Bang Bang has legs and fist
It’s not said like that Bang Bang knocks out the other films in competition at the 2024 Deauville Film Festival But anchored in the city of Detroit, violently hit by a deindustrialization from which it has not recovered, Vincent Grashaw’s fourth feature film pleased the public and would certainly not displease Paul Schrader. , with his fascinating character in search of salvation and a troubled form of redemption.
This character, Bernard “Bang Bang” Rozyski (Tim Blake Nelson), is a young grandfather and former professional featherweight boxer. Living modestly, his glory days are long gone, and he is as bitter as he is angry, roaming the streets of Detroit with a gun in his pocket. Something is haunting him, and he is driven by hatred for Darnell Washington (Glenn Plummer), a former opponent in the ring turned successful businessman and candidate for mayor of Detroit, although we don’t immediately know why.
When his conflicted daughter leaves him to her nephew Justin (Andrew Liner) while Justin, without much guidance, does community service, Bernard sees this as an opportunity to pass on the art of boxing and perhaps find meaning in his own life.
Tim Blake Nelson gives a great performance
The actor Tim Blake Nelson He is known for many memorable supporting roles, including several for great directors. A Steven Spielberg (Minority report AND Lincoln), at Terrence Malick (The red line), the Coen brothers (Oh brother), Ang Lee (A Day in the Life of Billy Lynn) and Guillermo del Toro (Nightmare Alley), his recognizable face and his great acting talent work miracles. So much so that in 2018, when the Coen brothers entrusted him with the main role The Ballad of Buster ScruggsTim Blake Nelson proves that he can easily play a leading role, and with success. Independent cinema will therefore offer him numerous opportunities to emerge, especially with the excellent westerns. Old Henry (2021), and therefore this year Bang Bang.
Filmed from every angle, his lean, sharp body exudes Bang Bang of rare intensity and energy. Determined to repair the mistakes of his past, or at least to ease the pain of an existence that has gone tragically, he creates several very touching moments with his nephew, his faithful friend Sharon (the luminous Erica Gimpel), his alcoholic friend John (Kevin Corrigan) and radiates during a cocaine-fueled evening with the new tenants of his old, large and beautiful house, from the days when he was a star.
A heartbreaking family drama
In the way, among others, The card counter, Bang Bang offers this character-martyr to his cause a final showdown with his long-time adversary, Darnell Washington, during an impromptu boxing match in a rich living room where “Bang Bang” arrives in a hospital gown. In this moment, unfortunately a little late in the narrative to truly express its full potential, the source of the character’s anger, his overwhelming desperation, and the resolution of his family history are revealed.
Staged with raw realism, holding on to its formidable character played with infinite grace by Tim Blake Nelson, Bang Bang tells a very touching family drama, in which we can also read the portrait of a second-rate America. That of losersthose left behind, losers magnificent who despite their sad fate never abdicate or give up.
So, perhaps, like Paul Schrader, very often selected at festivals and nominated at ceremonies, but too rarely awarded, Vincent Grashaw and his film will leave the 50th Deauville Festival empty-handed. But they will do so with the greatest anger in their stomachs, with clenched fists and raised gloves.
Source: Cine Serie
Ray Ortiz is a journalist at Gossipify, known for his coverage of trending news and current events. He is committed to providing readers with accurate and unbiased reporting, and is respected for his ability to keep readers informed on the latest news and issues.
