Ben Banks (2012)

Ben Banks, the 28-year-old journalism student, smokes weed and avoids responsibility. Ben Banks, the movie, asks; What would it take to awaken ambition in this guy? The answer? A local ... See full summary »

Director:

Bryce Clark

Writer:

Bryce Clark

Stars:

Mischa Barton, Melora Hardin, Ronald L. Brown

Cast

Credited cast:
Mischa Barton	...	Amy
Melora Hardin	...	Mary Andrews
Ronald L. Brown	...	Stan Krendal
Emily Moffat	...	Jane West
Michael Hobert	...	Greg Timmons
Travis Lincoln Cox	...	Waiter
Valerie Fuselier	...	Phil Macey's Girl
Fabrizio Goldstein	...	Phil Macey
David Sullivan	...	Glenn Ambers
Whitney Morgan Cox	...	Karen
Jerry Banks	...	Bruce the Landlord
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ben Banks	...	Ben Banks
Alex Beh	...	Gunner Smith
Valery Butler	...	Mourning Mother
Jory Cordy	...	Gary

Storyline

Ben Banks, the 28-year-old journalism student, smokes weed and avoids responsibility. Ben Banks, the movie, asks; What would it take to awaken ambition in this guy? The answer? A local conspiracy, a dead body, and a gorgeous woman (Mischa Barton) with a troubled past.

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Taglines:

She has a past. He has no future.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

7 December 2012 (USA)

Also Known As:

Beauty & the Least

Filming Locations:

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$200,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Signal Films, StoryLand Entertainment

Technical Specs

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

User Reviews

Horrendously mis-paced film with no direction

I think Ben Banks or "Beauty and The Least" as its known on the cover is sort of like a bad accident. Certain aspects of the film are awful and yet I couldn't look away. It might have even made a better stage play than a movie but some of the performances in the film are literally mind numbing, the expressionless and monotone delivery of nearly every line is excruciating at times. The film tries to be an indie comedy and a drama at different times but has this depressing quality to most of the film too. The biggest issue with the film is the lack of direction. When you read the back of the movie it reads like guy meets girl, discovers she's done porn, goes on a quest to remove all that material for her. Yes that plays a part of it but the entire first hour of the film is just one bizarre story after another mixed with Banks and his friends getting high, finding a body, contemplating life in a stoner sort of fashion and a sub-plot about a skeezy RV Salesman. They just try to do too much all at once. Now I understand its an indie film and that is why I'm giving it a little bit of leeway. That and the last half hour is the most entertaining part of it with some loud and boisterous characters and a decent wrap up to all the various plot points.

So who is Ben Banks? No really, who is he. Its not only his character's name but also his real name apparently? He's not a good actor...in fact he is atrociously awful. He has no emotion to his voice, he delivers his lines with utter incompetence. And yet all that being said somehow he has this charisma on screen where you actually grow to like the big doofus. This is his only acting credit whoever he is. Mischa Barton has the honour of being the biggest name in the film really. Barton does a really good job actually. Maybe because Banks shows such little emotion Barton seems so much better. Either way she is watchable and their chemistry is pretty good. David Sullivan is decent as the aforementioned skeezy RV Salesman. His character is over the top and ridiculous but he definitely adds something comically to the cast. Kim Huffman is okay as Bank's mother but doesn't particularly stand out. Banks' best friends are all very typical stoner best friends and I can't really say much about their performances. Certainly they fulfil what they are supposed to in their roles but that doesn't give them much to stand out with. This mysterious Ben Banks is what really gets me. In every description of the movie, including the cover box, it says starring Mischa Barton and Melora Hardin (who is in the film for maybe five minutes.) There are no credits at all for Ben Banks. Just bizarre and I would guess by his performance that he is not a professional actor.

So as with most indie films this is written and directed by the same person...Bryce Clark. I must first of all admit that the last half hour of this film was exceptional...so much better than the first hour. If the entire film had been consistent with how it wrapped up I probably would have scored it at least an 8. But it isn't consistent. The script is disjointed and all over the place. It tries to do too much all at once and misses the mark on what it should focus on. However, as I said the last half hour makes sticking in there worthwhile. It even shows a surprising moral lesson in the end that was welcome in my books. Is Beauty and The Least a good film? No. Sadly it is just too slow and too clumsy to be considered "good." However, for an indie film project it isn't a complete waste. It has some positive aspects and the film is beautifully shot. Some more experience and better actors would have made this a much more well rounded film. 5/10