Off to a somewhat clunky, inauspicious start, independent film-maker Steven Murphy's visibly low budget feature debut 'Doorways' appears no less rough around the edges than the bad-luck, downwardly spiralling bouncer Gary (Steven Murphy) is certainly not without some awkward D. I. Y charm. The basic plot concerns the burgeoning fitful friendship between a violent, manic depressive bouncer Gary and timorous soft young lad 'Harry Potter' (Jonathan Ciardini) whose foolhardy plan to toughen himself up by working the doors merely exacerbates his insecurities and draws him into an increasingly brutal twilight world he is both physically and emotionally unsuited for. Throw in some cursory love interest with pretty/flighty/boozy/feisty barmaid Jenna (Maria Theresa Rodriguez), some soapy theatrics about 'Harry Potter's' wishy-washy old man struggling to cope with the neighbours and a bizarrely hyperbolic climax that seems to belong to an entirely differing film!
On the plus side, the sparky Maria Theresa Rodriguez delivers a very natural performance, and is consistently fun to watch, but poor old dorky doorman Ciardini struggles to assert himself, his gobby bezzie mayte Baldwin (Todd Van Joel) fares better, but he ultimately comes across as an asinine khunt, admittedly the burly, sour-faced brawler Murphy exudes some toxic alpha energy, with some of his more boisterous scenes are entertainingly bellicose, 'Doorways' is undone by its undeveloped script and equally impoverished acting. While a noble attempt at fashioning a gritty drama on a penurious budget, I couldn't fully engage with the film, or, sadly, care two hoots about any of the protagonists plight. That being said, I still heartily commend Steven Murphy and his hard-working crew on having the gumption to get their film made and into the public arena.
