FACADE

The greatest compliment to this film is that, despite its amazingly low $7000 budget, it plays not as a hobby or student film but as simply another movie vying for an audience. When reviewed as such, Facade suffers in many respects. The quality of acting swings wildly (why not call for another take when an actor flubs a line?), art school symbolism runs rampant, and numerous shots have a stylized look that jars from the realistic tone of the film.

The story here, “inspired by true events,” is that of a group of kids in their late teens do a lot of drugs at Harry’s house. Harry recently lost his father to suicide, and the drugs and interrelationship’s between the four guests at his party ultimately cause Harry to follow his father’s footstep’s and hang himself. It’s all rather bleak, obviously, but there are more than a few nice, funny exchanges between characters. The film plays out in real time (so that it essentially chronicles the final 89 minutes of Harry’s life). While this works on many levels, it also forces the writer/director to cram as much drama as possible into one night. With so many backstories coming to the surface in such a short amount of time, Facade loses some of the reality that is otherwise its saving grace.

As an example of what can be done with a tiny budget and no-name actors, Facade deserves high praise. Perhaps unfortunately, it does that so well that it rises to become only a less than average rental.

MAYBE SO (4/10)