LAZY EYE

LAZY EYE

Tim Kirkman's latest film is one of those films that is trying to be a deeply nuanced film that misses the mark by such a wide mark you wonder who could have possibly thought it was interesting.

Casting Lucas Near-Verbrugghe as Dean and Aaron Costa Ganis as Alex - two former lovers from fifteen years past, we are given a chance to be the fly-on-the-wall as they reunite after Alex emails Dean from out of the blue. In the beginning, it is suggested that the email triggers some sort of psychosomatic affliction with Dean's eyesight.

Dean decides to take a vacation at Joshua Tree and suggests to Alex they meet at a vacation home there. Alex agrees and the film ratchets through a dialogue that is well delivered, but totally flat. It makes "My Dinner With Andre" seem like an action movie!

The conversation reveals nothing other than Dean tried to get in touch with Alex online, only to realize that Alex had no online presence. After that it's a reflection of the way things were when they met in New York way back when.

By mid-point there is a realization that neither character is in the least bit interesting and their encounter was little more than a booty call. There are no magnificent revelations and even the problem with Dean's eye vanishes into the world of incomplete narrative.

Near-Verbrugghe and Ganis give a valiant effort to rescue the weak characters but to no avail. Cinematographer Gabe Mayhan keeps the photography interesting as he tries to capture some of the beauty of Joshua Tree, but even the scenery drowns in the dull dialogue.

"Lazy Eye" is a romantic drama that lacks any real drama and and is populated by dull, flat characters set in a terrific background. -- GEOFF BURTON

GEOFF BURTON

RETURN TO CINEMATREK HOME