Skills Like This

D: Monty Miranda; with Spencer Berger, Gabriel Tigerman and Brian Phelan

This Bottle Rocket-esque story of a horrid writer who discovers he’s a pretty decent robber stars Berger as cotton-candy-haired Max and Phelan as Tommy, Dignan for the 00s. As the latter blusters about doing big things, Max walks across the street, robs a bank, and soon finds himself romancing the bank teller. What follows is a lesson in flaunting rules and taking risks, as Max and company aim what starts as a harmless lark into dangerous territory. The ending is a tad predictable, but the casting is unique, the acting able, and the camera work expert. It’s a nice break from the scads of talky twentysomething angst films that have crowded the Fest this year. Perhaps because there’s something actually at stake for these characters as they confront their angst head on.


Skills Like This received the Audience Award for Narrative Feature.

4pm, Paramount

This article appears in March 16 • 2007.

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