ZigZag (2002)

Director:

David S. Goyer

Writers (WGA):

Landon J. Napoleon (novel)
David S. Goyer (screenplay)

Release Date:

9 July 2002 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

An autistic 15-year-old boy steals money from his boss to provide rent for his abusive father, who uses the money to repay a loan shark.

Plot Keywords:

Beating | Abuse | Underwear | Boxer Shorts | Bed

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

John Leguizamo	...	Dean Singer
Wesley Snipes	...	Dave Fletcher
Oliver Platt	...	Mr. Walters / 'The Toad'
Natasha Lyonne	...	Jenna the Working Girl
Luke Goss	...	Cadillac Tom
Sam Jones III	...	Louis 'ZigZag' Fletcher
Sherman Augustus	...	Det. Jonathan Hawke
Michael Greyeyes	...	Dale
Jullian Dulce Vida	...	Ramon
Ivan Basso	...	Javier
Abraham Benrubi	...	Hector
Warren G. Hall	...	Wayne
Daniel Louis Rivas	...	Rico
Roberta Valderrama	...	Tawny
Eddie Perez	...	Eddie

MPAA:

Rated R for strong language and sexual content, elements of drugs and violence.

Runtime:

101 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R | Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Franchise Pictures

Goofs:

Continuity: The length of Singer's cigarette when he is in the hospital with Jenna.

Quotes:

ZigZag: The sun is full bright today. And the tires are alive because the streets are covered with little pools that explode. I like the rhythm the city makes all on its own. The sounds and the smells and different people, all crashing down together. So loud they go invisible, silent. Just floating around like ghosts.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Dialogue: An Interview with Screenwriter David Goyer (2006) (V)

Almost a Great Movie

Zig Zag (Sam Jones III) is a fifteen years old autistic teenager, living with his abusive father Fletcher (Wesley Snipes), who frequently beats him. Fletcher charges him for a rent of US$ 200,00, otherwise he would be thrown out of his home. Although working washing dishes in a restaurant, whose owner Toad (Oliver Platt) humiliates him very often, Zig Zag does not have the money and becomes worried with the situation. Zig Zag sees Toad opening his safe, memorizes the combination and in the night he steals almost ten thousand dollars. When he comes back home, Fletcher takes all the money from him and uses it to repay a loan to the dangerous Cadillac Tom (Luke Goss). Singer (John Leguizamo) is the best friend of Zig Zag and when knows what he did, he decides to return the money to Toad's safe, otherwise Zig Zag would be sent to a reformatory. However, Singer is very sick, having a terminal cancer, and her uses the support of the prostitute Jenna (Natasha Lyonne) to accomplish his intent. This movie is almost good, but something does not work well in the story. The cast has a great performance, but the genre is too corny for a drama, too slow for an adventure and too dramatic for a comedy. My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): `Conduta Ilegal' (`Illegal Behavior')