Aegis Nod 2007-08-20
4 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
Kat is tough. She likes to have fun, sell guns and dreams of a better life. Her boyfriend, Big Al, is happy with the way things are. Dealing, being obnoxious and an all around P-I-G. But when Kat's dreams of living on the beach becomes a third wheel in her and Al's relationship, Al's hold on her tightens to the point of physical abuse and obsessive control.
Meanwhile, two familiars of Kat and Al's, Vic (Kat's lesbian friend) & Reilly (Al's Wingman), both want Kat--as their lovers. So the two decide to plot against Al, to kill him, that comes to nothing but allows both Liz & Reilly to form an unusual bond (This side story was the most interesting out of the whole movie, the only two who had chemistry).
While Al is cooling off in jail for brutally beating her, Kat visits with Liz (a miss-casted and unimpressive performance by Aisha Tyler), a social worker who's been in the same position as Kat. Liz just wants to help Kat get out of a bad situation but as they talk about what happened, Kat's street sense comes into play, which doesn't allow for a complete stranger to help out another complete stranger--it's always a quid pro quo situation. So, she is resistant but eventually appears to cave in and she let's Liz help her.
Ultimately, Kat decides to use her street skills and take matters into her own hands and manipulates those around her to do what she won't (not can't), which is to get rid of Big Al; and to get away with it, hands clean. It works, Al is implicated in a murder that he is innocent of and the last half of the film is a 'Who done it'. It wasn't Vic or Reilly, the most obvious, but Liz, who, in the end like (apparently) everybody in the film, wanted Kat as a lover. She gleefully tells Al that it was she who framed him and that he'll rot in jail for the rest of his life; and (gasp!)then tells Liz to get over it, leaving NYC for the beach.
Gritty film, I guess. Interesting plot, sure. Acting, mediocre at best. I was sorely disappointed, the storyline was ridiculous, trying too much. Trying to be urban yet dramatic, soulful yet earthy, cutting edge yet everyday man's plight. It doesn't work. The main characters lack chemistry, over acting or under acting, the two supporting actors (Reilly & Vic) are untapped potential, a typecasted Aisha Tyler who is out of place, and the over indulged scenes of violence and nudity are old and boring tactics. There is no moral to the story, just get what you want in any way possible. In Kat's words, her life had always been about what others wanted from her, always taking, never giving back (a line of thought which was interesting and was the underlying theme of the story).
While interesting, when in the right mood, this is a miss. And for a MJ fan, I was very disappointed. Trying too hard and reaching too far doesn't always get you the greatest performance or even a thought provoking idea.
