This film is an American story about two men struggling in the same town of Albion, Michigan while worlds apart. Stanley (Richard Jenkins), an aging fast-food worker, plans to call it quits after 38 years on the graveyard shift at Oscar's Chicken and Fish. His last weekend takes a turn while training his replacement, Jevon (Shane Paul McGhie), a talented but stalled young writer whose provocative politics keep landing him in trouble. These two who share little in common are brought together through circumstance. Stanley, a high school dropout who has watched life pass by his drive-through window, proudly details the nuances of the job. While Jevon, a columnist who's too smart to be flipping patties, contends their labor is being exploited. A flicker comradery sparks during the long overnight hours in a quiet kitchen. Dale (Ed O'Neill), a friend of Stanley, attempts to encourage him in what Stanlet deems as a worthless town, as the two mens' manager, Shazz (Da'Vine Joy Randolph) tries to hold them and the place together.
Others to round out the cast are Allison Tolman as Mrs. Kelly, Jevon's social worker, Birgundi Baker as Sydney, Jevon's girlfriend, Dano Duran as Fernando, John Gawlik as Police Officer, Deron J. Powell as Perry and Jeff Dlugolecki as Degenerate Rommate.
This was refreshingly directed by Andrew Cohn ("Medora" (documentary) '13, "Night School" (documentary) '16, "Danny Brown: Live at the Majestic" (documentary) '18) plus TV, TV series documentaries, a documentary short and a short. Considering the amount of documentary experience this filmmaker has accumulated, I am very surprised that he was able to pull off this film as well as he did. I've seen direction by seasoned directors that weren't half as talented as this filmmaker. The pacing and staging was professional and the emotion and pathos he was able to extract from his actors was phenomenal. He will receive more feature film work. It was written by Cohn as well. The only other writing credit he has to his resume is a short, "Chile Road" '11, so when I viewed this, knowing this information, astounded me! Now, was it an Academy Award caliber film? Not really, however, considering all, this was a well delineated and thought out film. There were a few places of a lack of continuity, but watching this definitely kept me riveted to my seat. Not to be a spoiler alert, but this does end bitter sweetly in that one would not like the ending, but one can appreciate its conclusion. Even with such limited writing experience, I can certainly see this writer receiving more work along with directing. And what can I say about Jenkins? He is a consummate actor, and his co-star, McGhie definitely was not upstaged by Jenkins. He held his own easily.
If you are interested in a well constructed character study of extreme opposites, this is the film for you. It being an independent film, has the propensity of being bittersweet, but sometimes life doesn't end with a nice bow tied at the end of a situation. If you want a well crafted American film that's artistically done, then delve into this one, otherwise pass it on.
Out of 4 Stars: 3.5 Rated: R 90mins.
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