EvenHand

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.

Evenhand is a very impressive accomplishment: a quiet, thoughtful cop film. Its premise is familiar: two very different personalities working to adapt to each other and to the many demands of their jobs as patrolmen. So it's very much a character study, and the two principal actors -- Bill Sage and Bill Dawes -- do an excellent job of realizing their characters. As the film's energy is derived from their characters' different natures, it would have been very easy for each of their performances to become caricatures. They did not. In each, you see a fully-dimensioned person, including echoes of his partner's traits. That's good acting of good writing.

I also enjoyed the matter-of-fact style of the film, which reminded me of Victor Nunez's wonderful and under-appreciated Ruby In Paradise.

Joseph Pierson's surprising "EvenHand" comes as a total surprise to this viewer. It seems that even in the Indie circuit, it was not deemed commercial enough to grant this film to be seen by a wider audience. Thanks to the Sundance Channel, we were able to catch with it recently, and frankly, it's much better than some mediocre fare that keeps turning on, even on cable. The screen play is by Mike Jones, who according to IMDb, is his first story for the movies. Mr. Pierson is making his second film after having only co-directed "Cherry", previously.

The film has an almost documentary feeling in its exposition. We are somehow confused by the beginning as officer Rob Francis is seen talking to a woman who might have been injured, but we have no clue as to what has happened to her. This, of course, is resolved toward the end of the film, as we are taken to that scene in great detail.

The idea of pairing an idealistic cop with one that has been around, and for all accounts, might have dealt with things in his career without the approval of his superiors, is at the center of this story that takes place in the streets of the fictional San Loviso. Officer Ted Morning is a street wise cop who believes in doing things his way. As Morning and Francis begin their partnership we see two different men from different backgrounds with two different attitudes in life.

Slowly, both men become one team, as the idealistic Morning starts seeing how things really work and how right his partner is about his approach to the street laws. In fact, Officer Morning is an experienced man in his own community and knows what makes people do the things they do.

Bill Sage makes an amazing contribution to the film. His Ted Morning is nothing less than perfection. Mr. Sage also appeared in "Mysterious Skin" in a totally different role and he proves he can do anything. Why is this actor not seen more often and in films that matter, is a mystery. Bill Dawes is another actor that gives an incredible performance as Officer Rob Francis, the man who comes to the San Loviso police force with high ideals and is turned off by what he sees going on instead.

If there's a film to watch for great portrayal of real people "EvenHand" is it, thanks to the stylish direction of Joseph Pierson.