Smokin' New Film (Smokers (DVD))

Member Name: funzo

Product:	Smokers (DVD)
Date:	22/11/08 (553 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: entertaining, kept me on riveted

Disadvantages: sometimes too aware its low budget

Last night with the absence of Johnathon Ross on my television screen, (yay) I turned to a DVD someone had given me saying I must watch this film. The film Smokers was not one I had heard of and was very much an unknown quantity

Written and Directed by Axel Foley, Smokers is his first production and came out in May of this year.


The Plot

Without wanting to give too much away and spoil it for others, the film essentially centres on Aaron, recently moved up from Kansas to live in New York City and on the hunt to buy some weed (marijuana). This is not a Cheech and Chong or Harold and Kumar type slapstick stoner movie, where the purchase of some smoke is a laboured fantastical adventure with hilarious consequences. This is more real, the characters more identifiable and there's more twists than a Chubby Checker concert, culminating into as good a final scene that I have seen in a good while. Think Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels meets Clerks


Opinion.

I enjoyed this low budget film. The setting of New York and Central Park almost engulfs the movie as it threatens to dominate the low key acting. The location settings provide realism that many big budget films would envy. The acting itself was a bit of a let down, there is a similar feel to the actors and acting as I got when I watched the Kevin Smith film Clerks. In that with a bigger budget and better script and actors this could be an amazing film but the smallness and low budget feel about the movie are to its credit and the edgy and boldly innovative camera work allow you to get close to the characters without being pervasively intrusive. On occasions when some of the main protagonists are stoned, the uses of the cameras enhance the viewer understanding of how the characters are feeling and for this Axel Foley must be commended.

The acting and script writing could be improved and I was very aware sometimes of the inexperience of the actors on a couple of occasions, and this could be improved by investment into the film budget it would ultimately detract from the small indie type feel about Smokers

The settings were inspired and the storyline real and believable, you don't have to be a smoker to 'get' this film, although anyone who has smoked would nod their head in agreement at some of the predicaments that Aaron ..our hero... gets into.

The film is witty, observant and entertaining with some fine casting in certain roles... Paula the club boss plays her part superbly and whilst the film is guilty of keeping with stereotypes it cannot be blamed or faulted as these type of characters do exist in real life. We are given teasers as to knowing the characters, no full character assignations but you are given enough to believe them and be interested in them.



Conclusion

This is not a film for everybody. Centred about drugs and the characters involved this is more than just a stoner movie. Watching this really brought me back to the first time I watched Clerks and I have a feeling we are going to see more of Axel Foleys work in the future. Inspired use of locations, clever storyline and superb climatic ending that you half expect but can't wait to get there. This is a low budget little gem which I am glad I watched. As I said, not for everyone, but anything that's a cross of Lock Stock, Pulp Fiction and Clerks can't be a bad view for many, including myself..




DVD Extras.

I have to confess to not seeing or viewing any DVD extra's as it was late, very late...even for me so I cannot shed any light on what is offered as extras...But who watches a film for it's extras??


SMOKERS -2008

Runtime 93 mins
Written and Directed by Axel Foley
Parental Advisory recommended.

Overall rating 7/10

Summary: Pulp Fiction meets Lock Stock meets Clerks.