Charlie Casanova

Narrative Feature Competition
D: Terry McMahon; with Emmett J. Scanlan, Leigh Arnold

Googling “Ivan Albright” will help you picture the emotionally corrupt pack of Irish yuppies of which the title character, played with chilling ferocity by Emmett J. Scanlan, is the (rabid, foaming) alpha dog. This dark tale will leave you wanting to scrub its residue off your brain with a broken pumice stone, as sociopath Charlie cedes his moral decisions to whatever’s drawn from a deck of cards and drags his pack of pusillanimous upper-crusties down with him, through mayhem, adultery, and murder. The camerawork is claustrophobia-inducing throughout, like you’re trapped in an elevator with these people and you can’t get out. But you do want to get out, even though Charlie will tell you it’s because you’ve been emasculated or you’re a worthless bitch, and the worst parts of you aren’t sure he’s wrong. It’s that kind of movie.

Thursday, March 17, 6:30pm, Alamo Lamar A

This article appears in March 18 • 2011.

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