Booster

The commonly used phrase "blood is thicker than water" is used when one's devotion to family supersedes friendship. That being said, there are always exceptions to the rule -- and "Booster" is that exception.

Simon (Nico Stone) is an endearing young man, relied upon to help his family members in need. His self-serving brother Sean is arrested and needs bailed out, his uncle Harold (Seymour Cassell) who abandoned his own family is in failing health along with his grandmother. Nico is not a career criminal but receives unrelenting pressure to help and assist his family members through armed robberies while they question his devotion in the process. Throughout most of its brief time span, the movie shifts between Simon's hazily defined underworld activities and his improbable budding romance with a sales clerk (Kristen Dougherty) who spots him shoplifting at her store.

The movie generates some slow-simmering suspense as Stone subtly conveys Simon's immobilizing frustration. Nico Stone's performance is really the only reason that keeps this movie mildly compelling."Booster" has a pretty thin story centered around an unappealing dysfunctional family that is impossible to feel sympathy for. Ultimately, "Booster" doesn't do a whole lot, and it could almost survive with its plot completely removed.

Booster is a truly fantastic Indy suspense flick! Well directed,beautifully shot, with great performances from "Non-Actors." Boston is of course a great city for this kind of movie, and one has to but point the camera at the city to increase production value, but the director here chose a few vantage points and establishing shots that painted a little different picture of our fair city. Of course, the addition Seymour Cassel (a muse of Cassavettes)gives this flick plenty of "Street Cred," but the most standout performance by far was the brother Sean, played by Brian Mcgrail. His character is the lynchpin of the whole thing, and although he didn't have much time on screen, he has the REAL brooding intensity that millions of actors have been trying to fake since Brando. I have the feeling the director and the cast are all going to do well, but I think McGrail is one to watch--

I gave this three out of ten, and that is being slightly generous. Acting was okay, but it has a feel of indie darkness and is SO slow it slithers about leaving a wet trail through its course. Nothing really happens, I must admit to falling asleep twice through the watching for short periods of time, and the ending is as much a let down as the rest of the movie. It just does not go anywhere, just keeps looping through the same locations and characters for the full boring time period. The acting is okay to be truthful, the filming okay too, just a terrible story, if that is not too strong a word to use. The music is dark and adds to the feel of low budget to the overall production. Save your time and give this one a swerve, the actors themselves are faultless, and may do well in future productions with more entertainment value. Overall to sum up, very disappointing, had the feeling in the first ten minutes to go watch something more enjoyable, but stuck with it as felt it may pick up, plus was basing watching it on two positive reviews here. Interesting that one reviewer hails from Boston, the location of the movie, perhaps that gives more of an appeal to the film, I certainly in all honesty could never recommend it.

Don't watch it. The other reviewer, Henry, is totally correct. The acting was fine but the movie was a total nothing. Very slow and basically nothing happened. Just when you think something might happen, the ending credits roll. Absolutely no reason to sit through this movie.