Arc (2006)

A disgraced LAPD detective embarks on a quest to redeem his integrity by finding a missing child.

Director:

Robert Ethan Gunnerson

Writer:

Robert Ethan Gunnerson

Stars:

Sean Apple, Jonah Blechman, Garrett M. Brown

1 win.

Cast

Credited cast:
Sean Apple	...	Guy in Park
Jonah Blechman	...	Kenny
Garrett M. Brown	...	Dr. Felder
Ann Cusack	...	Angela Blake
Peter Facinelli	...	Paris
Elizabeth Greene	...	Woman in Yard
Logan Grove	...	Christopher Blake
Chris Hall	...	Jefferson
Mel Harris	...	Charlie
Ken Howard	...	Santee
Billy Lush	...	Bobby Ward
Donne McRae	...	The Wolf's Voice
Simone Moore	...	Maya Gibbs (as Raina-Simone Moore)
Sean P. Neelon	...	Druggie
Joe Ochman	...	Donald Garek

Storyline

Set in the belly of Los Angeles' criminal underworld, Arc is the story of Paris Pritchert, a former police officer turned drug dealer and addict, who embarks on a quest to find a missing child in the hope of redeeming his eroding character. The only catch is, like all addicts, Paris' confidence completely relies on the drugs in his system and -- in this case -- his firm belief that he can succeed in his mission if he can just stay high 24/7 and alive long enough to see it through. To aid in the endeavor, Paris enlists the help of Maya Gibbs, an African American prostitute versed not only in the language of the street, but also in the words of Maya Angelou and Nadine Gordimer. And together, the path of this dysfunctional duo crosses with those of the child's parents, a doctor with a penchant for soliciting "Street Boys", a self-ascribed King Of Porn, a drug supplier with a gift for making impeccable hors d'oeuvres, and a hardened cop with more scams than the most adept street hustler. ...

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Plot Keywords:

detective | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

Not Rated

User Reviews

A stunning debut from first-time filmmaker Gunnerson; equal style and substance

Forget whatever it is you know about Peter Facinelli from "Can't Hardly Wait" or the canceled series "Fastlane" -- neither of those projects even hinted at the depth he taps into here. Under the direction of Robert Ethan Gunnerson (this is one of the strongest debuts in recent memory), Facinelli is born again as an actor. Equally impressive is the debut of Raina-Simone Moore, who brings refreshing earthiness and wit to what could have been a stock character.

There are a lot of preconceived notions about "drug dramas," but this film should be seen first and foremost as a human drama. Instead of going for the trippy style of "Requiem for a Dream" or the barebones realism of "Drugstore Cowboy" -- Gunnerson wisely doesn't aim for one extreme. He also makes striking use of selective coloring, with colored objects popping out of black-and-white frames. In the hands of a lesser director, this could be a distracting gimmick, but here it works beautifully, speaking volumes about each character.

Funny how the film's budget was well under a million dollars, and yet it is has so much more heart and soul than the $150 million "Miami Vice." Seek it out, and you'll feel like you've made a great discovery. Days after seeing it, I can't shake it -- and I don't want to.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 October 2006 (USA)

Also Known As:

Arc

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$650,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

42 Frames, PowerGirl Pictures, Return Productions

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1