Nothing to Lose

this film draws a total blank in my mind. i don't know whether to call it good or bad...it just seems to be there. the characters seem to run together, and unless you pay special attention, you'll mix them up very easily. there's not enough nuance to bring any of the characters out into the spotlight.

and although the new jersey cliche is muted much more than the stereotypical presentation in "Jersey Girl", it is still evidently what we would portray new jersey's finest as. do people really act like that in jersey? hopefully not. maybe they do, and if so, i ain't going there.

adrien brody's performance wasn't the best, despite his ability to be a great actor. i kept on watching the movie, although it didn't really interest me too much. it's one of those mystical "C" caliber movies that you just sit through as some rite of passage into independent film land.

Would that this film had wider distribution. Those of us who have see it, are indeed fortunate. A Jersey Gem.

This film features a very young Adrien Brody. Though it isn't the most 'polished' film in the world and obviously had a fairly small-budget, that doesn't detract from the plot. Adrien plays a very convincing part as 'Ray', and the other actors are also totally convincing. I picked this DVD up just thinking it would pass on two hours of my life, but I was immediately drawn in to the action. It's not the most fast-paced film in the world, but anyone who likes human stories will enjoy this film. The conflict between Ray and his father reminded me of so many father-son relationships, and it was great to see that portrayed so clearly. I'm sure everyone will relate to part of the story - even if it's just in Ray's hopes and dreams of bettering himself.This film is well worth watching if you get the opportunity.

Having titled this comment as I did, I have to say that I liked this flick even if I've seen it many, many times before. I'm not crazy about it, just happy it didn't stink. First films should be supported to encourage new talent and Adrien Brody turned in a good -- but not brilliant -- performance. This film -- about a bunch of guys growing up in a small town -- has been done much, much better by Fellini and Levinson to name two. Even so, it seems new directors feel the need to plumb this material again and again. As a result, not a lot can really be expected. "Judy Berlin," another indie film, is also in this genre. "Ten Benny" or "Nothing to Lose" plows already overturned ground but makes a credible case for itself. That's about -- if you can excuse the pun -- the size of it.

William www.williamahearn.com

This very underrated film was my first experience with the astoundingly talented Adrien Brody, and though the story is dark and unsettling, his performance makes up for a myriad of faults. The character of Ray is hard to like, but Brody makes him so human and recognizable he pulls you in and gets you rooting for him anyway. What is amazing is that he was all of 22 when he made this film. Do we have a new James Dean?