 KSL Movie Show Review:...
FALLING ** (R) strong brutal violence, bloody images and language. Starring Richard Dutcher, Virginia Reece, Maria Eberline, Cesar Garcia and Hamilton Mitchell. Written and directed by Richard Dutcher (“God’s Army” “Brigham City”) - filmed in Los Angeles. Playing at the Megaplex 12 at the Gateway. 83 minutes. In a recent conversation, local filmmaker Richard Dutcher reminded me that I once referred to him as “Nephi Tarantino” - a friendly tongue-in-cheek suggestion that he’s an LDS-themed storyteller with a thirst for blood. Well after seeing this latest effort, all I can say is - “wow dude, you must have been really thirsty!” Never one to shy away from controversy or controversial subjects, Dutcher brings us the story of an L.A. freelance photographer who makes a living off the tragedy of others. Eric (Dutcher) gets top dollar to be the first on the scene of gruesome murders, suicides, car accidents and major fires. His videotapes make their way to the local TV stations and onto the evening news. As he says, “if it bleeds - it leads.” His wife Davey (Virginia Reece) is a struggling, frustrated actress who is desperate to take any role she can find even if it means losing her clothes. Eric tries to be supportive, but begins to realize that his life has gone in a direction he had never anticipated. He was once a good Utah Mormon boy, but now he finds himself dealing with thugs, killers and creeps. Plus, the death of a close colleague doesn’t help as the pal left a wife and young son behind. Eric’s own life will take a dramatic turn when he secretly films an actual, fatal stabbing. The problem is, he’s so caught up in getting the crucial moment on tape that he neglects to offer assistance to the poor, wounded man. However, the ripple effect of his actions or lack thereof will be far-reaching. While I’ve always admired Dutcher’s skill as a storyteller and a filmmaker, I don’t believe he has the acting chops to bring the kind of real weight to such a heavy dramatic role. Those are not easy words to hear when you’ve been bitten by the acting bug like I know Richard has. But at some point, he’ll have to decide if he wants to be great director or a struggling film star. My other concern is what kind of audience he expects to get with a movie about a formerly active Mormon on the edge of self-destruction. And when I say edge - I actually mean WAY over it - as in falling off a cliff (which could explain the obscure title). How do I mean “over the edge?” The last ten minutes of this film are extremely violent, frankly, I think unnecessarily so and I’m no wilting flower. So, while I applaud his efforts to make thought-provoking films in light of his LDS background, he should also keep his story and his audience in mind when making these decisions, in this case, about the amount of sexuality and violence he displays. For Dutcher fans, this is much darker than “States of Grace,” so let that be your guide. “Falling” is playing at the Megaplex 12 at the Gateway in SLC. Movies at a glance: FALLING ** (R) strong brutal violence, bloody images and language. This is not the “Richard Dutcher Story” as some have suggested, but an intense look at how one can struggle with his life surroundings pressed up against a strong religious background. Unfortunately, the graphic nature of the telling obscures the intentions of the message making it virtually unwatchable for a prospective LDS audience that has enjoyed Dutcher’s previous works. It’s playing at the Megaplex 12 at the Gateway only.
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