Banished

Banished contains many well-shot and well-edited sequences (the kung-fu ones in particular), and one can certainly tell that it took a long time and effort to put it together. Overall, I think it's an interesting post-modern homage to a certain type of cinema—it's not difficult to trace Tarantino's influence behind the characters, the atmospheres, the usage of slow motion, and the editing. It is the touch of irony that's added to the most bold technical choices what makes the film enjoyable. A film critic would probably lambaste the excessive usage of soft focus and high key lighting in the opening sequence, the redundant usage of close-ups of objects, statues, and glasses of whiskey, and the plethora of clichés about gangsters and their women that's disseminated throughout the film. However, I think they are laid out in an amusing way, showing that it didn't intend to take itself too seriously.

I believe this film had some nice shots going for it and a very complementing soundtrack. However, with most independent films, it has too much dialogue that's either been done before or just comes out sounding silly. I thought the lead actor playing Vespa did a good job, as well as his wife. Unfortunately, the rest of the cast fell short. Theodore was way overdone. You can even see him looking right into the camera on a shot or two. Also, the main villain is almost a parody of a bad guy. Finally, the guy who played Norm-- Well, don't quit your day job. Anyhow, there was some nice camera-work, but overall it was too predictable.