Page 4 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 91

4 Issue #91 August 2020 www.sportsenergynews.com

In Reel Time

Ghost (Ex-Con: Redemption)

By Nikolai Adams

nthony Z. James’ first who has grown from a wee lad to Tony isn’t willing to jeopardize raw interactions more closely.
Afeature film, 2020’s Ghost a young man who’s moved out on any more of his future (having There may be no better visual at
(in the United States it’s known his own and is working a job as already missed the formative capturing all of this than the shot
as Ex-Con: Redemption), is an a property manager. A continuous years of his son’s life) – even immediately following the title
example of Indie, guerilla-style and jarring reminder of the time though Dominic feels like Tony screen – the camera pulling back
film making. James, who wrote, Tony has spent behind bars, owes him something due to a from a gothic stone passageway,
directed, and produced the film, James cleverly builds motifs dark secret from his past. Viewers the wind bringing a distant tree
shot it on the main streets of into the film with camera shots will wonder if Tony can shake to eerie life, Tony entering the
London, the production simply partially obscured by railings or his past mistakes and find a way frame as the camera finally
shot with an iPhone (with an fences. Intriguingly, this is not to mend fences with those he has reveals (while still retreating) that
anamorphic lens) – something only symbolic of Tony’s fractured hurt along the way. this seemingly ancient masonry
you will find increasingly hard to relationship with his son, but also A character-driven story, is actually part of a cemetery,
believe the longer you delve into something noticed in relation to the entire film is centered on perhaps an ominous harbinger
this motion picture. Conor and his on again-off again the relationship between Tony for Tony’s unforeseeable future.
girlfriend, Kat Hansen (Severija Lastly, look for reflections
The feature begins with the and those he is attempting to
viewer being dropped into an Bielskyte) who shocks him by reconnect with – especially his playing an integral part as well –
announcing that she is pregnant another unsettling stylistic choice
important day in the life of Tony son. Awkward, complicated,
(news that he does not initially that adds gravitas, scope, and
Ward (Anthony Mark Streeter), and difficult, James’ screenplay
an ex-con who has just been handle very well). aptly captures the complexities scale to this little film that can.
released from prison. Following Though Conor is open to of a father and son relationship. An ensnaring low-budget
him as he takes his first steps back mending the relationship with Looking for catharsis after the character drama, Ghost is a
into the real world (approximately his father (something easier said passing of his own dad, James haunting tale of a past not easily
seven minutes without a word of than done), unfortunately for developed a narrative within the escaped, a clear and dangerous
dialogue – somewhat bringing Tony, others are less willing to realm his father loved most – a present, and an uncertain
to mind Patrick Ryan’s sadly do so. Attempting to reconnect good crime drama. future. We see the difficulties of
under-seen 2014 Irish Indie film, with his ex-wife Valerie (Emmy Throughout the film, which breaking free of the chains that
Darkness on the Edge of Town), Happisburgh), she won’t even slowly builds to a climactic bind – not only those of prison
James places us in the man’s shoes answer the door when he knocks. finale, there is always an air of and previous misdeeds, but also
with engrossing tracking shots He also reaches out to Dominic danger and menace looming the generational mistakes made
reminiscent of Stanley Kubrick’s Clarke (Russell Barnett), his somewhere in the background, a by father and then son. The
Paths of Glory, a technique which former best friend. . . let’s just powder keg waiting to explode. score by Nikolaj Polujanov must
allows Tony’s steps to become say they have a complicated past. James describes his work as also be noted – the simplistic
ours. Hoping that each stride is Though Dominic has a legitimate being “in the spirit of John piano/organ-driven composition
one into a more strait-laced and front, he is, in fact, a dangerous Cassavetes” with the simplicity providing a hurried, anxious,
balanced future, the shadows of criminal: a cocaine snorting, of the iPhone that suits the piece, and ominous texture to the piece
Tony’s past linger, shrouding the alcohol drinking wildcard who and its slower-paced editing than – another warning to the viewer
very day in a gloomy, melancholic might just have the power to the average film. As such, the that there might not actually be
uncertainty. make or break Tony. Dominic an escape from a previous life of
expects our protagonist to toe the camera lingers on its characters,
A slow-burner of a line and get back to work within the finer focus capturing every crime and punishment.
contemplative arthouse-crime the criminal underworld (we get emotion (including all the tension, Don’t miss the call to watch
drama, Tony soon meets up with the sense that Tony was quite the anguish, pain, loneliness, and this British Indie film; it will
his son, Conor (Nathan Hamilton) violent wildcard himself), but most importantly the hope) and haunt you if you miss it.

FREE
“Ghost is currently available to watch on Amazon
“Ghost is currently available to watch on Amazon
VIEWING Thankfully , the fi lm’ s distributor , Story Image Films, has kindly VIEWING
Prime as well as for rental or purchase on Vimeo.
FREE
, Story Image Films, has kindly
Thankfully, the film’s distributor, Story Image Films, has kindly
Thankfully
lm’
, the fi
s distributor

granted a FREE screening on Vimeo for the first 100 screening on Vimeo for the first 100
granted a
.
Sports Energy
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viewers who have read the review in Sports Energy.
viewers
viewers
who
have
have
who
lm” on google.ca,
Find the film online by searching “vimeo ghost 2020 film” on google.ca,
Find the fi
lm online by searching “vimeo ghost 2020 fi
Find the fi lm online by searching “vimeo ghost 2020 fi lm” on google.ca,
log in using one of the many different options (i.e. Gmail, Facebook...),
log in using one of the many different options (i.e. Gmail, Facebook...),
log in using one of the many different options (i.e. Gmail, Facebook...),
and after clicking “rent”, change your country setting to “Canada”,
and after clicking “rent”, change your country setting to “Canada”,
and after clicking “rent”, change your country setting to “Canada”,
then select ‘promo code’ and enter “GHOSTCANADA” to get a
then select ‘promo code’ and enter “GHOSTCANADA” to get a
then select ‘promo code’ and enter “GHOSTCANADA” to get a
FREE https://vimeo.com/ondemand/ghostmovie
FREE viewing. https://vimeo.com/ondemand/ghostmovie