When someone's fortunes suddenly start looking better, that development is usually too good to be true. This lesson is going to be learned by the protagonist of Small Time, 1996 crime comedy directed by Jeffrey Reiner. When Ben (played by Glen Plummer), small-time gangster who works for the mysterious "Dutchman", suddenly gets entrusted with a drug deal that involves half a million dollars, he is convinced that he is on the way of becoming major player within organisation. Unfortunately, what was supposed to be routine operation turns into nightmare. Ben's two friends and associates prove to be irresponsible and incompetent and the designated location for the deal is a tiny hut in the middle of desert. Unpleasant and inhospitable place would become even less hospitable for the trio when nobody turns out for days.
Most critics would be inclined to think of Small Time as nothing more than cheap Tarantino knock-off, but this film owes more to Samuel Beckett's play Waiting for Godot than to films like Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction. Absurdist humour intertwines not only with Tarantinoesque cliches, but also with New Age philosophy in few scenes that poke fun at Oliver Stone. The acting in film is great, especially in the case of Glen Plummer who rarely has opportunity to play leading roles. Unfortunately, in the last third of film director and co-writer Jeffrey Reiner runs out of creativity and the audience is back in the familiar realms of genre film and pointless bloodbath serves as a compensation for the lacking humour. Yet, despite those flaws, Small Time is entertaining enough and it would be more pleasant experience for viewers than its protagonists.
RATING: 5/10 (++)
(Note: The text in its original form was posted in Usenet newsgroup rec.arts.films.reviews on February 16th 2004)
Blog in Croatian https://draxblog.com Blog in English https://draxreview.wordpress.com/ Cent profile https://beta.cent.co/@drax Minds profile https://www.minds.com/drax_rp_nc Uptrennd profile https://www.uptrennd.com/user/MTYzNA
Brave browser: https://brave.com/dra011
BTC donations: 1EWxiMiP6iiG9rger3NuUSd6HByaxQWafG ETH donations: 0xB305F144323b99e6f8b1d66f5D7DE78B498C32A7
