Hard Scrambled (2007)
Picture:
C Sound: C+ Extras: B- Feature: B-
After the
results of the first few Project
Greenlight series not working out and other such attempts not making a
dent, the fine film magazine Creative
Screenwriting has tried out their own take on such a contest and the
results are the best of any to date.
From all the script submissions, the writer gets to direct their
project. David Scott Kay was picked and
the result is Hard Scrambled (2007),
an ambitious and often successful tale of the surrogate family around a diner.
On its 25th
Anniversary, owner Alice (the great Beth Grant) takes a deep reflection on her
life, when suddenly, a twist of fate “accident” shakes everything and everyone
all the way to boxer-turned-short-order-cook Benno (the always effective
Kurtwood Smith) and he finds himself at odds with all his fellow workers. Instead of an exploitation film or some cheap
quick-buck pretentious indie work, it is an all around ambitious character
study that remains intelligent throughout.
No, it does not always work, but it is much more hit than miss and the
casting is a plus down to the new faces.
You could
see why someone would want to see this script become a film and it is a shame
most producers cannot start there.
Though he has some rough edges, Kay has more success than failure and
there is definite potential for a career here.
For all involved, it is a competent work to be proud of and one you
should see at least once.
The
anamorphically enhanced 1.78 X 1 image is shot well by Director of Photography
Mathew Heckerling, but for whatever reason, my only major complaint with this
disc is the softer-than-expected transfer.
The source is clean, so that helps, but I would love to see this in HD
or film. The PCM 2.0 Stereo is not bad
for its low budget, with decent dialogue recording for the most part. The combination is good enough and with the
film so compelling, the shortcomings are easier to handle. Extras include "Film School In A Box" with more than 20 filmmaking tutorials
worth checking out if you are a beginner or just want to be smartly amused, Directing:
Tutorials on "Visuals: Setting,
Props & Motifs", "Working
With Actors", "Anatomy Of A
Flawed Scene", Writing: Tutorials on "Kill Your Darlings", "Expanding
Your Script", "Finding Your
Killer Ending", Producing: Tutorials on "Financing", "Film
Publicity", "Unleashing
Your Inner Jerk", Editing: Tutorials on "Coverage", "Editing/Montage"
and "Mise En Scene" that
are better than most we have seen.
All taken
into account, no matter what you think of the film, this makes for a
well-rounded look at the creative process on a lower budget. However, I liked the result enough to make
that alone worth a look.
- Nicholas Sheffo
