9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Another Dysfunctional Family Ramifications Film, June 30, 2005
CRUTCH is a film you want to like: it feels honest, from the heart of the autobiography of writer/director/producer/actor Rob Moretti, and it aims to deliver a statement about the dangers of drug abuse and how to conquer it. The problems with this film are 1) it all has been said and shown before, 2) the camera work and editing are so inconsistent that they become intrusive, and 3) the actors selected to enact this downfall film are pretty much folks with good intentions but little finesse. Obviously made on a very low budget with a group of people who appear committed to the project, it has everything we could want from an Indie except polish.
David (Eben Gordon - unfortunately not resembling a 16-year-old boy he is supposed to be) is trying to hold together his fragile family of adulterous father Jack (James Early), an alcoholic self-destructive mother Katie (Juanita Walsh), and brother and sister. Jack leaves the family for his paramour, Maryann is hospitalized for rehab after an injurious fall, the other siblings are copeless, and David attempts to escape reality by joining an acting class. The acting teacher Kenny (Rob Moretti), accompanied by his close friend and confidant Maryann (Jennifer Katz), encourage David's young ability and despite wise Maryann's warnings, Kenny responds to his attraction to David.
Out of need for order in his life David opens up his sexuality and becomes bonded with Kenny. Kenny's hidden drug addiction is uncovered by David and David begins to use the coke and his downfall begins. It is a love/hate relationship, David becoming the movie star Kenny's drug habit prevented. And eventually David attempts to return to his family and girlfriend only to meet with disaster until in the final moments of the film we find David in a 12-step program. The ending summarizes how each of the characters' lives stand at the present via screen statements before the credits.
As said before, the film cries to be loved but the technical aspects of its creation simply fall short of the much-needed chemistries that this inexperienced cast is unable to deliver. It may be an example of the writer losing the necessary distance from the final product by being over-extended in the making of the film. Grady Harp, June 05
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5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
IMPRESSIVE, April 8, 2005
Wonderfully filmed, poignant story, fantastic actors. An impressive film to say the least. I hope to see it in wide release so all can enjoy. The story is a coming of age story of an endearing young man and his struggles with addiction, family, and love. Writer/Director/Actor Rob Moretti must have had a roller-coaster of a ride creating this film. It is charged with honesty, hardship, and an underlying theme of Making/Creating and fighting the Unmaking/Destroying. The demons of this film reside in each of the characters, but they are ousted by the goodness and will of those same characters. Eben Gordon is brilliant. I can't wait to see his next project. He plays David, the protagonist. His execution of character development reminds me of Edward Norton's in "American X". He goes from young and innocent to hardened and wiser within a wonderfully timed and subtle arc.
Rob Moretti impresses as David's mentor, Kenny. The relationship these two actors create is potent, real, and honest. It brings to mind the torrential joy and disaster of my first love certainly. With everything else Moretti must have dealt with on set as director/writer I find it very impressive that he and Gordon created such synergy. Most of the other actors did very well, though I would have loved to see more of Frankie Faison as Jerry. An intricate film and wonderful experience. It was very impressive.
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4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Stereotypical Mish Mash, February 26, 2006
I could not even get all the way through this film because of the poor acting skills of the leads...To begin with the actor who plays David (Eben Gordon) looks twenty six and not sixteen and Rob Morretti (Kenny) is flat and achingly dull in the role as teacher/seducer. So much of the content was stereotypical and almost comedic such as the mom (who is a boozer) who hides her stash in the toilet tank or Kenny putting his hand on David's shoulder and uttering that old cliche "if you need someone to talk to" There are so many great gay films out there, however, this is not one of them.
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