In true workmanlike fashion, Marvin Van Buren, who wrote and directed this film (while juggling many other hats) sets the stage for his well cast actors to shine. The two main leads especially so. The rest of the roles are well cast throughout as well and although some of the other performances have peaks and valleys of inconsistency, they are all memorable overall nonetheless; that is testament to the solid script and casting choices made. In independent filmmaking, one works with what one has, and this directorial effort from Marvin Van Buren is a triumphant feature as he turns more than one performance to gold. Locations are well scouted, wide shots are distinct and impactful, and cinematography overall is atmospheric as we see different shades and textures of New York. Wherher for interiors or exteriors, the filming is consistent in having more than one memorable shot. I mentioned workmanship and ultimately I see this film harken back to a time when directors along with stable actors worked long term/career long contracts for singular studios. This blue collar workman like directing meant that directors made features often, fast, and we're capable of handling and usually excelled in multiple genres with a consistency in their craft. Whatever genre the studio threw at them, they had to do and do well (crime, drama, screwball comedy, swashbuckler, thriller, etc). This was a time when directors like Howard Hawks and Michael Curtiz, among others made names for themselves. Marvin Van Buren clearly has a handle on his craft and I believe he shows signs of being able to handle multiple genres with consistency in quality and execution. A viewer is in good hands when a director is foundationally sound and that Marvin Van Buren is. The only other feeling I have is that the film runtime could have been cut down by 5-8 minutes but even so the pacing of the film overall was very well done. Keep it pushing cause I can't wait to see what you continue to make and how you'll grow as a filmmaker. Great job and kudos to your talent! There is no boundary or limit to what you can do. This was a good watch. I very much enjoyed the experience. Thank you for creating this film.
