into Sundance - at least I'm assuming they didn't, because this is the kind of movie that needs that kind of b.s. validation before distributors will release it theatrically. So, kudos to the Sundance channel at least for picking it up and putting it out there. I hope Joseph Pierson gets another movie together, he's clearly talented.

This is a slice-of-(police)-life drama, that doesn't take the "Hollywood cop movie" route of making the cops crooked. Nope, these cops are human. Bill Sage is great as Officer Morning, the slightly jaded cop taking Officer Francis (Bill Dewes) under his wing. Morning may act like an ass at times, and Francis too saintly, yet you never fail to believe that these two are each doing the right thing in their respective heads. Playing more like a series of vignettes (a la' 'Cops'), this film doesn't have a true plotline until late in the film. But that's just a minor quibble. As far as independent films go, this still remains one of the better ones that I've seen in a while.

My Grade: C

Where i Saw it: Sundance Channel

It's not often we see a cop movie that hits us as being so realistic that we can truly believe in the characters as real people. EvenHand does exactly this. The film follows two very cops in smalltown Texas. Both of them are doing the job to the best of their ability and both have very different approaches – one has a no-nonsense approach and the other tries to be understanding and the people's friend. After seeing the more obvious failings of the first approach we are introduced to the downside of the more people-centred approach and realize, as do the cops in the story, that the answer maybe lies somewhere in between. It's a film not so much about the stories of petty crime they attempt to address but a careful and telling character study and comment on the difficulty of police work and finding the best way of doing the job, and in doing so becomes a moving emotional drama. In a climate where American movies usually spell style over substance, this is a welcome voice in independent filmmaking.

This is an indie film that is so close to being good, it's frustrating. The performances by Bill Dawes and Bill Sage are engaging and endearing, the cinematography by Tim Orr exquisite, and the songs by Mike Doughty brilliant. Unfortunately, certain elements of the directing, editing, and score may help explain why it didn't get the theatrical release it could and SHOULD have received. The first half hour begins slow and foreboding (with a bizarro "Crouching Tiger" instrumental in the background), which would be fine, except for the fact that what slowly and ultimately emerges from this movie is not a mood piece, karate flick, or "meditation" on cop life. What emerges is a character study played to near perfection by the two lead actors. I hope that they get the recognition they deserve from this film. It is worth just to see what good acting is all about.

This is a slow paced but enjoyable little indie film. It's sort of like watching an episode of "Cops", but you get to see what the officers really talk about between calls.

Having been a police officer for the past eight years, I must also compliment the film makers and screenwriter for a portrayal of uniformed officers that is as realistic as anything I've seen on film. It is clear to me that the screenwriter, and I'm sure the actors, spent some time researching police officers. The small talk between partners ("You don't like women because of their personality, do you?") was both funny and bang on - I'm sure I had the same conversation myself.

There were some flaws that stuck out for me - officer Morning carries both an expandable baton and a straight stick; he brings his mag-light out of the car and puts it on his belt in broad daylight; and he wears his uniform when he goes out drinking at a bar.

Nevertheless, the feel was right. The same calls, the same idiots they have to deal with, the same monotony day and night punctuated by a few moments of adrenaline and danger.

I also found the acting to be good, especially Bill Sage as Officer Morning. He reminded me of a friend of mine I used to partner with.

The soundtrack was also very engaging and appropriate, giving a very bluesy feel like something from Ry Cooder.

Not a perfect film, but definitely the best cop film in the past several years. If you like the police stories on Third Watch, you'll like this.