Zig Zag

"ZigZag" is a very touching, beautiful story that is covered with heartache, fear and abuse. ZigZag is the main character in this film, he is a young autistic boy with an abusive, junkie father. ZigZag finds peace and a father figure in John Liguzamo's character who is his big brother. The realtionship between the two is a match made in heaven. Singer's shows ZigZag that life isn't all made up of fear, disapointment and abuse. He show's him the bright side of life. The film is very well done with strong performances by everyone in the film. I was very happy with Natasha Lyonne's performance as a prostitute with a soft heart. All in all, a great touching movie! ****/out of 5

Zig Zag (Sam Jones III) is a fifteen years old autistic teenager, living with his abusive father Fletcher (Wesley Snipes), who frequently beats him. Fletcher charges him for a rent of US$ 200,00, otherwise he would be thrown out of his home. Although working washing dishes in a restaurant, whose owner Toad (Oliver Platt) humiliates him very often, Zig Zag does not have the money and becomes worried with the situation. Zig Zag sees Toad opening his safe, memorizes the combination and in the night he steals almost ten thousand dollars. When he comes back home, Fletcher takes all the money from him and uses it to repay a loan to the dangerous Cadillac Tom (Luke Goss). Singer (John Leguizamo) is the best friend of Zig Zag and when knows what he did, he decides to return the money to Toad's safe, otherwise Zig Zag would be sent to a reformatory. However, Singer is very sick, having a terminal cancer, and her uses the support of the prostitute Jenna (Natasha Lyonne) to accomplish his intent. This movie is almost good, but something does not work well in the story. The cast has a great performance, but the genre is too corny for a drama, too slow for an adventure and too dramatic for a comedy. My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): `Conduta Ilegal' (`Illegal Behavior')

This film premiered to a packed house in Narrative Feature competition at the South By South West film festival in Austin on 3/10/2002. It was a well-crafted, touching directorial debut by a David Goyer, a writer/director whose screenwriting efforts have given him a keen sense of story.

John Leguizamo shines as a "Big Brother" to the mildly retarded/autistic 15 year old "ZigZag" Fletcher, played with uncharacteristic maturity by young Sam Jones III. Their rich and mutually supportive multi-level relationship casts Leguizamo as brother, father, protector, social worker and buddy, extending even to a hilarious semi- paternal explanation of human development. Jones captures the internal dialogues of autism with a restrained, mostly tic-free performance, yet delivers a believable teen's view of the syndrome.

Oliver Platt revels in a wonderfully rich and funny supporting role, Natasha Lyonne delivers a rich performance as a hooker with a heart and Wesley Snipes casts a dark shadow indeed as a crack-addicted abusive father. But it is Sam Jones III who is the heart and soul of the film, and ultimately why we care to see it unfold. Goyer has made an impressive film indeed, richly characterized and genuinely moving, if a bit muddled in parts. But I was willing to forgive a bit of muddle for a chance to share the difficult lives of characters about whom I grew to genuinely care .

"Zigzag" tells of a benchmark time in the life of the title character, a mentally "different" black 15 year old innercity boy (Jones). An ambiguous tale with an underdeveloped centerpiece which is hard to get your head around, this gritty film is fraught with character exaggerations so extreme as to make for poor credibility. Nonetheless, for those who can make the huge leap of faith required to buy into this drama, there is a touching story of the best and the worst of humanity in counterpoise with a somewhat poetic narrative. "Zigzag" is a misfire which seems to have a clear purpose with a flawed execution. C+

Not a big fan of Jon Leguizamo, but I would have to say this is the best I've seen him! Sam Jones plays Zig Zag, a sweet 15-year-old autistic boy, dragged down by his abusive, drug using, loser of a father, played by Wesley Snipes. Hard times hit for Zig Zag and he chooses to steal money from his place of employment to appease his father, not good. In steps the "Big Brother" Dean Singer, Jon L, to save the day, and he tries his hardest.

The story is great, the characters are great and I am now a big fan of Jon L!

8 * out 10!