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Ballast (2008) 6.8
Ratings:
6.8/10 from 1,654 users
Metascore: 84/100
Reviews: 21 user | 71 critic | 24 from Metacritic.com A drama set in the Mississippi delta, where one man's suicide affects three people's lives. Director:Lance HammerWriter:Lance Hammer |
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Micheal J. Smith Sr. | ... | ||
| JimMyron Ross | ... | ||
| Tarra Riggs | ... | ||
| Johnny McPhail | ... | ||
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Ventress Bonner | ... |
Teen
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Jimez Alexander | ... |
Teen
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Jean Paul Guillory | ... |
Teen
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Marcus Alexander | ... |
Teen
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Marquice Alexander | ... |
Teen
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Lawrence Jackson | ... |
Teen
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Jeremy Jordan | ... |
Paramedic
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Steve Cabell | ... |
Paramedic
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Sam Dobbins | ... |
Ambulance Driver
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Neil Pettigrew | ... |
Dispatcher
(voice)
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Sanjib Shrestha | ... | |
Edit
Plot Summary
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Add Synopsis
Storyline
A single mother and her embattled son struggle to subsist in a small Mississippi Delta township. An act of violence thrusts them into the world of an emotionally devastated highway store owner, awakening the fury of a bitter and longstanding conflict. Written by Anonymous
Genres:
DramaParents Guide:
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Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
19 January 2008 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
Balast See more »Box Office
Budget:
$700,000 (estimated)Opening Weekend:
$8,572 (USA) (3 October 2008)Gross:
$76,211 (USA) (5 December 2008)Company Credits
Show detailed
company contact information
on
IMDbPro »
I took a while to trust this film, since it is one of many new indies to start very slowly, with much that is unexplained and not only minimal sound effects, but in fact even minimal ambient sound. There's a number of new films that start this way and never get anywhere after that. Here however there's a slow but inevitable build, and much of what's unexplained becomes intuitively clear as the film progresses. The uncle's first few encounters with his nephew are beautifully set up and played, with their undercurrents clear early on. The story at one point becomes a bit predictable, but nonetheless engaging. The characters are very rich without any surface effort or telegraphing. I'm iffy on the ending, and I don't know that I'd want to watch a number of films like this in a row. But it has definite authority, and shows immense promise.