For the first half hour, I really thought this film was going to knock me out. It's combination of disturbing experimental elements; strange, loud Glenn Branca like rock music that banged in and out, long shots that were just studies of faces or rooftops, etc. It seemed like it would be a portrait of working class life that was more poetic and surreal than literal.
But gradually the film gets more 'normal', and a regular story comes into play; the familial relationships and romances of three working class buddies. There are some striking moments of honesty and surprise, but some serious problems, first among them being that these unknown actors aren't quite up to the delicate complex task of taking these people and making us believe them as real. Under-acting alone isn't enough to ground a character film. That under-acting still has to be filled with interior life. But here, too often, the performances just feel a little amateurish and monotone. There's also a running fantasy element that's a bit sophomoric.
That said, there's enough strength and originality in the visual style, and a number of unexpected story points that overall I still found this worthwhile, and will be very interested to see what Mr. Bradshaw does in future. It's just too bad this is just a good, somewhat awkward film, rather than the transcendent film the opening minutes promise.
