Blind Eye (2006)

One of the most popular formats for movies is the police story. It combines the eternal battle between good and evil usually with plenty of shoot outs and car chases. A lot of such flicks have been simple excuses for plenty of non stop action. Lately it has been rare for such a movie to be concerned with actual character development. One film that has brought back some of the classic elements of a character drive action flick is ‘Blind Eye’. There are the required good guys versus bad guys and a lot of action but more importantly there is a story that allows the characters to change over the course of the film. So many flicks lately can’t seem to decide on what genre they want to be. In these cases they keep heaping them in hoping that one will work out. Here, the opposite is true. The story is complex enough to support several genres. There are elements of action and thriller flicks built on a foundation of a good, solid drama. For a film with a modest budget a lot of the typical special effects are not possible. Blowing things up is usually a good way to get the audience’s attention but explosives cost money; not to mention the unionized experts needed to pull of such things. As mentioned there is action but if comes to punctuate the story not define it. With the flood of mindless action flicks around it is refreshing to have one come along that requires the audience pay attention to the plot.

The film was written by Virginia Carraway and Charlie Fitzgerald. This is the first film for both and they work well together. They craft a story of deception and betrayal that moves along nicely. It pulls the audience in from the first scene and holds on to your attention through out. Many elements of the story harkens back to the classic gangster films of the thirties. You know the ones; they usually stared Jimmy Cagney. Usually there were two brothers; one would become the gangster while the other was either a priest or a district attorney. Here the concept is the same but expanded to a group of friends where two became police offices while the other two would walk on the wrong side of the law. Such a plot would make for a compelling movie as is but this writing team adds some spice in the form of a missing child. There is nothing like a missing child to add drama and the ticking countdown clock to the mix.

The director of the film, Mark McNabb, is also a first timer in this capacity. He also produced and edited the film so the control of the final produce is his to claim. He has produced and edited another tightly done film, ‘Dark Fields’ which was released on DVD under the more marketable name of ‘Study Hell’. In that film he moved to the horror genre but did so in a fashion to make the film better than the flood of others in the genre. Here McNabb employs a straight forward approach with his direction. He does not use the camera to force the story. It is there to provide a window for the audience. There are few camera tricks and bizarre angles; he doesn’t need them. He relies on the writers to create the story and his cast to tell it. He is there to make the film work and he does.

The film revolves around four childhood friends now adults. Nick Browning (Levi Oliver) has left town some time ago to become a police officer in a larger city. Remaining behind is Jay Kingsley (Joel Hookey) who is a local police officer. Also part of the childhood group of friends is Rudy Mears (Phil Babcock) and Tim Wyman (Shaun Hood) both of whom is more criminally inclined. Also still in town is Katherine (Tara Goudreau), the ex wife of Nick and has custody of their daughter Mira (Simone Randall). The film begins on a snowy night as a group of policemen in assault gear check their weapons. Back up is delayed and the office in charge, Nick, is concerned that their informant will be dead if they don’t act immediately. This doesn’t sit well with his boss, Chas Munroe (Nick Mancuso) but Nick takes off anyway. This establishes Nick as a man who cannot let a person in danger go without a champion. He is a man willing to put his convictions and life on the line. Munroe remains the by the book boss and refuses to send backup in to help Nick. When shots are heard in the building Munroe finally has to send the SWAT team in. After a little explosion Nick gets out his man. Nick’s personal life is a mess. He awakens next to a woman, one he apparently picked up the night before. The night table is cluttered with cups and empty whisky bottles. Munroe comes in to tell Nick he just missed his third appeal, it looks like Nick is used to being in trouble with the bosses in the department. He gets a phone call from Katherine; Mira has been missing for three days. Jay has been leading a search party but they have not found her. It turns out that Mira has run away before; she is not taking the divorce of her parents well. Katherine needs Nick to come back immediately. After checking in with Katherine to get some of the details Nick goes off to meet with Jay. He is at a bar having a drink with his cop buddies. Strangely Tim and Rudy are also drinking with them. Tim is not shy about the fact that he harbors some grudge against Nick. Just then Rudy’s uncle Fred (Roddy Piper) arrives. They guys go way back with him; he gave Nick his first beer. Nick and jay talk in private and Nick becomes convinced that his daughter did not just run away again. Slowing, as he searches for her Nick is pulled into a dark pool of betrayal.

In some ways this film represents a passing of the torch for action actors. Both Mancuso and Piper have had their share of this genre throughout their careers. At times the acting is about on par with community theater but there are some very good moments to he found. Levi Oliver does well as the dedicated cop with no hold on his personal life. This role has been done so often by so many different actors that it has to be difficult for an actor to find some way to make a performance stand out. Oliver has sufficient intensity and stage presence to pull of the character of Nick. The entire cast does well in conveying their characters and over all the film works because of their efforts.

This film comes to DVD through MTI. They are getting a reputation for little flicks that you never heard of. This one is a reasonable piece of entertainment with a good story and direction that will keep you watching.

Posted 03/29/08