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The Drop
Directed By Kevin Lewis
Released: 2006
Starring: Michael P. Bondies, John Savage, Sean Young, and Kat Ogden
Running Time: 90 minutes
DVD Released By MTI Home Video
Carter (Michael P. Bondies), a down and out college student, accepts an
offer to drive a Mercedes across California for $5000. He arrives at his
destination (a parking garage in L.A.) and while waiting Carter lets his
curiosity get the best of him. Inside the trunk, he finds a briefcase in
the car’s trunk containing a mysterious item that could either save or
destroy the world. Unfortunately, a hitman known only as Mr. Zero (John
Savage) was hired to collect the briefcase and kill Carter. Carter must
run for his life to avoid Mr. Zero, his henchman, and a mysterious woman
known only as Ivy (Sean Young).
Kevin Lewis directs The Drop,
a movie filmed almost entirely in a parking garage! Decent digital
photography, sound, and lighting are the only things this thriller has
going for it. In order to trick the viewer into thinking something is
happening, the editor spasmodically repeats footage from earlier in the
film and sometimes jumps into Carter’s feeble imaginings. Ooh, split
screen? Well, color me embarrassed for you. The soundtrack is comprised
almost entirely of your cousin’s homemade techno and the rest is... I
don’t even remember. The Drop
contains 30 or 40 minutes of plot stretched out to its 90 minute running
time and the dialogue waxes faux-philosophical in place of content.
Who is Michael P. Bondies? He’s the guy playing Carter, a total douche
that deserves every bad thing that happens to him. In fact, I hope there’s
a sequel just so I can watch more people kick the shit out of this guy.
Bondies couldn’t be taking his part seriously. Especially not when he
catches sight of himself in the rearview mirror and says “you da man!”
Trista, his soft focus girlfriend is played by Kat Ogden who delivers
dialogue like she was force-feeding an emaciated child. Sean Young (Blade
Runner), who keeps her underwear on
during Carter’s sex fantasy, seems bored and rightfully so. John Savage (Door
To Silence) is Mr. Zero and coolly
whispers his insipid dialogue between looking confused by poor direction.
Other than ripping off Pulp Fiction
(I never wanted to know what was in that dang briefcase) and dragging us
through a parking garage for an hour before revealing its paltry
intentions, The Drop
never goes very far. It hints at a full on supernatural plot and it
attempts to thrill with some action moments but never manages to deliver.
Mediocre is one thing but mediocre and nearly unwatchable is another.
The Drop
(or as I like to call it: Run Carter Run)
is a rare film in that it actually hates its own audience. The plot is a
series of lazy fake-outs, redundant twists, and overused surprises that
will insult the intelligence of even the most casual film fan. Did I
mention that my standards have dropped considerably now? Well, at least
parking garage enthusiasts will enjoy this one.
For more information, check out
MTI Home Video.
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