You Really Should Take This "Shot In The Dark"

Shot In the Dark (2017)

TV-MA

The Story:

3 rival groups of stringers scour the streets of California after hours looking for sensational stories to sell to the local news stations in time for the morning news.

It's a cut throat business, but hey, it's a living.

Reminiscent of the fairly creepy movie, Nightcrawler, from a few years back, this tale of three competing news crews looking for the story of the night is riveting, right from the onset.

If it bleeds, it leads...

Everyone's heard that, and these are the people out there putting their life in danger to get the shots to the news stations in time to enjoy with your morning coffee.

In California, it's an ultra-competitive business and not only do you have to get the shot, you have to get it first, get it best, and get it sold before the other guy can strike.

These journalists, if you will, also have to be story teller, cameraman and editor, often all at the same time and from the comfort of the front seat of their car.

The rivalries between the 3 companies are real, but in a sense they all drive each other to put out the best product possible.

There are certain things they do along the way that will make you realize what a cutthroat business they truly compete in.

As with all good reality shows, there's a character I felt was the villain, and much like Dave from Storage Wars, you can both respect but dislike him at the same time. I'll let you decide who you think the villain is for yourself though.

Finally, the climactic cliffhanger for episode one, well if it doesn't shock you and make you click the button to get to the 2nd episode, then no, this isn't your show.

:)

This Netflix Original has 8 episodes between 35-41 minutes or so in length. Easy to binge the complete series in one sitting. I tried to take it no more than 2 episodes at a time to let the series build over a few days.

And the setup for a second season?

Oh yeah, I'm dying to know what happen(s/ed) next!

Final Grade: A-

Murder! "The Scenesters" Are Making The Perfect Murder Mystery Film

The Scenesters (2009)

Rated R

Starring Blaise Miller, Sherilyn Fenn, Suzanne May, Jeff Grace, Todd Berger, Kevin Brennan, Monika Jolly,

Written and Directed by Todd Berger

The Story:

Charlie (Miller) is a crime scene cleaner. The police (Brennan & Jolly) have fun at his expense. It's when the new crime scene videographer (Grace) and his producer friend (Berger) realize that Charlie is stumbled upon a serial killer, they decide to film a murder mystery outside of their day jobs. The clues and the bodies begin to mount as suspicions are raised and artistic liberties are taken.

A movie within a movie movie unfolds as the story begins with the court case where the lawyer (Fenn) is questioning the people behind the scenes of the movie within the movie. Then we are treated to various flashbacks and memories that elaborate more on the story that unfolds between courtroom tensions.

At its heart though, it's a comedic whodunit which offers multiple suspects and red herrings aplenty.

At times, it is reminiscent of Nightcrawler which may have been the pitch, "imagine the Scenesters, but not played for laughs!"

East Los Angeles and the indie music scene plays an important part of the film as both soundtrack and setting for much of the film.

Pretty good movie, one that you may have missed when it came out in 2009, but now through the streaming of Amazon Prime, you can rectify that anytime you want!

Fenn is the only recognizable name/face in the cast as the majority is from a Los Angeles comedy troupe.

Good laughs, good tension.

Pretty good viewing experience.

Final Grade: C+ / B- range.

This "Nightcrawler" Is A Tad Bit Creepy

Nightcrawler (2014)

Rated R

Starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Rene Russo, Bill Paxton, Riz Ahmed

Written and Directed by Dan Gilroy

The Story:

Louis (Gyllenhaal) is a man without a mission in life. He's trying to score a job, but nobody is interested. Fate leads him to encounter independent "news crews" catching the action that happens in L.A. after dark. Intrigued, he sets out to become a 'nightcrawler' himself, proving to be successful enough to need his own assistant (Ahmed) as he continues to sell story after story to a local news station. However, Louis keeps pushing himself to make the stories better than the last, to the point he begins to blur the lines between what really happened, and what he may have helped happen.

There's a lot to this movie, I will give it that, right out of the gate.

Gilroy has crafted a movie with some very unlikeable characters, and yet you remain fairly riveted to the proceedings as each new segment sucks you in deeper to the story.

Gyllenhaal is completely irritating in his role, in a good way, if that's possible. I would say that he was likely dealing with autism or another disorder that makes his personality traits that way...

Or he's a complete dick.

:)

His drive to find the ultimate "if it bleeds it leads" story pushes him every night he's on the town.

Russo plays the station manager who buys his work and then becomes the object of his affection, a role she never is completely comfortable with, and rightly so.  Remember, Louis is a jerk.

Ahmed brings a nice counter-balance to Louis and everything he stands for. A thankless part really, he brings the most joy and life to the screen, and suffers because of it.

It's well worth a viewing, but a film I'd rather not come back and watch again.

Ever.

;)

I watched it some time ago, but if you missed out, it is now streaming on Netflix as of this writing.

Final Grade: B