The Bad Penny

So i just got done watching this flick . I think this was a straight 2 DVD flick . Nevertheless it was mildly entertaining and a good story enough to not get you bored . Also this is the director first time directing a movie so i guess he managed to do a good job . Firstly without revealing too much , its about a boxer who has moved from America to bangkok for certain reasons and meets up with this so called "fan" . I don't think i ever got bored in the film , and i kinda like these low budget / not so Hollywood type movies . Actors in the film do a good job in their roles and everyone did a decent job without over reacting . There is a certain climax in the end , so look out for that too .

Overall i would give this move a 6.5 . Not more , Not less

This movie was better than I expected it to be. I enjoyed the boxing scenes the most, although the cinematography throughout was uniquely stylized.

My next-door-neighbor Vance Thompson played the boxing referee in this film. He is an actual retired boxing referee, as well as a swing-dance champion, wood sculptor, ex-con and senior Olympian. He also appeared on the cover of the "Riverfront Times" several years ago under the headline "The Dresser". If you would like to cast a true St Louis character (and style icon) in your next film, please contact Vance at 314-968-8614.

As a fan of both Bangkok and boxing it didn't matter that the IMDb score rating was so low - we were going to watch it regardless! Having seen it I wonder why it scored so badly. True it's a low-budget exploitation flick, but that said, it's a perfect example of guerrilla filmmaking where enthusiasm makes up for the lack of budget. The montage editing sequences in particular work well. Even the on-the-hoof spontaneous shots in Bangkok street scenes never stray into travelogue territory and do add to the story's texture. There is great technique and skill used not just in the film's construction but also in the acting.

The starring role of Jack is superbly played by ex-boxer Casey T Evans and his interplay dialogue in the bar with Nick Faltas (Marcus) anchors the narrative in a perfectly understated manner around which the plot pivots like a butterfly and stings like a bee. It deserves a wider audience and more reviews!