'Gimme the Loot'

Gimme the Loot

Narrative Feature Competition
D: Adam Leon; with Tashiana Washington, Ty Hickson

If The Wire and The Odyssey taught us only one thing, it's that sometimes the journey is more meaningful than the destination. So, yes, young graffiti artists Sofia (Washington), a softer, perhaps not-too-distant cousin of The Wire's Snoop, and Malcolm (Hickson), her hapless partner, are looking to tag one of New York City's biggest icons. But it's the gauntlet of NoHo flats, rival gangs, stolen goods, and Sirens they run across – sometimes literally – en route to that target that keeps us hooked. There's a lot to be seen in the boroughs along the way, and so much more we'd typically overlook, but first-time feature director Adam Leon's shots are precise and full of detail; it almost doesn't even matter what's being said. What's important is the art, and Leon and his leads have a palpable passion for it, but they also aren't afraid to stop and smell the carnations along the way.

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Thursday, March 15, 7:30pm, Stateside