INVICTA, A FILM BY BRETON TYNER-BRYAN (2022) Dances With Films NYC 2022

"Set in New York City amongst the mansions of Riverside Drive, 7 mafia wives from across the country convene at the request of an unknown blackmailer, only to see their united front quickly crumble, exposing romantic relationships, alliances, and ultimate betrayal."-La Jolla International Fashion Film Festival

I am quoting the synopsis at the top because without it this film is just something that exists as a dance/fashion film that is pretty to look at, but doesn't fully come together.  However if you do read the synopsis you will love the film.

I watched INVICTA without reading the synopsis. If you know me you know I tend to do that with many since I want to see the films knowing as little as possible.  Yes I will try to have some idea but I don't want details that will give the plot away.

I watched the film the first time and I liked it as a dance/fashion film but I didn't fully appreciate it. Once I found out what the plot was everything clicked and it came together. Knowing the plot I loved the film even more. After ward I was talking to a friend who loves dance. She told me  with dance you can't go in blind, you need the synopsis to truly understand what was going on. My mistake.

This is a nifty little dance film. Recommended.

Double Down South (2022) Dances With Films New York 2022

Diana blows into a small Southern town and is noticed at a run down plantation turned pool hall. Quickly showing that she can more than hold her own against the big guys, Diana convinces Nick that he should stake her. With Little Nick acting as her coach/confidant she begins to a run to a fortune playing keno pool.

Film noir collides with a caper film that is a hell of a ride.  This is a twisty turny film that has a great deal going on. There is so much going on I'm not going to really discuss the plot since I don't want to give anything away. 

I will say that the film is trying to be more than just a thriller. This is a film that wants to take on both racism and misogyny, being set in a world where anyone not a white man is a target. While the film gilds the lily  a bit to make it's point, the film does make a point, at times taking the piss out of the good ol boys.

If I have any quibbles with the film is that the film feels long at running just shy of two hours. While I wouldn't know what to trim, there is a moment somewhere where in the middle where I just wished it moved a tad faster.

Nit pick aside, this is a solid film you'll want to see when it plays near you

Good Guy With A Gun (2022) Dances With Films NY

After his father is killed trying to stop a robbery, a young man and his mother move to the country. Falling in with some guys who like to shoot guns, both mother and son find their relationship strained. However things begin to take a darker turn and its not certain they will survive.

This is a really good drama/thriller. The reason the film works is that we are introduced to a number of atypical characters. Say what you will most of the people are not the sort of people we typically see in films and as a result the film is so much closer to real life. The small moments, outside of the main plot lines, carry atypical weight.

The film is being billed as a look at guns in our society from the stand point that things are not as cut and dry as the media would have us believe. I think the film succeeds in what it trying to do, this is a good drama that makes it clear that guns unto themselves are not bad. The problem is always the people handling them.  At a time when everyone is blaming guns for shootings, GOOD GUY WITH A GUN makes it clear that we need to really examine the issue beyond viewing it as a black or white matter.

On top of the message, and more importantly, this is a really good drama/thriller. Its not something we've seen a million times before.

Definitely worth a look.

Pivot Pals (2022) DANCES WITH FILMS NEW YORK 2022

Dax young boy has to spend the day with his mom's new boyfriend, Clay.  Clay wants to take the kid to a Steelers game but Dax hates football, so they have to pivot, and it all goes sideways

This is a hard film to write up and do it justice without things sounding negative. I say this because this because I really like the film.  There is one wrinkle however that I want to discuss. 

While the plot line of this film is similar to many others, the characters and shadings are colorful enough that the film remains interesting.  They are interesting enough that this should have been a feature film. I say this because while we get a sense of the characters, they are often reduced down to get us through the brief running time to get a point. I would have loved to see more between Clay and Dax's mom so there was more resonance for the ending. This is a too short version of a feature film.

In looking for a feature version I don't want this to stray into silliness, but I want it to stay close to reality like this film is,

Recommended