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donhoganjr
Reviews
Steele Wool (2019)
Dark comedy, great performances, and naughty fun - Watch this film!!!
"Steele Wool" is a fascinating film.
First of all, it's a lot of fun. What kind of fun is an issue until itself, because it is a dark comedy in every sense of the phrase. In the era of hit on-screen comedies like It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia, Fargo, and Arrested Development, Steele Wool benefits greatly from the darker side of funny that's been explored in recent years. One can imagine the premise alone being a bit hard to swallow (no pun intended, if you've already watch the film - haha) if viewers hadn't been prepped to be able to laugh at subject matter that we "shouldn't" be laughing at, and feel a little naughty finding the humorous side in. And Steele, it must be said, rides that line very well.
Right off the start, it becomes apparent that this is an indie production, and before long, the film settles into wearing its indie-ness (is that a word?) as a badge of honor, flying its freak flag pretty high. Take for example the way we meet our heroine, played by enigmatic actress Cami Varela, who first shows up in a storage facility, handling garbage bags filled with questionable contents of a macabre nature, only to then pull out her iPod and ease her nerves with a quick, close-eyed dance. It's a quirky way to get to know our protagonist, and right off the bat we find out conflicting, almost contradictory, details about her that make us wonder whether the hero of the story is playing with a full deck.
Before long, Varela glows with a performance that is truly engaging, to the point that you can't help root for her, even when she's willing to do some pretty heinous things, when you think about it. But it's the fine details of the situations she finds herself in, so that by the time she takes on her new job as a hitwoman - yes, you read that right - you can almost see why, and where she's coming from - almost. Also, the fact that Varela is a deaf actress in real life, and that trait is essential to her character of Daphne Wool, is groundbreaking in so many ways. The way Varela digs into her part is truly brave, gutsy, and bad*ss, all at the same time.
Then there are the other characters, which are all important parts of the film's entertaining whole. There's Daphne's defacto sidekick Tony, played with consistent charm by writer and director Frank A. Cappello, who after some convincing becomes part of her assassin operation, and is game to steal getaway cars when necessary, but runs from a land turtle when sneaking around a bad guy's stomping grounds. He's a quirky character that adds to the film's unpredictability in a very fun way. There's also Moses, the veteran hitman whose imposing presence goes a very long way and adds an effective level of pressure to the stakes at hand, as the story deepens.
"Steele Wool" is a movie that is definitely worth the watch, and will keep you committed because you'll want to know what will happen next, and where Daphne's and Tony's adventure is going to take them. There's a charm to the film that truly asks for the watcher's attention, and definitely pays off in the end, to the point that I actually teared up near the climax. I strongly recommend you check it out.
- Don Hogan