From the Head

Set largely within the confined space of the men's bathroom of a New York strip club, FROM THE HEAD is an original and "outside the box" (outside the 'john'?) exercise in character study and personal introspection.

George Griffith - who also wrote and directed - plays Shoes, the bathroom attendant (aka, the guy with the gum, the smokes, the jokes, the cologne, and in this case a yo-yo and signature Cab Calloway-esque wing-tips) at the club. Despite the film being more dialogue driven, Shoes is economical with his words when bantering with the bathroom "clientelle". With each new patron, Shoes says enough without saying too much to coax out some of their story or to share some of his. His is a story of career discontent. The money may be good, but is he wasting his time, his true potential... wasting his life away? The endless stream of characters who enter and exit the restroom range from "I know someone EXACTLY like that guy!" to "I can't believe someone like that could actually exist" and their stories provide compelling vignettes in and of themselves. They all weave in and out seamlessly avoiding a rote set- up/punchline repetition. And though each character has his own performance, it is Shoes who is the charismatic ringleader keeping the circus connected. Equal parts ball-breaker, philosopher, and self-analyzing everyman, Shoes is an easy character to root for, even though you never want him to leave the restroom!

Once you dig into the first couple scenes, you wont stop. An incredibly entertaining cast, well written dialogue, and beautiful cinematography. Griffith brings the main character "Shoes" to life in such a tactful and relatable way, everyone will find pieces of themselves in that performance. A subtle but powerful arc that touches deep, loaded with memorable conversations.

Griffith obviously has an incredible knack for creating a compelling story in one location, which is in no way a simple task. You will not forget this film. Nor will you forget the yo-yo, the buffet of cologne, the color of the wall tiles, and every one of the eccentric characters.

Loved this indie film. So deep, really makes you think about why we do what we do, and what it's all for. Total must see. Saw this film on the recommendation of friends from Phillie who saw it at the film festival. The characters are authentic. The writing is original. Really loved that it wasn't like anything I had seen before. Sometimes it gets a bit heady (no pun intended) but overall, good writing. There are a variety of characters and surprises that keep you hooked. I would recommend this to all movie buffs looking for something different. Nice change from your everyday run of the mill movie. Haven't seen a movie this true to life in a long time. Well done acting, unique casting choices and witty script. See it.