Review - Down to the Felt

By: Triyou

I am not much of a gambler.  I have read The Gambler by Dostoyevsky but all I remember is the ice cream social that turned into a full-on orgy.  I think that’s the arc of the book?  Also, I was once at casino where the band Poison was playing and after the set, I bet my friend that I could get Bret Micheals to buy me a drink and compliment either my smile or my thighs--or just flip me off and walk away.  Would you believe that all of the above happened? Either way I bet you can’t prove that it didn’t.

In any case, that leads us seamlessly into the new film, Down to the Felt written by Jon Osbeck, Dino Tripodis, and Ralph Scott, and directed by Jon Osbeck.  First off, I should state this movie is wildly entertaining and that is almost always what I want when I watch a feature, unfortunately it’s not always the case.  With this one though, you’re engaged and entertained right out of the gate.  I thought maybe you could call this a midwestern Paul Schrader piece, but that might not suggest the humor found throughout this film.  I think you could best classify it as a dark comedy, and it offers that delicate mix of violence and comedy expertly to be both thrilling and at times laugh out loud funny.

There is certainly enough action to keep you engaged the whole time, but what I found even more engaging was the witty banter throughout.  I think this movie is very dialogue driven and that was probably, if I had to pick, my favorite aspect.  I suppose among the reasons I enjoyed the dialogue so much, other than being very well scripted, was the spot on delivery by the cast.  Michael Stahl-David carries the film with an everyman kind of appeal and a charisma that reminded me, at times, of Charlie Day.  The chemistry between he and Scottie Thompson was and is something to take notice of.  Then there is Micheal Weston killing it as the hitman with an existential crisis, and he drives every scene that he is in.

I think the maybe the best praise I can give this film is as I was watching it with my girlfriend there were two moments when she said audibly, “Oh Shit!”  And I should say she’s not the type that talks during movies, it just made that big of an impact…and that after all,  is the zenith of what a good film should induce—honest emotional reactions—and it’s really great when the reactions are surprise followed by joy.

It also has a very charming independent feel to it, and not in an amateur way, but in a way that makes it feel relatable and comforting—and that adds in a positive way to the whole experience.  It makes it feel good and right to root for the characters and be fully invested in their fate. 

Ultimately what I think we have here is a very well crafted, entertaining, funny, thrilling and just an overall good film.  Watch it, I bet you enjoy it too.  

Pre-order here  https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/down-to-the-felt/id1841796137?ls=1

or get on Apple TV or anywhere you watch movies

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