BANG BANG (2025)

September 11, 2025

Greetings again from the darkness. There is no obvious explanation for my connection to and appreciation of Tim Blake Nelson on the big screen … well … other than his talent. He certainly doesn’t possess the traditional attributes of a movie star, yet that’s exactly what he is. Not only is he one of the most dependable character actors around (see O BROTHER WHERE ART THOU and MINORITY REPORT), but he’s also terrific in lead roles (see OLD HENRY and ASLEEP IN MY PALM). With this latest film, director Vincent Grashaw and screenwriter Will Janowitz (who also has a role in the film) benefit from the actor’s audacious and fearless performance.

Bernard “Bang Bang” Rozyski (Tim Blake Nelson) is a bitter man. He’s also an alcoholic. As a former boxer, he appears to be in a race to the bottom with the area of Detroit in which he lives. Both man and city are crumbling and to add insult, the former boxing rival that Bernard views as the reason for his decline is running for Mayor. Darnell Washington (Glenn Plummer) became rich peddling juicers (not countertop grills) and now holds himself up as a guiding light for a city that needs a reason to exist … not unlike Bernard.

Bernard’s estranged daughter (Nina Arianda) surprises him with a knock on the door and a request to watch her son Justin (Andrew Liner) while she gets settled with a new job in a new city. Justin’s ankle monitor prevents him from going with mom until he fulfills his community service. He also shows little interest in Grandpa’s philosophical meanderings … until he learns boxing can lead to money and girls. Bernard begins training him with the help of an old friend (Kevin Corrigan), and it’s at this point when we wonder if Bernard’s new path is one of redemption or revenge.

While the reasoning may be initially unclear, we have no doubt that Bernard is haunted by the past – and he understands this very well. Fighting, family, and his former house all play a role in his bitterness and frustration. We also understand that things don’t tend to get better for a guy like ‘Bang Bang’. Although the film covers familiar ground with some recognizable tropes, Tim Blake Nelson’s performance and the raw aesthetic of the film keep us fully engaged. His final confrontation with Washington may go a bit over the top, but it reminds us that while a hammer sees everything as a nail, a fighter may very well view everything as a fight … or at least as the only way to resolve conflict.

The film opens in select theaters on September 12, 2025 (NYC, LA, Detroit, with additional markets TBA), following its premiere at the Tribeca Festival.

WATCH THE TRAILER

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Posted by David Ferguson

BIKINI MOON (2018)

October 11, 2018

 Greetings again from the darkness. HEARTS OF DARKNESS: A FILMMAKER’S APOCALYPSE was released in 1991. It was an incredible documentary that explored the struggles of Frances Ford Coppola in making his classic film APOCALYPSE NOW (1979). Although it’s totally unrelated to either of those films, this latest from director Milcho Manchevski kept reminding me that we rarely get a peek at just how challenging it is to complete a film, and HEARTS OF DARKNESS is likely the cream of the behind-the-scenes crop.

Director Manchevski directed the Oscar nominated BEFORE THE RAIN (1995), and he, along with co-writer W.P. Rosenthal, deliver an indie-film societal commentary with some not so complimentary observations on certain segments of our populace.  Producer Kate (Sarah Goldberg) and director Trevor (Will Janowitz) are in a relationship and are trying desperately to make their name with a documentary that can play film festivals. While filming in a homeless shelter, they stumble upon a woman who calls herself Bikini … a homeless African-American Army veteran who is desperate to get her daughter out of the social services system. Bikini (Condola Rashad) is a striking, volatile woman with a story – the perfect subject for Trevor and Kate’s documentary.

It takes a while for us viewers to get the rhythm of the film. We are watching as a documentary crew attempts to make a film about a woman who may be delusional or bipolar, and at a minimum is a bit unstable. Bikini admits to a nervous breakdown while in Iraq, and is inconsistent remembering to take her medication. However, in her moments of clarity, we recognize her exceptional intelligence and charisma. At other times, we worry about the safety of her and those around her. We even question whether she actually has a daughter and how much of her story we can believe.

While coming to grips with the presentation and what to make of Bikini, we also have to adjust to Trevor, an obnoxious jerk who only cares about making his film – and is willing to exploit Bikini (or anyone else) to get it done. At the opposite end of the spectrum is Kate, who has a heart of gold, even at the expense of reality at times … she’s the stereotypical modern day liberal extremist who wants to save everyone and everything. It’s the only way she knows to rid herself of white guilt syndrome.

Cinematographer Joshua Z Weinstein (director of MENASHE) works wonders with the tight residential quarters as well as the numerous urban settings from the streets of New York. Ms. Rashad, whom many will recognize from “Billions”, delivers a powerhouse performance as Bikini, though it’s a bit of stretch to see someone with movie star looks pulling off the role of someone living on the streets. Cynicism is present throughout, and director Manchevski really wants us to question what is ‘truth’ … what happens when the media crosses the line and influences the story … what is the real story?

watch the trailer (NSFW):

 

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Posted by David Ferguson