Glass Chin

This is a pretty understated movie that I really loved, so I feel like I need to be careful with my exuberance in this review. I can imagine some folks would find it slow or underwhelming but I was rapt the whole time. At one point I realized I had literally sat up and was on the edge of the seat of my couch during a scene that was just two men sitting at a kitchen table talking. But the intensity of the dialogue combined with a masterfully slow push of the camera had me intent. I have always liked Corey Stoll so I was keen to see him in a leading role, and he was great, as expected. I've been becoming a fan of Marin Ireland as well, and she was also really good here. But my god, this is some of the best work I've seen Billy Crudup do, which I believe is saying a lot. He plays a gangster who is so slick, so polished, cunning, alluring, intense, and dangerous that he just ensnares the viewer as easily as he does Stoll's character Bud "The Saint" Gordon, drawing us in. Lastly, Yul Vazquez has been acting forever (I remember recognizing him when he did one scene on a Sopranos episode many years ago) and I never learned his name, I just knew his face. Well, I learned his name after this! He damn near stole the show. Outstanding work, but he, like everyone else in the film, was given great dialogue. Because the real star of the show here is writer/director Noah Buschel, bringing a story of choices and consequences that is shot beautifully and (to be bombastic) bravely. He is unafraid to just let the camera run, relying on pushes in instead of cuts, sometimes allowing the camera to just stay on an actor when they're no longer speaking, allowing silence and space, giving the story room to breathe. Lastly, a big shoutout to cinematographer Ryan Samul, who has done great work with films like Haunt and Cold In July and again, with Glass Chin. I spent the entire 90 minutes of the film admiring his marvelous work and was unsurprised when I looked him up to see that I had admired his work before. I'm gonna think about this movie for a while and definitely watch it again to make sure that my feelings of being blown away right now are justified but I gotta tell you, this was a hell of a first watch. It's streaming in a ton of places, check it out.

I wasn't expecting much from this film with its low rating, but the movie proved to be a rather intense dark drama that kept my interest from start to finish. All the lead actors here: Corey Stoll, Billy Crudup, Marin Ireland, and Yul Vasquez were quite solid in their roles, and there's a sharp screenplay from Noah Buschel who also directed the film.

Stoll is excellent in the role of Bud "The Saint" Gordon, a retired boxing champion who's facing hard financial times after his restaurant, in New Jersey, failed. While trying to regain some status and notoriety, he naively and tragically re-enters the employ of a diabolical local mobster, who lures him in with the promise of opening another eating establishment. At the same time, Bud is helping to train a young welterweight contender for a shot at the title.

Billy Crudup is terrific in the role of the local mobster J.J. Cook, and Yul Vasquez is absolutely chilling as Roberto, J.J.'s chief enforcer. Marin Ireland also gives a superb performance as Ellen, the long time girlfriend of Bud's who tries to keep their relationship together despite numerous obstacles.

Overall, I found this to be more of a dark psychological drama than anything else, with strong acting, writing, and direction. Plus, as mentioned it kept me engaged throughout.

Menace beneath the surface. Threat of violence always there but unusual for a boxing movie happens only off-screen. Acting top rate. Loved the camerawork. In some frames we are shown everything, others nothing.

(2014) Glass Chin CRIME DRAMA

Co-Written and directed by Noah Buschel starring Corey Stoll as Bud also called "The Saint" who used to be a bi time boxer, and is now struggling to stay afloat. Once he agrees to get back on his feet again, by training another boxer, Kid Sunshine, (Malcolm Xavier), Bud then gets himself involved with an old former sleazeball acquaintance, a gangster named J. J. (Billy Crudup) with his paid goon, Roberto (Yul Vasquez).

The movie may have worked back in the hey days of film noir, that was a common theme starting from the 1940's but, as time has gone on, after many film noir films later it does not reach the same level of affect as opposed to the other movies made before it.

Did not see this one coming. I knew nothing about it. Billy Crudup is worth the price of renting alone. Even for Crudup, this is a new high. The dialogue and music are sensational. The minimalist long camera takes are refreshing and sublimely lit and framed. Marin Ireland and Corey Stoll and Yul Vasquez are wonderful. It is a little gem. They don't make movies like this anymore. It had some of that roaming quality of Elaine May's Mikey and Nicky. But it is also very tight in it's style. It is a comedy and a drama and a tragedy. An homage to old movies, but modern. It is very real, but also surreal. Just wonderful! If you love independent film you will love this movie I think.