Columbus Day Movie Review

Directed by Charles Burmeister

Starring Val Kilmer and Bobb'e J Thompson

This was a pretty damn cool little independent movie. Ive been on a roll recently watching some excellent movies. I never heard of this movie before and Im not even sure if its going to be released at the theater or if its going to be straight to dvd. A few months back when I saw 88 minutes I was for sure that was straight to dvd but it received a national release. This movie was a low budget movie but it sure didnt lack in substance. The acting cinematography and music was all top notch but the location of 90% of the movie was just at a park. Another great performance by Val Kilmer and the little kid Bobb'e J did an excellent job also.

The movie is basically about a career thief, John (Val Kilmer) that does one last major heist in an effort to sell the contents of a the stolen briefcase. In flashbacks throughout the movie it shows how the robbery went down. The rest of the movie he is at a park trying to find buyers for the unknown contents of the briefcase. He calls his friend Max (Wilmer Valderaama) to help find a buyer. While he is waiting around the park using the payphone he meets a little black boy thats alone in the park. After several encounters with the boy he starts to like him and they start to form a friendship. While this is going down John realizing how fucked up his life is, tries to call his estranged daughter to make peace and also calls his ex wife to try and make some amends. I dont want to spoil too much but their is a lot of charm and warmth to the movie that was unexpected. You start off the movie not liking John but by the end of the movie he grows on you and you start to root for him. Once more is revealed by clever use of the flashback It keeps you wondering how its going to end.

The movie has a surprising warmth and engaging quality that I wasnt expecting. Not much really happens but a lot of dialogue between John and others. There are a few tension building scenes which worked, but the ending was wrapped up probably a little bit too "perfectly." Its one of the few movies that would probably work as a date movie, but its not too sappy or just for chicks. On a scale of 1-10 I give this a running while handcuffed to a fence 6.9 out of 10.