Not great...but not too bad, either.
Rotten Tomatoes review
Synopsis:A poignant tale of redemption and forgiveness as a man attempts to make things right...online. Follow his journey as he navigates the treacherous waters of the Internet in a quest to leave behind a life littered with the detritus of Bent Nails and broken dreams.
Starring:Clark 'Bar' Deflave ...... "Travis"
Northern 'Exposure' Dave ...... Defrauded Friend
"Cap'n" Kirk Shrapnel ...... Walker, Montana Ranger
Directed and written by Deflave
Review:A compelling tale that is somewhat compromised by a lack of subtlety amongst the co-stars, "Plan Nine..." had the potential to be in the running for an Academy award next spring. Alas, it falls prey to its own heavy handed clichès and over-the-top sentiments.
Delflave's 'Travis' gives a poignant and understated performance as the titular character who alternates between a sincere humility toward those he attempts to reconcile with (without being obsequious) and a muted rage simmering beneath the surface directed at former compatriots.
His performance largely carries an otherwise familiar script that borrows from classics such as the celebrated "Rendevous in Pinedale" and the oft-overlooked gospel quartet musical, "Lyin', a Winch and the Annuity To Go".
Unfortunately, his fellow co-stars fail to contribute to the heavy lifting and the plot and pacing suffer for it. ND's heavy handed tirades do little justice to the flow and feeling of the film and come as a surprise to those accustomed to his usual grace and soft touch on such beauties as, "65 Impala". Seemingly preoccupied, it would appear to be a phone-in performance.
Shrapnel gives a solid, if not spectacular, rendition of the bereaved and betrayed mentor of the protagonist. While the script doesn't leave him with a whole lot of depth to plumb he pulls off a satisfactory job of a man done wrong.
While time will tell the impact of this retelling of an oft-heard tale, one cannot help but be a bit disappointed in the final form that it inhabits. While its release date hopes to give it some added punch, it would seem this is one story that will not be resurrected.
** out of ***** stars.
