Coastlines
Picture: C Sound: B- Extras: C+ Film: B-
One of
the most clichéd of independent productions is the drama that takes place in a
small southern town. Most such films
have been just awful and it is what too many independent filmmakers who think
they are above Horror films turn to thinking they are showing their
talents. Fortunately, Victor Nunez (Ulee’s Gold) is better than that and Coastlines (2002) is a decent
production that has just enough good moments to make it worth a look.
Sonny
(Timothy Olyphant) is back home from a prison stay, but things have changed a
bit back in his hometown and his old criminal accomplices (Josh Lucas, William
Forsythe) are about to become his old enemies as they try to “bring him back
in” and hey, they didn’t go to jail.
Fortunately,
he has friends and the best (Josh Brolin) has become, you guessed it, the local
Sheriff. Now this sounds like a formula
film, but thanks to the good acting and intelligent approach by Nunez, he makes
it work better than expected. The cast
is also very good and has some chemistry, so if you like this kind of story, Coastlines will deliver just enough to
make it worth your time. Just don’t
expect a heist film.
The
anamorphically enhanced 1.78 X 1 image is very soft and shot on either regular
digital or older digital High Definition video, but detail is a major
issue. Color is better, but
rewatchability is an issue. The Dolby
Digital 5.1 mix is better with some surrounds, but the editing in of old hit
records is not the best we’ve heard and the overall mix is nothing
special. The only extras are a deleted
scene with optional commentary by Nunez, who also offers a feature-length
commentary that is not bad.
- Nicholas Sheffo
