One of These Days

Greetings again from the darkness. Thanks to the onslaught of 'Reality TV' over the last decade, we seem to have lost empathy for those whose lot in life has driven them to submit to acts of desperation in hopes of finding a way forward. Writer-director Bastian Gunther has used the real-life east Texas events featured in the 1997 documentary, HANDS ON A HARD BODY, to create a drama depicting the fallout from such extremes.

Kyle (Joe Cole, "Peaky Blinders") is a down-on-his-luck local guy with a wife and young daughter. Life is hard and he's desperate to improve their way of life. However, he's such an honest and good person that our impression is that he's one of those who just gets continually kicked while down. When Joan (Carrie Preston, "True Blood"), in her role as Public Relations Director for Boudreaux car dealership, announces a contest to win a new pickup truck, Kyle sees his chance to make things better for his family.

If you have read about the dance marathons held in the 1920's and 1930's, or seen Sydney Pollack's film, THEY SHOOT HORSES, DON'T THEY? (1969), then this "last person standing" concept will be familiar. A lottery is held to select twenty people who will compete for the vehicle in a test of endurance: they must keep one hand on the truck at all times, taking only short breaks with no chance for sleep. The expectation is that this could last 100 hours, with sleep deprivation and psychological willpower certainly in play. It's a diverse group of twenty, and mind games are afoot, especially by one of the participants, Kevin (Jesse C Boyd) ... one who no one recognizes.

Since watching people stand around touching a truck lacks cinematic drama, director Gunther infuses some of Joan's less-than-stellar personal life, while also offering tidbits on some of the participants. Much of the focus is on Kyle, even as exhaustion, hallucinations, and health issues begin to creep in. The opening segment provides us with a Google Earth-type lay of the land in this rural community, and we quickly understand the stress of poverty - a stress that is eating away at Kyle.

A surprising plot twist with one of the participants elevates the tension, but it's not until the final act where Gunther follows an unconventional structure that is downright confounding. We believe our story will end when the truck is awarded to the last one standing, but that's not what happens. It's an unusual story structure and one that's challenging to deal with as a viewer. The characters feel real, and having been inspired by true events, the "hands on" competition is believable and uncomfortable to watch. This is a different kind of storytelling as it turns the familiar rural community trope sideways and shakes it up.

IN THEATERS, ON DIGITAL AND ON DEMAND APRIL 14, 2023.

Actually over the ... no wait on the top (of the car) - quite the hands on approach (ok so no pun intended is what I usually would say ... but it might not make too much sense here). The movie is about dreams, about goals and about humans willing to do almost anything to get something (for free).

Of course if many people are attracted to something, there will be rivalries. And the movie has quite the distinguishable characters - you can tell who is who and what they believe in. It is slow paced, so you have to have some patience with it. But when certain things happen, they really have quite the impact. How far would you go? And what does it do with anyone mentally? Mind games included ... we do feel for our main character, even when he isn't saying too much. But the struggle is real ...

In many ways a compelling story, but the editing threw me for a loop. Literally, if you take the last 16, 17 minutes of the movie and slap it onto the beginning, this largely becomes an entertaining, cohesive film. But there are some strange twists in this film, like the story should be about Carrie Preston's character, but maybe the film maker lost interest in finishing her story. Further, the ultimate "decision" made by the perceived protagonist of the story doesn't make much sense, as it didn't seem to come from any real issue taking place -- there was simply no reason for it. Would I recommend this film? Maybe to someone like me, who watched it because I'm a huge Joe Cole fan, and I like watching HIM in particular, but otherwise, probably not.

Waste of time. Waste of money. Waste of talent. Granted this may be on a somewhat superficial level.

On a deeper level it's a boring slog. That said, there's room for some pretentious interpretation, like social criticism. Unfortunately, I didn't think the topic was conceptually interesting enough to engage with it so I was bored instead.

The ending was a relief to be honest. I felt the same relief I Imagine the people taking part in these games must feel after 100 hours. Only, the movie sapped out 2 out of me.

Joan Dempsey (Carrie Preston) is organizing a promotional contest for a car dealership. The participants have to keep their hands on a truck until the last one wins that truck. Kyle Parson (Joe Cole) is a quiet contestant with a young family.

Actual hands-on contests are very boring for a long time. Like most movies, they gin up the situation with some manufactured drama. Although at two hours, this movie is too long by a quarter. Joan's personal life is unnecessary. I like Carrie Preston but she could still have plenty of screen time by diving more into the contest. There are a couple of interesting unforeseen turns in this movie. This could be great tense drama. It just needs to tighten up.