GIMME THE LOOT

Sofia and Malcolm are a couple of teenage graffiti artists (taggers) from the Bronx who set their hearts on the twenty year somewhat impossible challenge to ‘bomb the apple’ i.e. spray paint the NY Met’s notorious giant apple that is shown every time they hit a home run.  This sweet naive pair believe that when they achieve this, then the notoriety will bring them fame and untold wealth.  The first obstacle they must overcome is to actually get into the Stadium, which a bent Security Guard can arrange for them for a $500 ‘fee’. 

For these small time street hustlers this is a huge sum of money and they have just two days to somehow get this together.  Sofia a fierce foul-mouthed tomboy tries to collect on monies owed to her, and sell off the cans of spray paint they had stolen from the store, and hawk a cell-phone a cell-phone she  had ‘relieved’ from a kid, but with a string of unprecedented bad luck she loses far more than she gains. Malcolm, an overly-confident  gentle harmless youth, meanwhile sets about delivering some ‘weed’ for the small drug dealers he works for occasionally, and when he discovers that his customer is an ultra spoilt wealthy young woman he sets about seducing her and robbing her too.  She’s game for the first part, but they get disturbed and he has to go back to try to complete the plan.

This delightful debut movie from writer/director Adam Leon despite its tough-talking young protagonists and the subject matter is surprisingly refreshing and  totally engaging. Thanks to its quick-witted script with all its touches of humor, and the startling wonderful performances of the two young lead actors Tashiana Washington and Ty Hickson who, even though their’s is a platonic relationship, have a great chemistry together.
Credit to Mr Leon too for keeping a light touch throughout even in scenes such as when he played the race card with the posh white girl suddenly getting very uppity with Malcolm when she is surrounded by her friends.   Very impressive.  If I have one bitch it will be the ending …. sorts of leave you up in the air ….however, luckily not enough to spoil the whole experience.
The fresh raw energy that comes through a low-budget indie movie shines through quite radiantly, and its clear to see why at SXSW Festival last year it won the Award for Best Narrative Feature. Mr Leon was also honored with an Independent Spirit Award as ‘A Talent To Watch’.  And judging by this, he definitely is.

★★★★★★★★


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