By: debbie lynn elias
On the fringe of being an all around Must See Festival Film at the 2012 Los Angeles Film Festival is Joshua Sanchezf dynamically rich narrative FOUR. And I say “on the fringe” only because the camera work warrants a recommendation of taking Dramamine before seeing the film. But making FOUR a “Must See” is the story and four of the strongest individual and ensemble performances of the year.
Based on the play by Pulitzer Prize finalist and Obie-winning playwright Christopher Shinn, both the story itself and the performances are rock solid and elevating. OUTSTANDING in those two areas. A lead actor in Mamitas, one of my Must See picks at LAFF 2011, EJ Bonilla returns this year in FOUR as Dexter, a young Latino basketball player. Once again walking the line between appearing to be a bad boy and having a heart, Bonilla shines. Joining him is Emory Cohen a breakout star in the NBC show Smash. Playing June, a gay teenaged boy in conservative small town America, he brings a shy, fearful, innocence and insecurity to the role, but then in the blink of an eye, while in a motel awaiting seduction by Joe, a middle-aged Black man June meets on the internet, Cohen turns into a GQ underwear model, just smoldering with sensuality and lust. It’s a quick emotional shift, but powerful, as it speaks volumes to Junefs own ambivalence and questioning of who he is. Wendell Pierce is a standout as Joe – a large, looming, African American who tries to be both paternal and seductive with Cohenfs June. An interesting portrayal and nuanced performance to watch. Rounding out the strong cast is Aja Naomi King who shines as Abigayle with a dynamic comfortable chemistry with Bonilla. And when it comes to the big reveal, this is one daddyfs girl that gets the angered shocked fever of emotion right.
With the story unfolding over the course of one hot and humid Fourth of July, the film is contained, characters living lies and in solitude. But with holiday magic hanging in the heavy air, anything can happen. As June hooks up with Joe and Dexter tries to hook up with Joefs unsuspecting daughter Abigayle, the editing seamlessly weaves the tales of the two couples in a riveting character study leading to a surprising conclusion. Technically commendable is the sound. Under the supervision of sound editor Michael McMenomy, sound rises above the hollow echo so often found in lo budget/no budget films, particularly in small isolated motel rooms and exteriors. But problematic is the camera work as every frame minutely wavers up and down as if being shot on a cell phone or small hand held camera with no stabilizer, the movement of which is just incremental enough to be noticeable and distracting from an otherwise powerhouse of a film.
Dexter – EJ Bonilla
June – Emory Cohen
Joe – Wendell Pierce
Abigayle – Aja Naomi King
Written and Directed by Joshua Sanchez based on the play by Christopher Shinn.
