Two young boys are faced with their father's brutal abuse of their mother. One picks up a gun and their lives are forever changed. The shooter goes on to a life of crime, while the other is...
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Title: 12 Bucks (1998)
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
 |
Matthew Fishman | ... | Young Johnny |
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Nick Bentley | ... | Young Tanner |
| Alexandra Paul | ... | Epiphany Lovejoy | |
| David Chokachi | ... | Evil Lovejoy | |
| Damon Whitaker | ... | Myles, Quick, Flash, Gatekeeper | |
| Mik Scriba | ... | Sgt. Angry / Lt. Brawler | |
| Scott Waugh | ... | Johnny | |
| Jonathan Silverman | ... | Hyper | |
| Sean Graham | ... | Tanner | |
| Finola Hughes | ... | Classy | |
| Glenn Morshower | ... | Stocker | |
| R.C. Everbeck | ... | Spineless (as Richard Charles Everbeck) | |
| Thyme Lewis | ... | Shopper | |
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Mary Deno | ... | The Switcher (as Mari Deno) |
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Tom Robb | ... | Harlee |
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Storyline
Two young boys are faced with their father's brutal abuse of their mother. One picks up a gun and their lives are forever changed. The shooter goes on to a life of crime, while the other is put in a foster home and goes on to be a successful college student. Fifteen years later, the two are re-united. The jailbird tells his brother he needs him to vouch for him at the parole office. Reluctantly agreeing to go, it isn't until the trip starts that the college man discovers that they are going to Florida and not to a local parole office in California. Forced to travel across country, the two develop a new awareness of each other and of their own life problems. Written by John Sacksteder <jsackste@bellsouth.net>
The story was an interesting idea, but the script was AWFUL. The logic problems in the plot were as big as semis. And the plot points were as cliche as they could be. It felt as though these two writers wrote down the easiest way to get from point "A" to "B" to "C" without even thinking about the logic of their storytelling. I do not want to give any specifics away, but I was surprised that AFI would allow this film into their festival.
The direction was less than admirable, which is a shame coming from talented music video-maker, Wayne Isham. There were some innovative techniques employed over-and-over again, but overall I think Wayne needs to take a refresher course in storytelling.
The actors chosen to play the lead roles weren't very engaging. The role of Taner (if I remember his name correctly), a young man who grew up in juvenal detention centers and prisons, is the prettiest ex-con I've seen in years. Taner's role was acted with the most superficial of performances. For someone who's been hardened by being on the inside, he sure seems friendly and approachable.
The role of Johnny (again, I may have the name slightly wrong here), has the weakest character arc ever written. Again, this actor was not engaging at all. I could care less about these brothers by the time the film is over.
Don't even wait for the video. Maybe someday, if you're unlucky, you'll happen to catch this at 3 in the morning on the Sundance Channel, but don't go out of your way to see this flick.