Talk about a punch to the gut.
Un-Resolved by Bruce Carlton Cunningham Jr. Has been on my must watch list for a while now and I cant believe I've been sleeping on this phenomenal film this long.
Characters:
The acting in this is amazing. Many films that have gangsters from the hood, especially independent films, often have every person act and talk like a hood stereotype. It's like every actor took the same class on how to act that way. This is not the case here. Every character is crafted to perfection from the kill-in-a-minute gangsters to those trying to just live and survive to those just caught in the fray. Cunningham does a tremendous job as Tremaine (and unrecognizable as a young version too) and gives a full dynamic of his acting range as his tragic character just tries to deal with the aftermath of his situation while trying to be a good father, taking full advantage of his second chance.
I love films where everyone stands out, no matter the size of their role and this is a film where everyone stands out. From the kids to adults, every actor was cast perfectly in their role and interact in a way that feels natural. Some of my favorite interactions include the tense conflict between Tremaine and Monte, a dangerous gangster who has hooks in Tremaines daughter, and Tremaine and his brother, Jermaine, who opens his door to him after Tremaine gets out of prison. Let me touch on that for a second. Jermaine is probably one of the most loyal family members I've ever seen on screen. Even when things take a turn for the worse during the third act, he is still open to help his brother. Usually in movies like this, the ex-convict gets shut out. This provided a nice change of pace.
There were a few times when I did feel the acting was a tad stilted, such as the scenes between Carlisa and her teacher, as well as a few points in the final standoff. And While I do feel like there are several underutilized characters such as those played by Adam Flowers and Joel Antony (look out for this guy as this character turned in a surprise that you won't see coming until the smoke clears), and even the man from the prison Tremaine parts ways with, for the most part, I enjoyed the performances from these talented actors and actresses.
The plot:
The plot keeps you guessing. You'd think this film is gonna go the way "The Wrestler" did in terms of moving on from a past life. You would be wrong. However, this film is called "Un-Resolved" for a reason and that alone should tell you the way things are gonna go. No beating around the bush, no trying to escape. It's coming. The slow burn of this film provides that sense of impending doom and one only wonders when each character will face theirs.
While the film does lag a bit in the middle, and possibly could have been trimmed down, it still works. The only issue is, I was able to look down at my phone in some parts, look back up, still get what the whole scene was trying to convey, and still sit through a minute more of it. Almost like watching a director's cut. Nevertheless, the plot did keep me guessing and on the edge of my seat from beginning to end.
Music:
The score reminded me a little of Hans Zimmer and Hildur Gudottinir, very sweet and sad. The hip hop tracks were great too, though sometimes their placement was a tad questionable. It felt very "this is what all indie filmmakers from St Louis do" in terms of placement, which kind of took me out a couple times. But as far as song choices, whoever was over the music knocked it out of the park. There was a track in the studio scene that I'd love for my playlist
Overall:
Overall, this slow burn tragedy, while a tad on the longer side, boasts eye-opening performances by an ensemble STL cast that makes for an effective viewing and will keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end.
8.2/10.
