The Last Deal

I loved this movie because it addresses a shift in the drug trade within U. S borders: The legalization of marijuana and how it affects those who dealt in the growth and distribution of this controlled substance. The cinematography was great, the story believable, and the characters all looked like and behaved like they belonged to the underbelly of society. Anthony Molinari was great in Tenet and The Fighter and he's amazing in this too.

I personally don't think there are too many films out there that tackle the subject the way this film does. It makes it a must watch for anyone who liked Narcos, Cartel land or even Miami Vice.

"The Last Deal" is a low-budget crime drama with a focus on the story, a thoroughly successful production design and a colour scheme that transports you straight to California. Jonathan Salemi manages to tell a calm and grounded story with this film, which doesn't convince with big twists and brutal action, but with a charming lead actor and a story based on real events. The film follows an interesting approach: it sheds light on the drug and especially the marijuana milieu in California after the legalisation of cannabis. The central theme is how an illegal scene has to adapt as a result of the sudden legalisation and has to face new problems despite the supposedly improved situation.

Anthony Molinari embodies the main character, who has to struggle with precisely this change and really endeavours to comply with the new regulations and continue his initially illegal activity legally. However, a rejection of his legal sales licence forces him to enter into one last dirty deal. The secret star of the film is Sala Baker, who despite the short screen time is able to play out his charm an d impresses with his physicality and simple coolness. Disasters like "Madame Web" are currently running in cinemas and are really intentionally pulling money out of your pocket with striking marketing, obvious deceptive packaging and the least amount of effort. "The Last Deal" isn't a masterpiece of creativity and therefore can't compete with indie hits like "Beyond the infinite two minutes" or similar, but it trumps with something that many films lack these days: honest entertainment. It's an indie film with a low budget that makes the best of it and only wants one thing: 90 minutes of cinematic entertainment. And it succeeds.

Vincent (Anthony Molinari) runs his weed dispensary business in California. He makes a killing in 2015 in the murky legality. In 2016, a referendum legalizes marijuana in the state and his troubles begin. His business slowly dies from competition, over-regulation, and corrupt officials. He can't get the right license. His business partner Bobby comes to him with a desperate last deal.

Vincent strikes me a bit of a meathead. He is out of his depths. Anthony Molinari doesn't have big star power, but he does fit the character somewhat. I saw the double-cross from a mile away. I figured that they planted a tracker on the truck. It seems really careless to leave the weed in an unguarded warehouse. If it was me, I would secure that stuff before I take a nap. The last act has lots of violence which is a little jarring. The violence level jumps from a two to a full ten rather quickly. Some of killings don't feel real. Maybe, they're not set up well enough. This is a B-movie. The lead is a B-actor. It's a lot of Bs.

I was referred to watch this from a filmmaking friend. He told me the film was shot pretty low budget with no permits and a bunch of Hollywood stuntmen. He loved it but I had no idea what to expect. Man, was I blown away.

They must have pulled some serious favors to shoot in the locations they shot but the film works outside of the production value. This is a very tense well acted ride. It's beautifully shot and I haven't seen Los Angeles look this dirty and noir slimey since Michael Mann type stuff.

The soundtrack is really good too. Composer Tony Fiala does an amazing job creating a tone throughout the movie. And director Jonathan Salemi really shines at telling a compelling and engaging story.

Anthony Molinari who I noticed from "Barry" really steals the show. Amazing what they pulled off in this movie. Although it does have a couple slow moments, it should not be confused with a micro-budget movie because it's so much more than that. It really is an amazing piece of cinema if you consider how much they made it for. And it can stand alone without that knowledge as well.

Based on a true story, writer/director Jonathan Salemi's crime thriller is set in a post-Prop 64 world where marijuana has been decriminalized and those who were once the "haves" become the "have nots." One such fellow is Vincent (Anthony Molinari), whose previous jet-setting lifestyle has come to a screeching halt as his medicinal weed business is now essentially irrelevant. He's not much more than a courier now and that's a mighty steep fall. When his partner, Bobby (Mister Fitzgerald), comes to him with the possibility for one big last deal that could save the business and even get him ahead it's too good to resist. Unable to completely handle the score himself, he turns to the Boss (Sala Baker) seeking a buy-in. Everything has to go right. Of course, it doesn't. The Last Deal is that rare convincing low-budget action flick that soars on the strength of a talented production crew and incredibly strong ensemble led by stunt man/actor Molinari. With almost a couple hundred stunt credits, there's literally no doubt you've seen Molinari's work but The Last Deal makes it perfectly clear that he's leading man material. Salemi's script is substantial, both convincing as an action flick and as a cultural statement. If you don't get the film's messages, you're likely not paying close enough attention.

Molinari's Vincent is a seriously complex dude. While The Last Deal is set smack-dab in the world of crime and there's no doubt Vincent has made his share of bad choices, he's a relatable guy whose down to earth qualities radiate a strange sense of normalcy amidst it all. You can't help but like the guy. He's essentially a good guy to Tabitha (Jeffri Lauren) and pretty much to everyone until he gets in over his head and starts getting double and triple-crossed. He kind of reminds me of John Wick, though with much less violence. There's an inner spark inside him and we see his light no matter how dark he has to get.

I'd love to see what director Jonathan Salemi could do with a bigger budget. His work here is impressive and if there's any justice in the cinematic world Hollywood is watching and will be knocking on his door.