The Movie Press
  • Movie Reviews
  • Twitter News/Updates
  • News & Notes
  • DVD
  • Box Office Results
  • Contact
  • About Us

"Saint John of Las Vegas": Patron Saint of SUCK

2/10/2010

0 Comments

 
Picture
In Saint John of Las Vegas John Alighieri (Steve Buscemi) is a compulsive ex-gambler who had a bit of luck in Las Vegas once.Then his luck ran out, and he found himself driving as far away from Sin City as his last tank of gas would take him. Still wrestling with his addiction and searching for a new sense of purpose in Albuquerque, John instigates a romantic liaison with his coworker Jill (a surprisingly pleasant Sarah Silverman) the same day he finally gains the confidence to seek out a raise.

Instead of an increase in pay John's boss, Mr. Townsend (played by Peter Dinklage), promotes him to fraud investigator. This new job requires John to shadow seasoned fraud employee, Virgil (Romany Malco) on an investigation to disprove an insurance claim for $200,000 in lost wages filed by a now wheelchair-bound stripper, Tasti D Lite (Emmanuelle Chriqui). The plot follows John and Virgil on their journey in the desert outside of Las Vegas where John gains the strength he needs to continue on the path of his new life while the temptation of his former one looms in the distance.

CRIPPLED STRIPPERS AND FLAMING CARNIES AFTER THE JUMP. 


If first-time writer and director Hue Rhodes had had enough experience to execute a clear, strong story with this film, his effort could have been pretty charming.There are a few cinematic bright spots with regards to the minimal screen time reserved for John and Jill's burgeoning romantic relationship and a very bizarre scene involving a "carnie," a malfunctioning fire suit, and cigarettes. The script's inspiration from Dante's Divine Comedy makes for an interesting plot device, andBuscemi and Malco thrive together on screen. It's just a shame that an inherently flawed script is unable to provide its leads with more fodder for conflict and reconciliation--or even a few laughs along the way.

Rhodes just never gets comfortable in his direction. Instead he brushes and jumbles through the text in a race to a disappointing conclusion. When a film contains a moment when a stripper in a wheelchair attempts to give Steve Buscemi's goofy-looking ass a lap dance, and the director refuses to allow that scene the time it needs to either be hilarious, heart-warming, or even the least bit arousing, what chance do the film's less sensational sequences have of leaving an impression on its viewers? 

By the time John reaches his journey's end (or is it a beginning?), the audience is left with so many unanswered questions that (surprisingly) have nothing to do with what they witnessed in the strip club. They don't even have a reason to care that John has learned a very important lesson about what luck means in his life. The fairly random dream sequences interspersed throughout the film serve no purpose other than to drive home the point that John seems to be on a metaphysical journey as well (just like Dante Alighieri--get it?).

A great cast and a clever concept certainly set this project up for success. Unfortunately Rhodes is never able to decide what he wants his film to accomplish. Instead, the audience is dragged through hell along with John and Virgil in this detached, unfunny, and muddled journey.

--Jessica Hixson

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    October 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    July 2018
    June 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    March 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010
    February 2010
    January 2010
    December 2009
    November 2009
    October 2009
    September 2009
    August 2009
    July 2009
    June 2009
    May 2009
    April 2009
    March 2009
    February 2009
    January 2009
    December 2008
    November 2008
    October 2008
    September 2008
    August 2008

    Categories

    All
    Austin Film Festival
    Darcie Duttweiler Reviews
    Derrick Mitcham Reviews
    Eric Harrelson Reviews
    Eric Pulsifer Reviews
    Eric Pulsifer Reviews
    Fantastic Fest
    Greg Maclennan Reviews
    Greg Wilson Reviews
    Jessica Hixson Reviews
    Mark Collins Reviews
    Monte Monreal Reviews
    Reviews
    Rob Heidrick Reviews
    Rob Heidrick Reviews
    Sxsw

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.