COOL CRIME
A film review by Christopher Null
Copyright 1999 Christopher Null
filmcritic.com
Would that simple words could describe the goings-on of COOL CRIME, an indie black comedy reminiscent of BLUE VELVET.
In base terms, the story follows an Italian immigrant named Nino (Ackert), who comes to America to live in L.A. with his uncle. Sadly, upon arrival, uncle (who turns out to be a drug dealer) is dead. But things get really strange when the spirit of the dead uncle comes to visit Nino, pleading for revenge.
That's only the beginning, and patient viewers will no doubt be rewarded by director Cohen-Olivar's nuanced work. I'm not that patient a person, so COOL CRIME's more mellow moments tended to drag me down. But many of the Tarantino fueled scenes and outrageous characters have their moments, even if the film, as a whole, is uneven.
Ultimately and unfortunately, I saw the "surprise" ending coming, but I suspect most people reading this review don't have the hyperintelligence that I do, so you'll probably sit up in your seat. Suffice it to say that this is a picture that could only take place in L.A.
Now playing in Los Angeles.
RATING: ***
|------------------------------|
\ ***** Perfection \
\ **** Good, memorable film \
\ *** Average, hits and misses \
\ ** Sub-par on many levels \
\ * Unquestionably awful \
|------------------------------|
MPAA Rating: NR
Director: Jerome Cohen-Olivar Starring: David Ackert, Ari Barak, Kelly Bovino, Robert Cicchini, Melinda Hill
Christopher Null - null@sirius.com - http://www.filmcritic.com - Buy my book! http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0078825881/filmcriticcom/002-2549101-0837427
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