(2012) Collaborator PSYCHOLOGICAL DRAMA/ THRILLER

Written, directed and starred by Martin Donovan centering on a situation, he plays screenplay writer Robert Longfellow, who upon coming home to visit his mother for reasons unclear. But for the first 30 or 40 minutes into the film Robert reevaluate old times, including a publicized widowed actress who he still has feelings for. And then it was during at this point, his neighbor Gus (David Morse) who lives across the street from him takes him hostage. I liked the bonding scenes when Robert converses with Gus about how to become a successful screenwriter, but the ending is a real downer which the center character leaves viewers somewhat wanting to know more.

Robert Longfellow (Martin Donovan) is a playwright who is tired of the NY scene. He's not into living in LA either even thought his family is there. He takes a break in his childhood home with his mom. Gus Williams (David Morse) is the lifelong next door neighbor. He's 57, a drunk, in and out of prison, and still lives with his mom.

Both of these actors are well seasoned. I was hoping for a lot more. However this feels like a writing exercise from writer/director Martin Donovan. This does improve when the actors are in the house together. The energy and the tension picks up a bit. I wish there was less time spent on the introduction. It's not really necessary. This movie works best as a 2-man play.

I had the great pleasure of seeing this fine piece of filmmaking on the 2012 Shanghai International Film Festival.

Warning: There be some (minor) spoilers below!

Synopsis: Playwright-past-his-prime Robert returns home to visit his mother and cope with his own failures in both career and private life. What starts out as a slow re-track of his life's mistakes, takes a unique turn when Gus, neighbor since childhood, comes over for a beer and brings with him a plentiful array of controversies.

Review: If you like fast-paced action and explosions - Look elsewhere. Donovan's first try at directing is instead a quiet, yet loud little masterpiece. As the director does not shy away from even most controversial topics, at only 82' run-time there is little overhead.

The movie, feeling more like a chamber play, is carried by its strong, realistic dialogues and the two superb protagonists. Both David Morse and Martin Donovan deliver their very best. While having a pretty obvious outcome for the main plot early on, it is the interaction between these two that kept me hooked the entire time. Most of the supporting cast is on par and the close-up and line-up camera-work, which so often fails in other movies, does remarkably well in this one and gives us some great scenes.

While addressing its serious topics with respect and subtlety, humorous moments arise often enough, and by the end of the movie we have a vivid and realistic image of two very different and unique, yet with all their faults not unlikeable characters.

One of the quiet movies that raises many more questions than it gives answers. Highly recommended – Go see it!

9/10