Bobby G. Can't Swim

I loved this movie. It was touching, well shot and well directed.

John Luke Montius is a one-man wonder having written, directed, and starred in this NYC street drama. The hand held cameras gave it a harsh, realistic drive that captured the raw grit of the streets. I foresee "Bobby G" doing very well with the hip, underground crowd.

Yeah, I liked it. Watched this film with its producer Holland, and enjoyed it greatly. He told me some interesting things about it, like that they couldn't afford a real police-car (low budget) and had to skip a planned scene with this ambulance at the end of the film. But now there's some sort of remaking available with titled Drugdealer, like trying to be more snappy. Basically same cast, haven't seen it yet.

BOBBY G. CAN'T SWIM (2002) ** John-Luke Montias, Susan Mitchell, Vincent Vega, Norman Middleton, Paul Maged, Donna Sonkin, Andrew Rein. Low-budget indie flick reminiscent of `Mean Streets' but without the footloose charm about a low-life trying to make a big score to get a new lease on life. Some competent acting but predictable script by Montias (who also directed) leaves little to be desired but his female co-stars Mitchell and Sonkin have their few moments in the sun.

Let me say right away: I like that movie. At its very beginning I was afraid that director Montias would make the mistake to create a negative protagonist. That means a protagonist who hasn't got anything to loose except his life and who could hardly convince the audience that he deserves our empathy instead of simple pity. Let's face it: What does a drug abusing addict mean to you? You read about them in newspapers (mostly when they're found dead), maybe you feel even a little sorry for that poor b...... . But then, there's your favourite soap on TV (ey, life goes on!). Obviously familiar with that specific problem, what could director Montias possibly do to succeed in making the movie work? First of all: Montias gives us a long and well executed (ok, sometimes too slow) exposition of the movie's ‘hero' and the facts of his life. Scene by scene we soon realize that these characters actually aren't any different from us. Second: There's a big deal of humanity in the character's portrayals without the movie falling in cliché-ridden social kitsch. Third: All characters remain true to their aims and they are three-dimensional. The story's straight and the ending believable, even though you could think of an other one (maybe ‘better' one). Well, it's not a movie your life depends on. But it's definitely not a waste of time! And that's even more than you can say about many recent big budget hollywood flick.

My Rating: 7 of 10

It's hard to summarize this film because the facts of the plot make it sound like a ton of other gritty heartfelt films about drug dealers in Hell's Kitchen. One difference is that it's a Hell's Kitchen film that gets the details absolutely right. These characters aren't rich college kids made up to look poor, appearing on million-dollar sets made up to look shabby. These are perfectly cast actors appearing in perfectly chosen locations. Another difference is that this is a deeply spiritual film in a quiet, haunting, non-preachy way. This is a film that will stay with you a long time and make you want to drag other people into theaters to see it.