THE DEVIL'S IN THE DETAILS // A FILM REVIEW OF "WHELM"
WHELM, the directorial debut of Skyler Lawson (who also wrote the script) is one of the most ambitious indies to come around in some time. It tells the tale of two brothers, August (Ronan Colfer) and Reed (Dylan Grunn) who during the Great Depression get caught up in the middle of a legendary bank robbery. It's filled with sweeping shots of some truly stunning cinematography and looks like a far more experienced filmmaker crafted it. It's incredibly ambitious and also a bit self-indulgent and meandering, with pacing that sometimes moving at a snail's pace. Yet somehow, it all works. It all ends up coming together in a glorious picture that rewards you for paying attention to every single thing.
The plot is meticulously detailed yet is also something that works best when you discover it for yourself. But it revolves around two estranged brothers (August and Reed) and a captivating stranger Alexander Aleksy (Delil Baran). He's a criminal who seems to be several steps ahead of everyone in any given moment and someone who doesn't often outright say what he wants, at least not right away. The story is split into several chapters, slowly unraveling the precarious plot. Grant Schumacher plays Jimmy, an imposing and threatening character who also happens to be a legendary outlaw. There's a lot of scheming and planning as well as shoot-outs, kidnappings and long walks in the woods. The scope of the film is grand, with a beautiful score by Chris Dudley and great performances all around from the cast. Because the film is told so slowly (with a steady hand), it requires patience but because of the attention to detail in everything from the settings to the costumes and characters, it's a rich and rewarding experience. WHELM is the kind of film that will get richer with every viewing, but still lingers on you after just one watch.
GRADE: A-
WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY Skyler Lawson STARRING Ronan Colfer, Dylan Grunn, Delil Baran, Francesca Anderson, Grant Schumacher. OPENING ON DIGITAL PLATFORMS AUGUST 13TH AS WELL AS A 35MM ROAD SHOW BEGINNING AT THE FINE ARTS THEATRE BEVERLY HILLS. FOR MORE INFO: WHELM