L.A. Twister is a terrific film and pays homage to anyone who's ever wanted to make a movie.
L.A. Twister is an impressive independent film with some breakthrough performances by Zack Ward and Tony Daly. Zack's Lenny was a funny, endearing rogue whose soul was running on empty, and was a role that the majority of the current "A" list talent couldn't touch with a ten foot pole. Tony Daly scored a great performance as well as the soulful, at times too-tortured Ethan, who thankfully had the chance to lighten up once in a while and Mr. Daly delivered some solid comic moments as well, especially in his side job as a masseuse.
Daly and Ward's best scene together came when they pulled out all the stops during the scene where there's a chair and some rope involved. The honesty in that scene is what good acting is all about. There are scenes in films that you remember for a long time -- for me, that will be one of them. My only wish was that scene that could have gone on a little while longer.
Great performances abounded from the supporting cast as well. Nice turns all around. It was great to see Susan Blakely in a film again! I saw the payoff a mile away, but that's OK. It was what it was. The movie was at its best was when the relationships between Lenny, Ethan, and the women in their lives were being explored. These are all characters I would like to get to know.
Director Sven Pape did an admirable job with this piece, and production values were top- notch. This is an excellent calling card for Sven, and for Zach Ward, and for Tony Daly, as well as everyone else associated with this production, and they should all flash their cards proudly. Mr. Daly and Mr. Ward, according to their credits, list Dodgeball and A Christmas Story, respectively, as their most recognizable works. They can now replace those credits with L.A. Twister.
If promoted well, there is no reason why L.A. Twister can't be an art house film hit as well as be a serious contender at next years' Independent Spirit Awards.
See L.A. Twister -- a great cure for Blockbuster Burnout.
